Whilst in the year 2000, 16% of the population of the European Union was above the age of 65 years, it is anticipated that in 2050 this population range will reach 30%, people above the age of 80 representing 11% of the total population. In view of these figures, and the fact that dependency situations are multiplying for elderly people due to health problems related to neurodegenerative conditions, joints, hearing, high blood pressure, sight, etc., it may be said that a new market is being created that requires products and services which enable it to age actively within society.

In addition to this group of dependent people above the age of 65, there is a large group of disabled people below the age of 65 who also need another kind of products and services, with the result that between the two groups, a significant and rapidly growing emerging sector has been identified, for which a promising future is predicted.

It is for these reasons that Tecnalia has decided to organise the 1st International Conference on Technologies for Accessibility and Support for Dependent People - ableTech’08, which is aiming to be a place where International experts from the sector can exchange their experiences in order to learn from the good practices of other countries.

European Commission: Population ageing is one of the biggest challenges faced by all European Union countries, highlighting that a greater use of new technologies could make it easier to control health costs and improve the well-being and active participation of elderly people, simultaneously increasing competition, in support of the reviewed Lisbon Strategy for growth and employment.