Silver Normandie
About this good practice
Silver Normandy was created in 2014 to trigger the innovation in an ageing and rural region where older adults are more vulnerable than in other regions but where they also have a higher income.
The management of Silver Normandy was delegated to the Regional Development Agency of Normandy. Silver Normandy connects all actors of the Silver Economy within a Regional Sectoral Committee, whose President is the regional politician in charge of Silver Economy and Vice-President is the regional politician responsible for industry. The Committee gathers around 40 actors, from associations to company representatives, persons from the medical sectors and investors. Outside their meetings, members of the Regional Sectoral Committee can also exchange on a private online platform, where they can as well find different resources and presentations.
Apart from the Committee’s meetings, Silver Normandy organises different events, such as Silver Normandie Days, and project brokerage sessions to strengthen the regional network. Moreover, it provides support to Silver Economy actors. It can for instance connect an SME with investors, provide useful resources and studies and monitors the opportunities in the region. Silver Normandy’s coordinator can also connect SMEs with one of the four Living Lab of the region, to help them in designing and testing their products.
Resources needed
1 person at the Regional Development Agency is coordinating the network, on a part time contract. The first year, around 40.000 euros were needed to launch the initiative and create the Website. Annually, 50.000 are needed to organise Silver Days Normandie, a regional fair.
Evidence of success
Around 30 companies of the Silver Economy sector now belong to the network of Silver Normandy. Thanks to the region’s connexions with investors, such as banks or the Regional Chamber for Social and Solidarity Economy, Silver Normandy can help to build a regional ecosystem in the sector. Many rural SMEs have been oriented by the coordinator and found regional solutions to develop innovative products for the vulnerable ageing population.
Potential for learning or transfer
Silver Normandie is easily replicable in regions where there is a political will to help vulnerable seniors by supporting SMEs in the development of innovative goods and services. This good practice is not requesting a high budget but is time consuming. Coordinators must have a good knowledge of the Silver Economy and of the regional economy in general. It is an interesting investment for regions, with a huge potential for the creation of network of Silver Economy actors at regional level.
Silver Normandie was the pilot phase for the creation of other Silver regions in France. Others were created in Midi-Pyrénées and Alsace for instance.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.