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Innovation & Technology Request

Lithuanian governmental organization working in the field of social security seeks to develop communication tools in public services for people with hearing difficulties

Country of Origin: Lithuania
Reference Number: TRLT20200723001
Publication Date: 27 July 2020

Summary

Lithuanian governmental organization is working in the field of social security. They intend to make it easier for people with hearing difficulties to access public services. The organization is seeking for a solution which would improve access to public services for people with hearing difficulties by automating translation ordering services or translation services themselves. Potential cooperation types might be license or technical cooperation agreement.

Description

Lithuanian governmental organization is working in the field of social security. Their focus is on vulnerable people with hearing impairments. The organization seeks to make it easier for people with hearing difficulties to access public services.



Today’s world is dominated by communication technologies, but they are not easily accessible to people with hearing impairments. There are about 4500 people in Lithuania with hearing impairments and they lack convenient communication tools. ​To contact someone, and especially to access public services over the phone, these people must book a sign language translator and wait. In the whole country 103 translators provide sign language translation services to 4200 people each year. 



The organization is seeking for a solution which would improve access to public services for people with hearing difficulties by automating translation ordering or translation services themselves. The solution to this challenge should comprise two parts:

1) A mobile application, solving the “communication triangle” (the requirement to manually order translation services in advance);​

2) Application of artificial intelligence tool for real-time translation from / into sign language.

The solution should be innovative, simple and user friendly.



In order to successfully develop the solution, the organization will provide innovators with:

- Direct contacts with the target group of potential users;

- Contacts with telecommunication providers in Lithuania;

- Administrative resources (legal frameworks, process development);

- Funding for product development (in case of success);

- Access to foreign best practices and know-how.



Given the field of activity and the importance of the challenge, a potential innovator could benefit from the project considering it as part of social responsibility strategy.



Possible type of partnerships between selected start-ups or growth companies may be for example licence agreement (buy a license) and technical cooperation agreement (need a technology to be developed).



IMPORTANT NOTE: This technology request is part of an innovation challenge and is published on an open innovation platform. The innovation challenge is focused on encouraging the creation and use of innovative solutions for the government. The application deadline is September 11th. If a company/startup/innovator expresses interest in cooperation with this Lithuanian organization before closing date, it will be guided towards this open innovation platform where it can submit a proposal. The proposed solutions are presented at the Pitch Day, where all stakeholders gather in order to hear pitches proposed for the challenge. The best pitches are then selected after consultation with a panel of judges – experts that understand what will have the biggest impact. The selected teams proceed to the next phase of the innovation challenge – Accelerator process in which their ideas become prototypes and later products. If the solution is working properly, the governmental organization is ready to start the procurement processes.

Expertise sought

The organization is seeking for a solution which should include two parts:

1) A mobile application, solving the “communication triangle” (the requirement to manually order translation services in advance);​

2) Application of artificial intelligence tool for real-time translation from / into sign language.

The solution should be innovative, simple and user friendly.

Requested partner

Lithuanian governmental organization is looking for start-ups and SMEs with ideas that fit the conditions of the desired solution outlined through this challenge.



The cooperation model may vary and might be, for example, license agreement or technical cooperation agreement. However, the exact form of cooperation shall be defined between the partners.