European Industry Association for Digital Assistive Technology
Who we are
DATEurope is the newly launched Digital Assistive Technology Industry Association for Europe.
DATEurope, the European Industry Association for Digital Assistive Technology
DATEurope is the recently founded European Industry Association for Digital Assistive Technology. Our vision is to enable access to digital assistive technology for all. The association represents the DAT industry with its developers, manufacturers, distributors, and service providers throughout Europe in the broadest geographical sense. Our mission is to unite this specialised industry to influence legislation, raise awareness, and to achieve sustainability, growth, and commerce. The specific challenges within Europe, such as different languages, funding systems, cultures and legislation has helped to grow our membership
to more than 70 companies, from sole proprietors to large corporate organisations. Our membership continues to grow in both number and diversity.
DATEurope works together with all of the stakeholders of digital assistive technology in Europe and around the globe. This strong network helps our members to achieve the vision of delivering outstanding technology and services to increase the quality of life of persons with disabilities. DATEurope members have created and follow a Code of Conduct to ensure ethical growth and the sustainability of our industry.
DATEurope Code of Conduct
This Code of Conduct is aimed at protecting the general interests, reputation and credibility of the Member Companies and the Association DATEurope in relation to public organisations, associations and public opinion.
Members of DATEurope will act at all times in such a manner as to justify public trust and confidence, to uphold the good standing and reputation of the Digital Assistive Technology industry, to serve the best interests of society, and above all, to safeguard the interests of individual customers.
Members will be honest and truthful in all their dealings with customers.
- The members agree to comply with all relevant legislation relating to advertising and marketing, the sale of goods, relevant Domestic Laws/European Directives/Regulations, consumer rights, disability rights, and data protection.
- Members should observe fair competition between other DAT companies and respect the interests and work of other members.
- Member Companies should provide an excellent standard of technical support and customer service that is carried out by knowledgeable and qualified staff.
- Members should provide accurate and transparent pricing of products and services, as well as providing General Conditions of Supply: such as delivery method and timescale, costs, terms, and duration of warranty etc.
- Where selling products, members will ensure that these are of satisfactory quality and fit for the purpose specified. Their selling techniques will be ethical, and they will deliver high standards of service.
- If members provide consultation activities and product demonstrations, they should be with the aim of helping users and professionals to identify a device/resource suitable to overcome specific physical and/or cognitive difficulties.
United Countries
of our Members
Albania
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Kosovo
Netherlands
North Macedonia
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Australia
UAE
USA
News
DATEurope – Environmental Control Practitioners Summit 2023
Best Practice, Challenges & Future opportunities for the EC industry
We invite you to Amsterdam for the first-ever summit on Environmental Control (EC) systems. This event is for manufacturers, engineers, technicians, service providers and consultants that serve their customers with EC systems.
In this practical, solution-focused event we shall share knowledge, experience, and technical know-how on designing and installing EC systems. Hands-on workshops will explore technical issues such as interfacing with beds, lifts, intercoms, lighting systems, Smart TVs and more.
Presentations will be made by experts from the fields of Smart Home technology and Medical Devices Regulation and we will discuss the impact of consumer electronics and big tech on our business model.
This summit is a must-attend event for anyone working in the field of digital assistive technology and environmental control.
DATEurope’s first General Assembly was a great success!
DATEurope’s first General Assembly was a great success!
After almost two years of planning and much “behind-the-scenes” work, the members of DATEurope and the pioneer team could finally meet in person again.
On March 17th, 2022 DATEurope held its first Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the town of Nottwil, Switzerland.
We were pleased to welcome our members to the Semperbachsee Hotel, located at the Swiss Paraplegic Center on the shores of Lake Semberbach in central Switzerland. This excellent venue was organized by our member Active Communication, who showed us how generous Swiss hospitality can be.
The assembly was opened by the Co-President of the Pioneer Team, Christoph Jo. Müller who presented the agenda and welcomed the 34 members who sent delegates to the AGM.
Antony Ruck and Christoph Jo. Müller, our Co-Presidents updated the members on the work to date and on the current activities of DATEurope.
Our Pioneer-Team Treasurer, Fiore Capone, highlighted the financial data and our budget for the coming year. Our Auditors, Peter Ossenkoppele and Jürgen Kohl both presented their audit report and were pleased to report that our books are in order.
The pioneer team of DATEurope offered themselves as candidates for the Board of Directors and the members were given the opportunity to vote on the first official Board for DATEurope.
All of the candidates were elected, most of which with a unanimous vote. The support for the pioneer team (and now the Board) was tremendous and all the nominees gladly accepted their new Board positions.
The Board of Directors is as follows:
Christoph Jo. Müller, Co-President
Antony Ruck, Co-President
Fiore Capone, Treasurer
Nadine Farris, Secretary
Gamal Halaga, Membership Secretary
Filippo Borghi, Board Member
David Banes, Board Member
Our auditors Peter Ossenkoppele and Jürgen Kohl were also duly elected to be auditors for the next term.
Founders Meeting Bologna 2021
DATEurope has become a reality! After more than 18 months of intense planning and preparation, over 60 attendees from 16 countries met in the beautiful Italian city of Bologna to participate in our founders meeting. Forty-three companies sent representatives to Bologna to make DATEurope a reality.
The day began with the introduction of the pioneers team which is also the interim board of directors. Many, many special thanks went out to our host, Fillipo Borghi, who organised the entire event and “took care of us” during our time in his home-town of Bologna.
Our board member Gamal Halaga described the mission and vision of DATEurope and spoke of the concepts in our new association. He described how raised visibility and a greater identity of assistive technology should lead to growth and to long-term sustainability of our industry.
Our secretary Nadine Ferris explained how the association is organised into members and board of directors as well as explaining the election process. She explained that the current founders team is acting as an interim board until elections are held at our annual meeting in 2022.
Special thanks went out to our auditors Jürgen Kohl and Peter Ossenkoppelle for taking on this responsibility.
Our co-president, Antony Ruck, spoke on the work-to-date that has been ongoing for over 18 months. Many administrative and organisational steps had to be taken to make DATEurope a reality.
Antony also spoke about growing both our profile and our membership.
David Banes introduced the first results of his funding survey and gave the members and interesting first view into how assistive technology is funded in various European countries. Many thanks to the members who participated in the survey.
Our treasurer, Fiore Capone gave a report on the financial situation of DATEurope, as well as giving us an overview of the members of the association. Fiore spoke of the importance of sustainability and the long-term financing of DATEurope. A budget will be presented at our annual general meeting in 2022.
Our co-president, Christoph Jo. Müller informed the members about networking activities with other key players and of future events.
Save the following dates:
March 17th 2022: The first DATEurope general assembly in Nottwil, Switzerland.
March 18th, 2022: The assistive technology forum (ATF) in Nottwil, Switzerland.
June 23-25th 2022: Rehab fair in Karlsruhe, Germany.
DATEurope has organised a special joint stand for its members at an affordable cost. Members were encouraged to exhibit in Karlsruhe and take advantage of this great opportunity.
October 2022: ATAAC in Zagreb, Croatia.
DATEurope will be a partner of this exhibition and offers its members an attractive exhibitors package.
Other planned events include M-Enabling Europe in Brussels and Exposanita in Bologna.
The afternoon was spent in smaller groups discussing the challenges and opportunities for members and for a European association. Vital questions such as establishing direction and defining the challenges that we face were intensely discussed. David Banes has collected our feedback and will process this into an overview for us.
The assembly was closed by the board of directors and members were invited to celebrate DATEurope at a wonderful social dinner at “Signor Vino”, one of Bolognas famous wine restaurants.
In summary, our founders meeting was a great success. The high number of participants and the excellent feedback from the members has helped our organisation get off to a great start.
A big “Thank You” to all of our members for your contribution, your support and your ideas for the future.
Thank you for being a part of DATEurope, we look forward to seeing you in Nottwil, Switzerland on March 17th, 2022 for our first annual meeting!