With the signing of the deed of execution between the Ministry of University and Research and the winning suppliers, the execution of Phase II of the innovation tender ‘Innovative Virtual and Augmented Reality Applications for Persons with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)’, worth approximately EUR 4 million*, officially began.
Entering the new phase are 5 temporary groups of companies, compared to the 8 that won Phase I, for a total of 16 economic operators involved. The 5 RTIs will now receive more than EUR 2 million and will have 8 months to pursue the experimental development in the laboratory of the solution designed and presented during Phase I.
At the end of the 8 months, the deserving projects (no more than 3), will access Phase III and the winners will be able to proceed to the implementation of the prototype and the consequent experimentation in the pilot operational context in the Area Vasta Sud Salento, which includes 65 municipalities in the province of Lecce, with particular reference to the Ambito Territoriale Sociale of Casarano.
More than 5,000 cases of autism have been registered in the province of Lecce, and the association ‘Amici di Nico onlus’, identified as the subject for field experimentation, operates in the area. The association runs a social, educational and rehabilitation centre dedicated to people with autism and related disorders, offering support to both young people and their families.
The context of the contract experimentation can be extended to other territorial realities than that of Casarano, favouring experimentation and laying the foundations for the dissemination of the solutions developed.
In addition to its important concrete implications, the start of Phase II of this project also has a significant symbolic value, as it takes place precisely at the same time as World Autism Awareness Day, which is celebrated every year on 2 April.
Resulting from the collaboration between MUR and AgID within the framework of the Complementary Operational Programme (POC) Research and Innovation 2014-2020, the call on autism technologies has become part of the innovative procurement programme ‘Smarter Italy’, promoted by the Department for Digital Transformation and the Agenzia per l'Italia Digitale**.
The autism spectrum condition is one of the most severe disabilities that occurs at a very young age and persists for the rest of life. Human-computer interaction technologies, such as virtual reality, augmented reality and the like, are proving to be useful in therapeutic interventions, as the simulation of everyday situations has generally proven to be an effective way to promote and improve social inclusion.
Beyond the technological innovation sought, the further novelty of this path lies in the process of product definition and realisation. An open innovation approach that allows all the actors involved (families, associations, institutions, companies) to participate and influence in the design even during the executive phase of the contract, with the aim of best guiding the proposals in all the development phases.
*The tender ‘Innovative Virtual and Augmented Reality Applications for people with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)’ is financed by the Ministry of University and Research through the Complementary Operational Programme Research and Innovation.
** The initiative is supported by the programme for the coordination and valorisation of smart public demand initiatives ‘Smarter Italy’, financed by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers - Department for Digital Transformation.
