The objective of the AAL Joint Programme is to enhance the quality of life of older people and strengthen the industrial base in Europe through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The motivation of the new funding activity is in the demographic change and ageing in Europe, which implies not only challenges but also opportunities for the citizens, the social and healthcare systems as well as industry and the European market. The concept of Ambient Assisted Living is understood as

• to extend the time people can live in their preferred environment by increasing their autonomy, self-confidence and mobility,
• to support maintaining health and functional capability of the elderly individuals,
• to promote a better and healthier lifestyle for individuals at risk,
• to enhance the security, to prevent social isolation and to support maintaining the multifunctional network around the individual,
• to support carers, families and care organisations,
• to increase the efficiency and productivity of used resources in the ageing societies.

Programme Implementation
Main activity under the AAL Joint Programme is the funding of R&D projects in the AAL domain that result from regularly published calls for proposals.

This funding activity is commonly implemented by the AAL Association and its members that are national funding organisations in actual 20 European Member States (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom) and 3 Associated States: Israel, Norway and Switzerland.

The European Commission is not part of the implementation structures but contribute with a substantial financial support that is granted on the basis of article 169 of the EC treaty.