The SHAFE Foundation was founded in 2021 to support the sustainable future of SHAFE deliverables and products. The SHAFE concept – Smart Healthy Age-Friendly Environments – was launched in 2017 by Carina Dantas and Willeke van Staalduinen (the directors of the Foundation) and grew from there into robust and supportive Reference Frameworks to support the implementation of SHAFE. 

The SHAFE concept is based on the following background: The health and well-being of individuals, their partners, relatives and friends are key in the lives of human beings. The environments in which they live, such as home, work, shop, school, culture and sports, are carriers for potential social, physical and digital inclusion. The presence of social networks, person-centred digital solutions, and accessible physical environments promote social inclusion and active participation in society for all and thus positively contribute to greater health and well-being. SHAFE take on a multi-faceted approach to these various aspects of the lives of individuals and aim to create inclusive societies for all to foster better quality of life and well-being.

The Reference Framework of COST Action NET4Age-Friendly contains guidelines, standards, and good practices on user-centred design, integrated care and well-being pathways, digital solutions and successful uptake, funding, business modelling and impacts of SHAFE. The SIRENE project delivered in 2024 a Reference Framework on smart inclusive living environments, supported by experts from 27 EU and other European countries. This expertise will be brought into the development and results of the products of the proposal.

The Foundation aims to achieve the successful implementation of SHAFE by enabling funding for local pilots, networking actions and research. Activities of the foundation are applying for funding, organising, maintaining and establishing networks and ecosystems, providing training, e-learning and recommendations, and organising meetings and study visits. Research activities may entail desk research, surveys, and interviews. The Foundation includes about 20 ambassadors from various European countries to support the aims, work and networking of the organisation.

The Foundation was founded by Willeke van Staalduinen in the Netherlands, who is acting as director of the Foundation together with Carina Dantas. If granted, a worker with the project manager profile will be appointed to carry out the activities of the project under the strict supervision of the board.

The main aim of the Foundation is to support the implementation of smart inclusive environments through research, networking, and development. It will include the legacy of COST Action 19136 NET4Age-Friendly (Reference Framework on user-centred design, digital solutions, integrated care and well-being, business modelling and impacts) and of Horizon project SIRENE (Social Innovation Framework on smart inclusive eco-friendly environments) in 2024. The directors of the Foundation have built up these achievements.

Activities and expertise: 

• Social innovation: with a strong ethical approach to societal values and strengths in the delivery of policy strategies and action plans.

• Training: organisation of workshops, focus groups, individual coaching and support.

• Networking: the Foundation directors have a large network, national and international, with major collaborations and sharing of most relevant resources, studies and publications.

• Capacity building - support to organisations or communities to realise inclusive eco-friendly environments

• Policy recommendations at national and local level