Senior-Lab

What Senior-Lab does

Senior-Lab is a Swiss non-profit interdisciplinary living-lab platform founded in 2018 in Lausanne and jointly governed by three HES-SO higher-education institutions — Institut et Haute École de la Santé La Source, Haute École d'Ingénierie et de Gestion du Canton de Vaud (HEIG-VD), and École cantonale d'art de Lausanne (ECAL). Its core offering is a participatory living-lab methodology through which seniors, academic researchers, and partner organizations co-create applied-research outputs and validated innovations in aging-related domains including housing, digital inclusion, mobility, violence prevention, teleassistance, and tourism. The platform delivers this through structured services — Design Thinking workshops, applied research engagements, focus groups, and co-creation workshops — supplemented by deployable outputs such as the Plateforme Digital Facile (digital-inclusion platform launched 2025) and Philexia (a typography/contrast accessibility plugin developed at ECAL).

The business model is institutional rather than commercial: Senior-Lab is funded through research grants, project-based public and private partnerships, and hosting support from its three founding institutions; no commercial pricing or revenue figures are publicly disclosed. Distribution runs through the HES-SO academic network and European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), combined with earned media (RTS broadcasts, conferences), community direct engagement with seniors, and working groups such as the Habitats Senior community of practices with cantonal authorities (DGCS Canton Vaud) and industry partners. Revenue concentration is diffused across multiple public, academic, and private-sector counterparties (CHUV, AVASAD, Pro Senectute Vaud, Energie Wasser Bern, Buchard Voyages, Dahu Solutions, Horgenglarus, among others), with no external venture or private-equity backing identified.

Name

Senior-Lab

Legal name

Senior-Lab

Website

https://senior-lab.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Senior-Lab is a non-profit, Swiss interdisciplinary living-lab platform founded in 2018 by three HES-SO institutions (La Source, HEIG-VD, ECAL) that co-creates applied-research and innovation outputs with seniors, academic researchers, and public/private partners in aging-related domains including housing, digital inclusion, mobility, and violence prevention.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Applied Research and Innovation Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online & Hybrid Senior Learning Platforms (EDAAAMAD), University- or College-Affiliated Senior Learning Programs (EDAAAMAC)

Keywords

• Living lab research
• Senior innovation services
• Applied gerontology research
• Participatory co-creation
• User-centered design

Headquarters

HQ city

Lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Funding and Grants: Senior-Lab operates as an academic living lab funded through research grants, institutional support from founding schools (La Source, HEIG-VD, ECAL), and project-based funding from public and private partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Senior-Lab is an interdisciplinary living lab that delivers applied research, design thinking workshops, focus groups, and co-creation sessions to develop innovations for and with seniors. It connects academic researchers, public authorities, and private companies with a community of seniors who act as experts in participatory projects addressing aging-related challenges in housing, health, mobility, digital inclusion, and violence prevention.

Product overview

Senior-Lab is a living-lab platform and research organization, not a traditional software product company. Its offering consists of a suite of co-creation and applied research services, including design thinking workshops, applied research, focus groups, and co-creation workshops. Key digital products include the Plateforme Digital Facile (a senior-friendly digital learning platform) and Philexia (an accessibility-focused typography plugin). The platform connects seniors with businesses, researchers, and public institutions to develop age-appropriate innovations in housing, health, social inclusion, and mobility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Design Thinking Workshops User-centered innovation workshops following a step-by-step process to understand needs (empathy), define problems or opportunities, generate ideas (ideation), and prototype and test solutions for feasible, viable, and desirable outcomes. Targeted at organizations developing products and services for seniors.
• Applied Research Scientific research methodology that applies theoretical knowledge and research methods to solve concrete problems in the field of aging, improving existing processes and developing practical solutions. Targeted at academic, public, and private partners.
• Focus Groups & Workshops Collaborative formats for gathering opinions, exploring ideas, and co-constructing solutions. Focus groups are structured discussions with targeted groups; workshops are participatory sessions where participants actively work on specific problems or projects. Senior-Lab prepares, runs, and analyses these sessions.
• Co-Creation Workshops Collaborative sessions where participants work together to generate ideas, develop solutions, or design projects by combining their perspectives and expertise. Senior-Lab organizes workshops bringing together key actors and senior end users to create collective solutions to specific issues.
• Plateforme Digital Facile A co-created digital platform by and for seniors that facilitates learning everyday technologies through video tutorials, a mutual aid blog, and an online classifieds platform. Aims to promote inclusive digital transition for elderly users.
• Philexia A browser plugin and typography system developed at ECAL that modifies web pages with a custom typeface designed to help seniors better differentiate similar letters (p, d, b, q) and customize contrast preferences for improved readability.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1418 responses collected in national senior mobility survey
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered founding, core, major and minor.

• Institut et Haute École de la Santé La Source (La Source)foundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Founding institution providing expertise in health sciences, nursing, and gerontology. Co-responsible for Senior-Lab governance and research direction. Host institution for offices at Beaulieu site.
• Haute École d'Ingénierie et de Gestion du Canton de Vaud (HEIG-VD)foundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Founding institution providing engineering and management expertise. Hosts annual conferences at Yverdon site. Contributes researchers including Prof. Francesca Bosisio as co-responsible.
• École cantonale d'art de Lausanne (ECAL)foundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Founding institution providing design expertise. Hosts events at Renens campus. Laurent Soldini serves as industrial designer and Ra&D project manager.
• European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational non-profit association promoting user-centered innovation ecosystems. Senior-Lab is a member, providing access to European living lab network and best practice sharing.
• Centre national de compétence 'Vieillesse sans violence'coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational competence center addressing elder abuse and violence. Collaboration on VCA project (Violence dans les couples âgés) and awareness campaigns.
• GERONTOLOGIE CHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization developing 'Ma commune, amie des aînés' platform for senior-friendly municipalities. Prof. Delphine Roulet Schwab serves as President.
• AVASAD (Association vaudoise d'aide et de soin à domicile)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome care and assistance association in Canton Vaud. Partner in senior housing initiatives and healthcare service development.
• Direction générale de la cohésion sociale (DGCS) du Canton de VaudmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCantonal directorate for social cohesion. Partner in housing adapted initiatives (LADA) and community of practices development.
• Fondation de l'OrmemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation active in care and home support. Member of 'Habitats Senior' community of practices.
• Patrick Minder ArchitectesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm specializing in senior-adapted housing. Presented at 'Mieux soigner plus près de chez soi' conference on housing challenges.
• Energie Wasser BernmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal utility company that developed Siima teleassistance system. Senior-Lab conducted user testing and validation through focus groups and customer journey studies.
• Buchard VoyagesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerValais-based travel company. Studied evolution of senior travel habits through focus groups to adapt service offerings.
• Dahu SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany developing Presby app for retired-employer connections. Senior-Lab provided research insights on senior needs.
• Ville de LausannemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Lausanne partnered on 'Seniors & technologies' event and Digital-Facile platform development for digital inclusion.
• rundum mobil GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMobility solutions company. Collaborated on national survey of senior mobility with over 1,400 respondents.
• Alter Ego AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation addressing elder abuse. Partner in CHUV 'Hôpital Adapté aux Aînés' (HAdAs) program and awareness initiatives.
• Pro Senectute VaudmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior services organization. Presented on home care and aging services. Partner in mobility and housing projects.
• Stabbi'lab d'AnnecyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border living lab in Annecy, France. Collaborated on 2021 Mobility Week event.
• HorgenglarusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWood craftsmanship company. Collaborated on Design Days 2024 project developing senior-appropriate wooden objects.
• Clinique de La SourceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate clinic. Supporter of Senior-Lab Mobility Week event and general activities.
• EPFL Centre LearnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPFL's learning center. Presented on artificial intelligence and seniors at 'Seniors & technologies' event.
• Forum national âge et migrationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational forum on aging and migration. Participated in round table on migrant seniors' access to healthcare.
• EPER (Entraide Protestante Suisse)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Protestant aid organization. Participated in round table on migrant seniors through Age et migration program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Forum national âge et migration: Swiss national forum on aging and migration. Senior-Lab is a participant in its round tables. It is comparable as a Swiss convening body on senior-related social issues and policy development.
• Fondation de l'Orme: Swiss foundation active in care and home support for seniors, and a member of the same Habitats Senior community of practices as Senior-Lab. It is comparable as a regional operator focused on adapted senior housing.
• European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL): ENoLL is the international non-profit association of which Senior-Lab is a member. It provides the network of living labs that supports Senior-Lab's methodology, benchmarking, and cross-border project opportunities.

Direct peers

• Centre for Ageing Better: UK-based charity that works on aging innovation through research, partnerships, and campaigns. It mirrors Senior-Lab's mission of co-creating age-friendly solutions and engaging older adults as central participants in the design process.
• MIT AgeLab: MIT AgeLab is an interdisciplinary research lab that applies design thinking and technology to improve quality of life for older adults. Like Senior-Lab, it combines research, industry partnerships, and user co-creation with seniors to develop innovative solutions.
• Ageing & Health Research Center (AHRC): AHRC at ZHAW is a Swiss applied research center that develops solutions for healthy aging. Like Senior-Lab, it is a university-affiliated, interdisciplinary research platform with industry partnerships and applied methods in gerontology.

Regional players

• Pro Senectute: Pro Senectute is Switzerland's largest senior services organization and is a senior-lab project partner. It operates across Switzerland with a national footprint of services, programs, and advocacy, making it a comparable regional player in the Swiss elder ecosystem.
• CURAVIVA Switzerland: National association of care and nursing institutions in Switzerland. CURAVIVA represents providers of residential and ambulatory care for seniors, overlapping with Senior-Lab's elder services and policy engagement.
• TiLn - Tissel Living Lab Network: French-speaking Swiss living lab network that supports user-centered innovation projects. Comparable to Senior-Lab in methodology and regional scope, though with broader topic coverage beyond aging.

Emerging players

• DomoHealth: DomoHealth is a Swiss digital health platform focused on remote patient monitoring and aging-in-place technology. It is a member of Senior-Lab's Habitats Senior community of practices, making it a partial peer in senior-focused digital health innovation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/seniorlabsuisse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/senior-lab-ch
• Instagraminstagram.com/seniorlab.ch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Senior-Lab