Among the successful candidates in the call for new services are products from two companies focusing on people with disabilities.
Solutions designed for the population
Backed by the Cit.Us International Chair and the Montpellier Business Innovation Centre (BIC), 10 of the 33 proposed projects were selected according to six criteria: added value, innovative nature, economic benefits, potential for experimentation, interoperability, reusability, and overall project consistency in terms of sustainable development and the impact on the quality of life for residents.Collaboration is launched through a research and development contract. Montpellier Métropole is funding 50% of development costs, ranging from €40,000 to €80,000. Its teams provide support for the projects over a period of 6 to 12 months. Company development and the community’s response to the public’s needs are coming together. Winners in the “Digital Inclusion - Mobility” category, NaturalPad and Okeenea both provide services to people with disabilities.
NaturalPad and Okeenea Tech, laureates
Based in Montpellier, NaturalPad has proven its abilities with MediMoov, a video game platform for physical and cognitive stimulation. MediMoov is used in more than a hundred health and medical-social establishments. Its innovation is based on controllers that can be adapted to a wide variety of handicaps. The project emerged from cooperation with the Montpellier Ergotherapy Training Institute, the Cap Game association, APF France Handicap, and the EntreAutre agency.Located in Champagne au Mont d’Or (in France’s Rhône department), Okeenea has invented audible traffic lights. The company recently designed MyMoveo, a free smartphone application that enables blind and visually impaired people to activate the sound system. The outlook is summarized by Edouard Voegely, Deputy General Manager:“Our multidisciplinary approach and our users’ expertise will enable us to address people’s individual needs,” summarizes Guillaume Tallon, Clinical Validation Manager.
“We will benefit from Montpellier Métropole’s critical eye to elevate the device’s usability to its highest level.”
