Solid Start

This program aims to improve health and well-being of (future) families in vulnerable circumstances, specifically targeting the first thousand days in children's lives, by funding research and development of innovations in the field of AI and data science, contributing to a better lifestyle and living environment. The program group consists of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands Organisation of Applied Scientific Research (TNO), TU Delft, and Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, which is a delegation of participants of the acknowledged public-private partnership ‘Solid Start’.

The health and social environment of (future) parents are crucial for the development of (unborn) children. In vulnerable circumstances, morbidity and mortality rates are higher, and there is higher prevalence of e.g. learning and behavior problems, diabetes, and heart diseases. This leads to higher disease burden and participation problems, higher healthcare costs and lower education and work perspectives for children.

Better health outcomes contribute to economic growth. This means that interventions targeting improved health care and wellbeing will lead to economic advantages, on a family-level as well as for society as a whole.

We will fund initiatives focussing on living environment and lifestyle, utilizing AI and Data Science technologies. It is essential that 1) the selected technologies ensure data security, 2) projects use a human centered design, and 3) there is close collaboration between researchers, enterprises and (representatives of) parents. This combination of expertise ensures improvement of health and wellbeing of families from the earliest onset of life, reduction of healthcare costs, and facilitation of novel economic opportunities.

Parties that participate in the Strategic Public-Private Partnership Solid Start are encouraged to submit, while collaboration with parties that are not yet affiliated, but are interested in joining the PPP is encouraged. Interested parties can contact Mrs. Lorena Harmsen–Rossi: KansrijkeStart@hr.nl.