The CareTech Foundation is proud to celebrate the successful conclusion of our partnership supporting the Longitude Prize on Dementia, delivered by the Alzheimer’s Society and Nesta Challenges.
Nearly one million people in the UK are currently living with dementia, making the need for innovative, person-centred solutions more urgent than ever.
Since 2022, we have supported this pioneering initiative, helping to accelerate the development of innovative assistive technologies for people living with dementia. The £4.1 million prize awarded £3.1 million in seed funding and grants to promising innovators, alongside a £1 million grand prize for the winning solution. Innovators also received access to expert mentoring, product design support, business guidance, data, and opportunities to collaborate with people living with dementia and dementia organisations.
The partnership concluded with an award ceremony at the Design Museum, where CrossSense was announced as the winner of the £1 million Longitude Prize on Dementia.
CrossSense developed Wispy, a personalised AI-powered assistant for smart glasses that learns a user’s routines and provides gentle prompts to help people navigate everyday life, build confidence and maintain their independence as their needs evolve.
We are proud to have supported this groundbreaking initiative and congratulate CrossSense and all of the innovators whose work has the potential to transform the future of dementia care.
"Rapid advancements in AI will give people affected by early-stage dementia the opportunity to stay safely in their own homes for longer and lead more independent, fulfilled lives. The CrossSense smart glasses companion is a prime example of harnessing technology to develop intuitive personal support that complements care given by humans. By anticipating people’s needs as their condition progresses, easing daily living challenges and providing reassurance to families, this revolutionary tech will allow people with dementia to maintain their independence for longer within the familiar environment of home."
