The Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) has launched the NEUROAGE network to foster innovation in the field of ageing and neurodegenerative diseases. This network brings together 48 national and international organisations and aims to promote the development and implementation of solutions that improve the quality of life of older people and their carers. The initiative has been funded under the 2025 R&D&I Networks call by AGAUR.

The progressive ageing of the population represents one of the major social, healthcare and economic challenges today. In this context, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are highly prevalent among older people and have a profound impact on both their quality of life and the healthcare system.

NEUROAGE was created to address this challenge through a network-based working model that connects key stakeholders across the ecosystem to accelerate scientific, clinical and technological innovation in this field. It brings together national and international organisations representing the quadruple helix of the innovation value chain: research centres and universities, the healthcare system, the business sector and economic stakeholders, as well as foundations and patient and carer associations. This approach combines scientific knowledge, technological capabilities and clinical expertise with the real needs of affected individuals, helping to accelerate the development and implementation of impactful solutions.

The main objective of NEUROAGE is to promote active, connected and dignified ageing, placing the real needs of the population at the centre of solutions.

Activities with the active involvement of patients and families

Within this framework, NEUROAGE will focus on areas such as the prevention of cognitive and physical decline, early diagnosis, the development of technologies to support independent living (such as home automation, wearable devices and artificial intelligence), support for carers and families, as well as new therapies and biomarkers.

To achieve this, the network will promote spaces for discussion and co-creation with the active involvement of patients and carers to identify challenges and align solutions with real needs. It will also foster multidisciplinary collaboration between centres through hackathons and networking activities to generate new solutions.

In addition, NEUROAGE will work to identify and support high-impact solutions and technologies emerging from research centres. This includes support for intellectual property protection, asset valorisation and the creation of spin-offs. It will also promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among researchers through mentoring programmes and initiatives to showcase research results at national and international conferences.

The expected impact includes more coordinated research, improved prevention and early diagnosis processes, and greater capacity for knowledge transfer and innovation to facilitate the implementation of solutions in healthcare settings and the community.

“With this project, we reinforce our commitment to responsible innovation and collaborative research. Working as a network allows us to provide faster, more useful and more equitable responses to the challenges of ageing and neurodegenerative diseases, in the service of patients, carers and professionals”, says Rafael Navajo, Director of Innovation and Business Development at VHIR and NEUROAGE.

Collaboration across sectors

The launch of the network was formalised on Thursday 9 April at a kick-off session attended by representatives of the NEUROAGE member organisations, where the objectives, workstreams and programmes to be deployed over the coming years were presented.

The network is led by VHIR, representing a strategic opportunity to enhance the valorisation of research projects and strengthen public–private collaboration, fostering the active participation of the different stakeholders in the ecosystem: researchers, patients and families, companies, investors and institutions.

The organisations currently involved in the project are:

• Research centres: Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR Sant Pau), Jordi Gol Primary Care Research Institute (IDIAP Jordi Gol), Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Biomedical Research Institute of Southern Catalonia (IRB CatSud), Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Institut de Neurociències of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (INc-UAB), Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), Institute for Research in Biomedicine of Lleida (IRBLleida), Centre for Demographic Studies (CED) and Parc Sanitari Pere Virgili (PSPV)
• Universities: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), University of Barcelona (UB) and University of Girona (UdG)
• Technology centre: Eurecat
• Start-ups: IKI Health, Braingaze, Gran3dad and Yasyt.
• Established companies: Ferrer and Takeda.
• Investors: Ship2B Ventures, Ysios, Asabys Partners, Invivo Partners and Prous Institute for Biomedical Research
• Patient and carer organisations: Catalan Federation of Alzheimer’s Family Associations (FAFAC), Federation of Older People’s Associations of Catalonia (FATEC), Catalan Parkinson’s Association (ACAP), Suara Cooperativa and Catalan Association of Care Resources (ACRA).
• Clusters and foundations: HUB Alzheimer Barcelona (Pasqual Maragall Foundation), ACE Alzheimer Center Foundation, WeMind Cluster, Social and Health Innovation Hub (HiSS), Málaga Silver Economy Hub, ”la Caixa” Foundation, Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa (CST) and Hospitalàries Barcelona Foundation.
• Catalan support organisations: Catalonia.health, Biocat, TIC Salut i Social Foundation and Institut Català de la Salut (ICS),
• International partner organisations: EIT Health, EATRIS and European University Hospitals Alliance (EUHA)

The network is also open to additional organisations wishing to join.

NEUROAGE is part of one of the 15 R&D&I networks in Catalonia promoted by AGAUR, which bring together research groups, hospitals, universities, technology centres and companies to share knowledge, tools and challenges in strategic areas such as health, energy and technology. These networks work in a coordinated manner to ensure that research is translated into projects with real impact on society.