Personalised nutrition for older adults: design challenges, SME barriers, and options and competencies for innovation

Abstract

Personalised nutrition (PN) products and services have the potential to enhance the health and quality of life of older adults. However, PN innovation is challenging and requires specific competencies and supportive collaborations. This paper reports findings from a Collective Intelligence Scenario-Based Design session conducted with PN experts as part of the Horizon 2020 project INCluSilver, which aims to support the development of products, services, and systems that improve the health and quality of life of older adults through innovation in PN. Experts identified challenges to the design of PN products and services and barriers that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) face when innovating PN products and services for older adults. Options to address these barriers were generated and specific SME competencies supporting PN innovation were identified. This study provides a useful framework for understanding the challenges, opportunities, and key competencies needed to innovate PN products and services for older adults.