AIJU has obtained funding from the European Union, through the IVACE Program for R&D Projects in collaboration with companies, to carry out the project INTELECTOYS & GAMES – Improving the process of creating accessible games and toys for people with intellectual disabilities.
The grant, co-financed at 60% by the ERDF 2021–2027 Program, corresponds to file IMDEEA/2025/74, with an awarded amount of €199,833.15. The project will be implemented between May 2025 and June 2026, following the award resolution issued on July 21, 2025.
A project with a strong social focus
The purpose of the INTELECTOYS & GAMES project is to support toy SMEs in the Valencian Community in designing both physical and digital games and toys that are accessible for children with intellectual disabilities, applying universal design tools adapted to the sector’s context.
With this initiative, AIJU reinforces its commitment to promoting solutions that foster child inclusion and enhance the competitiveness of the toy industry.
Collaboration with leading companies in the sector
The initiative will involve the participation of key reference companies in the toy industry:
- Miniland, specialized in educational toys.
- Juguettos, the leading toy retail chain in Spain, with its own brands and inclusive strategies.
- World Brands, distributor of internationally recognized products.
- Playmobil Ibérica, Spanish subsidiary of the renowned German manufacturer.
These companies will collaborate in validating results, co-creating prototypes, and transferring knowledge to the sector.
Specific objectives of the project
INTELECTOYS & GAMES aims to move towards a more inclusive design model by:
- Identifying companies’ needs in terms of inclusion and accessibility.
- Analyzing user requirements, both with and without functional diversity, to promote an integrative approach to toy design.
- Creating a universal design tool tailored to the toy sector, reviewed by international experts.
- Developing inclusive prototypes through pilot studies, including briefing, concepts, 2D/3D designs, and physical prototypes.
- Transferring the knowledge generated via workshops, webinars, and a Good Practices Guide on accessible design.
Expected results
The project foresees both intellectual and tangible outcomes:
- Intellectual results: a study on company requirements and needs, the creation of a product evaluation tool, and a Good Practices Guide for the industry.
- Physical results: the development of prototypes and inclusive demonstrators in collaboration with toy companies from the Valencian Community.
In addition, AIJU will apply its research expertise to refine analysis methods that allow the evaluation of toy material characteristics according to the needs of children with intellectual disabilities.
INTELECTOYS & GAMES will generate new knowledge and practical tools that will strengthen a toy sector that is more competitive, inclusive, and socially responsible, acting as a driving project for the industry in the Valencian Community
For more information:
Encarna Torres
encarnatorres@aiju.es
+34 625 522 296