On 28 October, the AccessCat Network held its 3rd AccessCat Innovation Day, bringing together researchers, institutions, public authorities and organisations working in the field of accessibility. As part of the event, held at Casa Convalescència, UAB, the awards for the 3rd Disruptive Solutions Call were presented. This year, two research projects from the network were recognised: SCRIBAL-Social, from the CLiC group (Universitat de Barcelona), and Comunicar PlanAccess, from the TraDiLex group (Universitat Pompeu Fabra).

Both initiatives had already received awards in the first edition of the call and are now receiving further support to continue their development. In addition, both projects were recognised in the 2024 Knowledge Industry Awards, highlighting their track record and the potential of their research proposals.

• In this new edition, SCRIBAL-Social aims to add a new feature to its transcription tool so that it can detect and adapt to people with speech difficulties (including, for example, people with Down's syndrome or those recovering from a stroke). The aim is to develop more inclusive transcription tools that can accommodate a wider range of speech patterns and help remove communication barriers.
• Meanwhile, Comunicar PlanAccess intends to use the funding to launch the project's communication strategy. The initiative is at an advanced stage of development and is preparing to enter the market. This additional support will make it possible to work on raising the project's profile and carrying out the actions needed to bring the solution closer to its potential users.

The Disruptive Solutions Call aims to fund the evaluation and valorisation of innovative solutions in the field of accessibility, including technologies, services and knowledge-based initiatives. The total funding available for this third edition amounts to up to €25,000, distributed between the two winning projects. SCRIBAL-Social, from the CLiC group (Universitat de Barcelona), has won first prize, receiving up to €15,000, while Comunicar PlanAccess, from the TraDiLex group (Universitat Pompeu Fabra), has won second prize, receiving up to €10,000.

With this new edition, AccessCat continues to promote knowledge transfer and help turn accessibility research outcomes into practical solutions with real-world applications and social impact.

Find out more about both initiatives in the AccessCat Catalogue of Technologies, Resources and Services:

• SCRIBAL-Social
• Comunicar PlanAccess

Check the final score of all the proposals presented to the Call.