Author: Luca Jakab

Tuesday 14 November

 

We are thrilled to announce that Social Tech Trust is partnering with Challenge Works – a Nesta enterprise – to support teams competing in the Longitude Prize on Dementia to develop working prototypes of new assistive technologies to help people living with dementia remain independent for longer.

The £4.34m Longitude Prize on Dementia, funded by Alzheimer’s Society and Innovate UK, is incentivising the development of breakthrough assistive technologies for people living with dementia. 

24 international teams are developing solutions that use AI to learn about their users and adapt to help ‘fill the gaps’ as their cognitive function is progressively reduced by the disease. The solutions will help people to live independently for longer while maintaining fulfilling lives. Five finalists will be selected from these 24 teams in summer 2024.

At Social Tech Trust, we challenge organisations to think differently about technology’s role in society, and we will be helping each innovator assess where their product might benefit from support and provide appropriate technology and data advice. We will also leverage our network of experts to introduce innovators to big tech companies, including Microsoft, AWS and NVIDIA.

The semi-finalists include a range of innovations, from AI gamified software that promotes positive social experiences to help delay decline in brain function (from Memory Lane Games) to biodynamic lighting and sensor systems that can ease symptoms of sundowning – irritability and confusion that can worsen as daylight fades (from Chroma Lighting).

Chris Blues, Director, Social Tech Trust said: “Around 50 million people worldwide are living with dementia, including 900,000 in the UK. Tech has enormous power to help with many social challenges – including dementia, which can devastate lives, causing people to lose their memory, identity and, sadly, relationships. Supporting innovators with technical and data support to help refine their prototypes is the first step in using technology to ease the lives of those living with dementia.”

 

Wider capacity-building support and co-creation

The partnership will form just one element of the non-financial support offered to teams participating in the Longitude Prize on Dementia. Alongside the technical support, wider support is being provided through opportunities to ensure all technologies are co-created with people living with dementia or caring for people with dementia. 

The innovators will attend two co-creation workshops this month, one focusing on social connectedness and technology features from the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (a Canadian partner of the prize) and another on user-centred AI design and personalisation hosted by Innovate UK and National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA). Co-creation is essential to ensure that new technologies developed through the prize are designed to meet the needs of their intended beneficiaries and their lifestyles.

Alzheimer’s Society has also established 38 local focus groups involving people living with dementia and their carers. These groups will assist innovators in ensuring their product is co-designed and has considered some of the most important elements of living with dementia. International co-creation and access to user opportunities have also been set up with international partners. This will help to ensure that every innovation learns from people living with dementia and can adapt and support changing needs over time.

Challenge Works is also offering advice and guidance from 15 dementia experts, ranging from frontline dementia healthcare professionals to leading dementia academics, as well as design and customer experience experts. The innovators will be able to book one-on-one sessions with each expert.

Ruth Neale, Programme Manager for the Longitude Prize on Dementia at Challenge Works said: “We’re excited to join forces with Social Tech Trust to provide semi-finalists in the Longitude Prize on Dementia with tailored technical and data support to develop their ideas into prototypes. The team at Social Tech Trust will provide a bespoke technology support package for our international cohort to drive high-quality tech products for the next stage of the competition. This is one element in the programme of capacity-building support that is being provided to teams in the next 12 months.”

 

About the Longitude Prize on Dementia

The Longitude Prize on Dementia is a £4.42 million prize to drive the creation of personalised, technology-based tools that are co-created with people living with the early stages of dementia, helping them live independent, more fulfilled lives and enabling them to do the things they enjoy.

Dementia is a progressive condition and there is no cure, but people can live well for years. As hospitalisations can increase the rate of decline, the hope is that assistive technology can help people stay safe and independent in their home for longer. The winning solution will use the latest advances in technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning combined with user data and testing to provide personalised support for people living with dementia.  

The Longitude Prize on Dementia is funded by Alzheimer’s Society and Innovate UK and delivered by Challenge Works. More information about the Longitude Prize on Dementia can be found at dementia.longitudeprize.org

 

About our partners:

Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading dementia charity. It is a vital source of support and a powerful force for change for everyone affected by dementia. Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK will develop dementia in their lifetime. For more information or to make a donation, visit alzheimers.org.uk

Innovate UK is the UK’s innovation agency, helping UK businesses to grow through the development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate.

One of the Discovery Awards awarded, the ‘Paul and Nick Harvey Discovery Award’ is sponsored by the Hunter Foundation, with further support coming from Heather Corrie and the Caretech Foundation.

The prize has also received funding from the Medical Research Council. The MRC funds research at the forefront of science to prevent illness, develop therapies and improve human health.

Challenge Works is a global leader in the design and delivery of challenge prizes mobilising innovation for social good.

7th November 2023 

We are thrilled to announce that the Social Tech Trust has been shortlisted for the prestigious Catalyst 2030 Awards in the Leaders in Trust category. This remarkable recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to leveraging technology for social transformation and aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals. 

 

About the Catalyst 2030 Awards 

Launched at the World Economic Forum in January 2020, Catalyst 2030 is a rapidly growing global movement comprised of over 3,600 proven social innovators and 2010 member organisations, active in 124 countries and directly impacting an estimated one billion people. The movement unites social entrepreneurs and innovators from all sectors who share a common goal—advancing sustainable development through innovative, community-led approaches. 

The Catalyst 2030 Awards celebrate those who champion transformational change by recognising funding allies that illuminate innovative practices. These awards honour private and public sector entities that boldly shift how society addresses its challenges, prioritising support for community-led solutions and championing the efforts of local social innovators through collaborative partnerships.  

 

Transforming Lives Through Technology 

At Social Tech Trust, our dedication goes beyond change; we envision a future where technology isn’t just a tool for convenience but a lever for equality – where access to healthcare, financial and economic well-being, and climate solutions aren’t privileges but universal truths available for everyone.  

We invest in companies at the forefront of furthering equality, keenly aware that technology has the power to dismantle barriers and forge paths to a more equitable world. Through our accelerator programmes, partnerships and investments, we have helped identify and scale hundreds of tech companies that are creating social change and positively impacting people’s lives. We champion the use of tech to further equality, providing fertile ground for companies not only to succeed but to redefine success in terms of social impact and systemic change.  

By listening to founders and understanding their vision, we become more than investors—we become allies in pursuing transformative social change. We are challenging existing approaches that hold back innovation, addressing the lack of aligned investment and providing alternative models that gives ventures the optionality they need to grow sustainably. Our engagement goes beyond financing—we share our learning and insights to inspire others and amplify the effect of our work. Our programs enable startups to create sustainable solutions with a far-reaching impact, always guided by the needs and well-being of the communities they serve.  

 

Join Us at the Catalyst 2030 Awards Ceremony 

The winners of the Catalyst 2030 Awards will be announced at a grand ceremony on November 8th at 4:00 pm, live-streamed from Spencer House in London. We invite you to register and join us virtually to celebrate this momentous occasion. 

We are grateful for this nomination and believe it reflects our steadfast commitment to harnessing the power of technology for social good. Let’s continue to transform lives with technology and create a more sustainable and inclusive future for all. 

Register to attend virtually here. 

23rd October 2023 

Unlocking tech innovation in social and public services

 

We’re excited to unveil a new partnership to unlock tech innovation across social and public services. Introducing the GoodTech Ventures Community and Accelerator, a cross-sector initiative dedicated to nurturing emerging tech solutions that drive transformative social impact for people and communities. 

The program will streamline the scaling process for early-stage impact-driven tech ventures, enabling them to create and deploy game-changing digital technologies. 

42% of civil servants believe that their department lacks the tools, resources and skills necessary to utilise technology in transforming public service delivery, a recent government report has revealed. This programme will support founders to scale their ventures and navigate the complexities of social invocation, in turn facilitating digital innovation in the sector and supporting more social ventures to thrive.

The programme will be delivered by Catch22 in partnership with Social Tech Trust and Unity Ventures, with over 700k of funding and support from Ufi VocTech Trust, Microsoft and the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The programme has two core features of support:

GoodTech Community – this will provide “always-on” venture support through our open community platform helping early-stage founders prepare for scale.

GoodTech Accelerator – working with 30+ SMEs to provide intensive innovation and go-to-market support.

 

Chris Blues, Programmes Director at Social Tech Trust, said:

“We are excited to partner with Catch22, Greater London Authority, Unity Ventures, Ufi VocTech Trust and Microsoft to scale tech companies that are addressing entrenched social challenges. We believe the GoodTech Community and Accelerator with truly enable the benefits of technology to be shared throughout society.”

Andy Canniford, Chief Development Officer at Catch22 said:

“As we witnessed from the pandemic, innovation and adaptability is a crucial element in effective public and third sector delivery. At Catch22, we are committed to taking the learnings from our operational delivery and building this into our political reform and wider commitment to changing public service delivery for the better.”

David Hinton, Senior Venture Partner at Catch22, said:

“As we embark on this exciting journey with the support of our valued partners, we’re deeply committed to addressing the unique needs of early-stage impact-led tech ventures. This new partnership ensures that we can provide the tailored support, resources, and connections.”

Helen Gironi, Director of Ventures at Ufi VocTech Trust, said:

“At Ufi, we have seen first-hand the transformative role early-stage startups can play within public service delivery. We are really pleased to be able to continue our support of Catch22’s work and the development of the GoodTech Ventures Community and Accelerator.”

Our partners

• Catch22 is a charity and social business that delivers programmes across education, employability, justice and youth work. Last year, our 100+ services supported over 160,000 people to lead better lives across the UK.
• The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
• Ufi VocTech Trust supports the development and adoption of learning technology to help adults across the UK develop the skills they need for work. We have provided more than £28m in grant funding and direct investment to support over 280 tech-enabled projects.
• Unity Ventures work with businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators who seek purpose beyond profit – unifying business activities with outcomes for people and planet.

Together, we’re ready to revolutionise the landscape of tech innovation in social and public services.

Visit the GoodTech Ventures website here: www.goodtech.ventures