The global population is ageing, fast. As one of the most significant social transformations of the 21^st century, population ageing impacts all sectors of society, influencing the demand for goods and services, family structures, interactive living space and intergenerational ties.

Positively, older persons are increasingly recognised as contributors to development — whose abilities to act for the betterment of themselves and their societies should be drawn upon and woven into policies and programmes at all levels. This recognition presents a wealth of research opportunities, encompassing domains such as post-retirement financial security, innovative living arrangements, community roles in ageing in place, integrated health and social care, and other aspects contributing to the well-being of older persons.

Current research initiatives on population ageing, though extensive, are fragmented. This has bred gaps in knowledge and hamstrung the development of comprehensive and effective solutions to challenges in ageing. Asia, which accounts for about 60% of the global population, is home to some of the world’s oldest and fastest-ageing populations — making it a fertile ground for research in this area.

Against this backdrop, the National University of Singapore (NUS), a leading university in Asia, is well-positioned to leverage its resources and expertise, across disciplines such as social sciences, medicine, engineering, and architecture, to spearhead ageing-related research efforts.