Short summary

The aim of TechKnow is to develop methods to improve and promote knowledge transfer in welfare technology based on social and professional aspects to ensure long-term sustainability. TechKnow is a part of https://caresam.mau.se/.

Rationale

The use of welfare technology (WT) has been recognized as a key strategy for Swedish and Danish municipalities to address the increasing needs of safety, security and support among citizens in need of care. WT remains an untapped resource in many organizations, in spite of its potential, as it is difficult for many municipalities to know how and where WT can be used and what WT to invest in. Therefore there is a need for knowledge exchange not only between, but also within municipalities.

The aim of the project is to develop methods to improve and promote knowledge transfer in welfare technology based on social and professional aspects to ensure long-term sustainability, and act as input and prepare for extended applications for strategic funding within Forte as well as Horizon Europe.

This one-year project, TechKnow, will create a foundation for a multi-year project to examine how knowledge regarding welfare technologies in elderly care can be transferred both within and between municipalities in Sweden and Denmark. We begin by exploring the level of this knowledge and how it can be developed within care centers, and then the project will expand into an exploration of successful and possible methods for sharing that knowledge. This enables the creation of a Swedish-Danish shared knowledge platform regarding welfare technology (WT).

In short, there are three main goals om that to be achieved through the one-year planning grant:

1. To review the knowledge base of and discover knowledge gaps at the municipalities.

2. To create and evaluate a framework for knowledge sharing. This is done by establishing an empirical base by performing explorative and theory-driven analyses within the areas.

3. To plan and test the feasibility of a larger research study.

Description of the cohort

The study explores how knowledge dissemination between municipalities and experiences of welfare technology in elderly care can be developed, implemented and evaluated, based on user, social and professional aspects to ensure long-term sustainability.

The methods include review of existing knowledge in the field and qualitative inquiry by interviews and participant observation among users and professionals (care staff and managers among two danish and two swedish municipalities).

Data and biological material

Analysis based on Mixed method analysis (interviews, focus-groups, workshop) incl systematic review.

Collaborating researchers and departments

Faculty of Health and Society/Technology and Society, Malmö University

• Jonas Christensen, Jeanette Eriksson, Nancy Russo