On 13 July, 2016, the European Commission officially announced the results of this year competition for the so called centres of reference within the framework of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP AHA). The Lodz consortium has been rated two stars on the scale from 1 to 4 scores and will be the only centre In Poland of such a rank. This is a great success of our University and at the same time an opportunity for Lodz and its region, which have one of the fastest ageing populations in Poland.

A press conference, organized on this occasion in the Knowledge and Innovation Zone of the Medical University of Lodz was attended by:
Mr Witold Stępień – Marshal of the Lodz Voivodship
Prof. Lucyna Woźniak – Vice-Rector for Science of the Medical University of Lodz
Prof. Konrad Rydzyński – Director of the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lodz
Dr Iwona Iwanicka – Deputy Director of the Department of Health and Social Affairs, Department of Social Communication and Health, Lodz City Office
Dr Anna Murlewska – Deputy Director for Medical Affairs, Norbert Barlicki Memorial University Teaching Hospital No. 1 of the Medical University of Lodz

All participants of the press conference stated that the Lodz Reference Site is a great success and honour for the consortium partners for their to date contribution to activities concerning broadly understood pro-senior policy, as well as a huge commitment for further intensive work in this area.

This year, on February 22, a letter of intent was signed by the representatives of the Lodz Voivodship, the Lodz City, The Medical University of Lodz, the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lodz, N. Barlicki Memorial Teaching Hospital No. 1 in Lodz, and Ericpol Sp z o.o. (LLC) in which the partners confirmed their willingness to cooperate on the preparation of a mutual application for the competition on the status of the reference site within the framework of the European Innovation Partnership for Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP AHA). Prof. Lucyna Woźniak, Vice-Rector for Science of the Medical University of Lodz has been elected a Technical Coordinator of the project.

EIP AHA is an initiative of the European Commission involving cooperation between the Commission and the countries, regions, industry, health care professionals and social organizations representing the elderly and patients. This collaborative partnership is to improve the health and quality of life of older people and increase their partnership in social life. So far, 32 European consortia, mainly from Western Europe have had the status of reference sites for active and healthy ageing. The Medical University of Lodz actively cooperated with the reference sites of Coimbra (Portugal) and Groningen (Netherlands); fruitful results of this cooperation allowed the University to participate in this year’s competition.

By announcing a new competition, the European Commission wished to expand the cooperation in the field of innovation and good practice associated with healthy ageing. The Lodz Reference Site will be the only one in Poland and one of two centres in Central and Eastern Europe.

Additional information: http://www.scale-aha.eu/rs2016-results.html