Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement

What Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement does

CREATE is a multidisciplinary academic research center established in 1999 and funded by the National Institute on Aging through NIH Grant P01 AG073090. It operates across three U.S. academic sites — Weill Cornell Medicine (New York), the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Florida State University — under four principal investigators: Sara Czaja, Walter Boot, Neil Charness, and Wendy Rogers. The center develops and evaluates technology solutions intended to support older adults' cognitive health, social engagement, independence, and quality of life.

CREATE's research portfolio is organized around three flagship projects under its current CREATE V funding cycle (2022-2027): Project 1 (CAST) is an immersive virtual reality system delivering cognitive, activity, social, and technology engagement applications; Project 2 (SPARC) is an intelligent adaptive system providing cognitive and social support for older adults with mild cognitive impairment, incorporating speech and biometric data to explore early indicators of cognitive decline; and Project 3 develops AI-powered virtual assistants and decision support tools for healthcare management, including Medicare-related decisions. In addition, CREATE maintains a suite of validated assessment instruments (CPQ, MDPQ, MPQ, Wireless Network Proficiency Questionnaire), design tools (Fitts' Law Calculator, GOMS Spreadsheet), Medicare educational materials, and the Human Factors and Aging Book Series.

CREATE is not a commercial enterprise: it generates no product or service revenue and operates solely on grant funding and academic collaboration. Dissemination is conducted via a public website, social media channels, peer-reviewed publications, recurring international workshops, and community advisory panels. International research collaborations include SMART-AGE at Heidelberg University (Carl Zeiss Foundation-funded, 2021-2026), Mobilise-D, the University of Manchester, ENHANCE, and Hong Kong Shue Yan University. The center's measurable outputs are publications, validated instruments, awards, and trained researchers, rather than commercialized products.

Name

Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement

Legal name

Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement

Website

https://create-center.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CREATE is an NIH-funded multidisciplinary research center (est. 1999) operating across Weill Cornell Medicine, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Florida State University that develops and evaluates technology solutions, including VR systems, intelligent adaptive platforms, and decision support tools, to support cognitive health and independent living in older adults.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aging and Gerontechnology Research

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

akta.pro primary industry

Cognitive Stimulation & Reminiscence Therapy (Non-Clinical) (HSABAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Caregiving, Aging-in-Place & Home Safety Education (For seniors & family caregivers) (EDAAAMAL), Special Needs Skill-Building & Therapy Learning Apps (Autism, OT/PT, Life Skills) (EDAFAKAJ)

Keywords

• Aging technology research
• Gerontechnology research
• Cognitive health technology
• Assistive technology design
• Human factors aging

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CREATE is a multidisciplinary, NIH-funded research center that develops and evaluates technology-based interventions (including immersive virtual reality, intelligent adaptive systems, and AI-powered decision support tools) to promote cognitive health, social engagement, independence, and healthcare decision-making among older adults, including those with mild cognitive impairment. It also produces and freely disseminates validated assessment instruments, design tools, Medicare educational materials, and the Human Factors and Aging Book Series as resources for researchers, designers, caregivers, and older adults themselves.

Product overview

CREATE is a multidisciplinary research center (not a commercial product company) that develops and evaluates technology solutions to promote health and wellness for older adults. The center operates three core research projects: CAST (Cognitive Activity Social Technology) VR system for cognitive and social engagement; SPARC intelligent adaptive system for older adults with mild cognitive impairment; and Medicare Decision Support Tools. Additionally, CREATE offers assessment instruments including the Computer Proficiency Questionnaire, Mobile Device Proficiency Questionnaire, Medicare Proficiency Questionnaire, and design tools (Fitts' Law Calculator, GOMS Spreadsheet). The center also publishes the Human Factors and Aging Book Series and distributes Medicare Information Materials as educational resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CAST (Cognitive Activity Social Technology) Virtual Reality System An immersive virtual reality system providing aging adults with applications supporting cognitive, activity, social, and technology engagement through training, cultural opportunities, social support, and leisure activities.
• SPARC (Supporting Personal Activities and Reinforcing Cognition) An intelligent adaptive system providing cognitive support, social support, and engagement for older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), incorporating speech and biometric data to explore early indicators of cognitive decline.
• Medicare Decision Support Tools Technology tools providing decision support for the cognitive components of older adults' health-management activities, including Medicare.gov navigation, accessing support services, and managing healthcare finances.
• Medicare Information Materials Educational resources including the Medicare Information Series and Decision-Making Flowchart in multiple state-specific versions (Illinois, New York, Generic) to aid older adults in understanding Medicare.
• Computer Proficiency Questionnaire (CPQ) A survey instrument assessing individual ability to use a computer across multiple domains, available in full and short form versions for a wide range of users.
• Mobile Device Proficiency Questionnaire (MDPQ) A survey instrument assessing smartphone or tablet proficiency for various tasks, available in full and short form versions and in multiple languages including German, Japanese, Slovenian, Spanish, and Portuguese.
• Medicare Proficiency Questionnaire (MPQ) A survey measuring individual knowledge about Medicare, designed to assess current and prospective beneficiaries' understanding across Medicare topics.
• Wireless Network Proficiency Questionnaire A questionnaire measuring mobile device proficiency across multiple domains, available in full, shortened, and inclusive versions.
• Technology Experience Profile An assessment tool evaluating individual experience with a wide range of technologies.
• Fitts' Law Calculator A spreadsheet tool estimating movement time for younger and older adults to reach targets based on Fitts' Law formulas.
• GOMS Spreadsheet A design tool showing calculations for the Goals, Operators, Methods, Selection rules (GOMS) model to evaluate the time required for design use.
• Human Factors and Aging Book Series A book series edited by Wendy Rogers providing practical design guidelines for older adults, covering topics including telehealth, transportation, displays, training programs, and robotics.

Quantifiable outcome

• VR technology demonstrated high usability and positive outcomes including improved mood, social connection, and attitudes toward technology in older adults including those with MCI
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Hong Kong Shue Yan University (Dr. Bobo Hi-Po Lau)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023International collaboration comparing intergenerational digital divide in Hong Kong and the U.S. post-pandemic era
• SMART-AGE (Heidelberg University, Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021International collaboration with Heidelberg University testing intelligent assistive systems for self-regulation and co-regulation under real-life conditions. Focuses on tablet-based apps for social participation, health awareness, and physical fitness. Funded by Carl Zeiss Foundation (2021-2026).
• Mobilise-DminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean project partnership focused on digital mobility biomarkers
• University of Manchester (Primary Care & Community Health)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research partner in the SMART-AGE consortium
• ENHANCE (Center for Enhancing Neurocognitive Health, Abilities, Networks & Community Engagement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research collaboration with CREATE on technology to support aging adults with cognitive impairment. Shared symposium presentations at GSA annual meetings.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Gerontological Society of America (GSA): US-based multidisciplinary professional organization for researchers in aging, including the technology and human factors subfields where CREATE publishes. Comparable as a peer professional society and dissemination channel rather than a research center.
• International Society for Gerontechnology: International scientific society that advances research and application of technology for older adults, hosting conferences and publishing in the same gerontechnology field where CREATE operates. Comparable as an ecosystem and convening organization rather than a research peer.

Direct peers

• Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST): LeadingAge-affiliated center focused on developing and evaluating technology for aging services, including cognitive support tools and senior care technologies. Directly comparable as a peer aging-technology research and advocacy organization.
• Mayo Clinic Kogod Center on Aging: Mayo Clinic's translational research center studying aging biology, age-related disease, and interventions to extend healthspan. Comparable as a peer major academic aging research center, though with more biomedical and less technology-design orientation.
• Heidelberg University SMART-AGE Consortium: Carl Zeiss Foundation-funded international consortium testing intelligent assistive systems for self-regulation in older adults, with active CREATE partnership since 2021. Comparable as a peer international aging-technology research consortium.
• Stanford Center on Longevity: Stanford's interdisciplinary research center studying longevity, aging populations, and technology-enabled independent living. Comparable as a peer academic research center with similar human-centered design and aging-tech focus.
• ENHANCE Center: Center for Enhancing Neurocognitive Health, Abilities, Networks & Community Engagement with active research collaboration with CREATE on technology to support aging adults with cognitive impairment. Closely comparable peer with shared symposiums and overlapping research portfolio.
• MIT AgeLab: MIT's interdisciplinary research center studying aging and technology, with a similar focus on human factors, design for older adults, and transportation/mobility technology for aging populations. Directly comparable as a peer academic aging-technology research center.
• University of Illinois Cognitive Science Group / Human Factors Labs: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign houses several human factors and aging research groups including Wendy Rogers's CREATE-affiliated lab. Comparable as a peer academic site contributing to the same research portfolio and training pipeline.
• Oregon Center for Aging & Technology (ORCATECH): OHSU-based NIH-funded center that uses in-home sensors and continuous monitoring to study aging, cognitive decline, and technology adoption in older adults. Directly comparable as a peer federally funded aging-technology research consortium.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CREATE_Center
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@createcenter320/playlists

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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