The new project is backed by a ₪5 million investment and has a partnership with Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan to test its approaches and technologies.

The Innovation Lab for Healthy Aging is jointly sponsored by the Center for Digital Innovation (CDI) Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), the National Insurance Institute of Israel, the Beersheva municipality, the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and the Amal & Beyond Group.

“In 10 years, Beersheva will become the center of senior citizen-focused research and innovation,” CDI founder and CEO Ziv Ofek said.

According to World Bank data, the percentage of the world’s population over 65 grew from 5 percent in 1960 to 8.5% in 2015.

CDI was founded by Ofek along with fellow entrepreneurs Sharon Sasportas and Boaz Gur Lavie in collaboration with BGU and the Beersheva municipality to focus on promoting and managing digital innovations in health, welfare, education and smart cities. The new lab takes all of these fields into consideration.

“When I think about this lab, I think about my parents and the real challenges they face,” Ofek said.

“Instead of looking for merely technological solutions, we went back to analyze the problem. We developed a 360-degree approach that looks at all aspects of a senior’s life.”

Not only technological solutions will be considered but also social project ideas such as connecting teenagers with seniors to alleviate loneliness and depression.