MEDIA RELEASE
12 May 2023

For Immediate Release
Ageing Asia and SUSS join forces to organise the world’s biggest ageing
festival in Singapore across 24-25 May 2023
Over 100 world’s’ top gerontech solutions and launch of inaugural
SUSS Geronpreneurship Innovation Festival to promote successful ageing
along Singapore’s International Ageing Week
Singapore, 12 May 2023 – Ageing Asia 2023 – The World Ageing Festival (14th Edition) is co-organised
for the first time with the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), featuring the inaugural
Geronpreneurship Innovation Festival, with 2,000 global industry leaders from 21 countries and 3,000seniors expected to attend.
This business and academia collaboration sends a strong signal of confidence for the growth of Singapore’s
silver economy, opening the doors for cross-sector and public-private partnerships to build a strong androbust ageing ecosystem for the future of ageing. By 2025, the Asia Pacific ageing market is projected at
US$4.56 trillion. Top sectors that will lead the growth include technology innovations for health andwellbeing, assisted living, manpower and capability development, wellness, and rehabilitation.
Guest-of-Honour of the Festival will be Ms Low Yen Ling, Minister of State for Ministry of Trade and Industryand Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and Mayor, Southwest District Member of Parliament, ChuaChu Kang GRC, Republic of Singapore.
Other key government participants include:• Dr Päivi Sillanaukee, Special Envoy for Health and Wellbeing, The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health,Government of Finland• Mr Yoshiaki Takahashi, Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister, Embassy of Japan in Singapore• Ms Yasuko Arase, Deputy Mayor, Fukuoka City, Government of Japan• Dr Maliki, Acting Deputy Minister for Population and Labour Affairs, Ministry of National Development
Planning Agency, Government of Indonesia• Dr The Honourable Lam Ching-choi, SBS, JP, Member of the Executive Council, Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region, The People’s Republic of China, and CEO, Haven of Hope Christian Service,
Hong Kong SAR“This mutual partnership will foster development of global industry connections for SUSS students andprovide the care sector with access to a future workforce and early-stage projects. The coming tipping pointof the silver economy also points to the need to accelerate professionalisation of the eldercare sector andfor businesses to understand the role Gerontologists will play in helping to align business strategies for theageing consumer demographics. By 2030, 1.8 million or 30% of Singapore’s population will be aged 60 andover. As a country, we have a tremendous opportunity today to lead as frontrunners to demonstrate thatageing is a social and economic opportunity. The impact of the rising ageing population will overlap all
sectors of our economy,” said Ms Janice Chia, Founder & Managing Director, Ageing Asia Pte Ltd,Singapore.

1MEDIA RELEASE
12 May 2023SUSS Geronpreneurship Innovation Festival
The first in Asia and Singapore, the inaugural SUSS Geronpreneurship Innovation Festival will be launchedat the festival as an anchor event to discover and nurture high-potential innovations for a rapidly greying
population in the region, while involving various stakeholders to actively play a part in the gerontology
sector.
A key initiative rolled out under the Ngee Ann Kongsi (NAK) Social Impact Hub, established through SUSS
with an SGD10 million donation to the university, it will host a pitching challenge for gerontology-focusedstartups and showcase next-generation geronpreneurship solutions and strategies with SUSS partners.
Open to the public, aspiring entrepreneurs are welcome to participate and will be selected by a panel ofjudges comprising venture capitalists, academics and industry experts in the eldercare sector.
Professor Tan Tai Yong, SUSS President, said, “Through the SUSS Geronpreneurship Innovation Festival,
we aim to bring more ecosystem players together to inspire and realise greater Geron-technology
innovations to build an age-friendly future. SUSS is well-recognised for our leading Gerontology education
and research speciality in Singapore among the community and industry. We will continue to deepen ourengagements through our teaching and research work with private and public partners to build an inclusiveand healthier society and workforce in Singapore.”
World Ageing FestivalThe Ageing Asia 2023 – World Ageing Festival (14th Edition) and Singapore University of Social Sciences(SUSS) Geronpreneurship Innovation Festival will be held from 24 to 25 May 2023 at the Marina Bay Sands
Expo and Convention Centre, along the International Ageing Week in Singapore. The entire festival willshowcase key highlights including the 11th Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards 2023, the Active
Ageing Seminar and the Ageing Asia Innovation Exhibition that curates the world’s top 100 products thatwill enable successful ageing – Assistive Living, Home & Community Care, Active Ageing, Technology andRehabilitation & Wellness.
The inaugural Geronpreneurship Innovation Festival is a key initiative under the Ngee Ann Kongsi (NAK)
Social Impact Hub launched by SUSS. Through the NAK Social Impact Hub, SUSS is committed to expand
its efforts in identifying and nurturing innovative and sustainable solutions to address complex communityand social issues, and build an age-friendly future in Singapore.
With the launch of this festival, SUSS aims to showcase and inspire innovations in gerontology bygenerating sustainable interest and funding activities for geronpreneurship startups, as well as actively
engage various corporate and community stakeholders to play a part in advancing the Gerontology sector.
As a university dedicated to learning for life and impacting lives, SUSS has a rich heritage in continuous
education and transforming society through its applied teaching and research work as well as extensive
partnerships with the community and industry.

2MEDIA RELEASE
12 May 2023
The World Ageing Festival, organised by homegrown Singaporean social enterprise, Ageing Asia, along
the world’s biggest international ageing week, celebrates global care innovations with 5,000 participants
across B2B2C, 100 speakers, 100 exhibitors, 100 products and reach to 50 countries over 5 exciting days.
Each year, the platform provides an opportunity for new innovations, product launches and showcases.
In 2023, the theme of “Celebrating Life and Longevity” addresses the mindset shift of new generations ofolder people who aspire for health, independence, and purpose. The vision of the International Ageing
Week by Ageing Asia is to encourage global knowledge exchange, cross-industry collaborations, and sector
partnerships to help accelerate the launch of new projects and innovations.
100 Global Eldercare Innovation Speakers including Super Ageing Japan“Life expectancy in Japan is increasing and our population is ageing rapidly. Currently, Japan's rate ofageing is the highest in the world, and the rate of ageing is predicted to skyrocket also throughout Asiannations. Fukuoka City launched the Fukuoka 100 Project in 2017 involving a wide range of players including
residents, companies, and universities, with the aim of creating a sustainable society where people can live
as they like even after they turn 100 years old. We are taking on the challenge of becoming a model for thewhole of Asia by actively utilising advanced technologies such as AI, IT and big data. I look forward to many
people’s participation in the event,” said Opening Keynote Speaker, Ms Yasuko Arase, Deputy Mayor,
Fukuoka City, Government of Japan.
“I have participated in the World Ageing Festival by Ageing Asia every year for the past seven years. Here,I learn not "global standards" but "global excellence". Positive inspiration from many ambitious players has
accelerated our growth. I look forward to another great opportunity this year and I hope to contribute,” said
Chairperson of Japan Innovation Showcase, Dr Jun Sasaki, Founder and Chairman, Yushoukai MedicalCorporation, Japan.
Debuting for the first time as an international collaboration outside of Japan with the support of the original
restaurant advisor, Mr Yukio Wada, Director & General Manager, Daiki Enzeru Help Co., Ltd, Japan, said,“To everyone out there, we hope that you will take a look at the concept of the ‘Restaurant of Mistaken
Orders’ project. This is to build a society that does not let people give up on life even if they suffer fromdementia. I am sure you will feel softness toward others.” The event pop-up and subsequent cafe pop-up
are organised in partnership with The Salvation Army Peacehaven. “A wonderful opportunity to empower
Person Living with Dementia to display their ability and maintain their sense of self-worth,” said Mdm Low
Mui Lang, Executive Director, The Salvation Army Peacehaven, Singapore. “We want to keep introducing
new models of life for older people, not just care. The World Ageing Festival aims to help spread dementia
awareness to help make our society more open-minded and mainstream,” said, Ms Janice Chia, Founder,
Ageing Asia Pte Ltd, Singapore.
Social initiatives and contributions by Event Organiser, Ageing Asia•

Sponsorship of Complimentary Tickets for CEOs of the Charity / Not-for-profit sector in Singapore
and 50% off tickets for their teams.

3MEDIA RELEASE
12 May 2023•Sponsorship of 3,000 Complimentary Tickets for Seniors and limited-edition event goody bags
themed ‘Age with Kindness’.

•Recruitment of 55 Volunteers from ages 24 to 75, including seniors and Singapore University ofSocial Science (SUSS) students. All volunteers will each receive a specially designed event T-shirt andlimited-edition event goody bag.

•Launch of Ageing Asia value for the year, Age with Kindness, in consultation with Singapore
Kindness Movement. The Chinese character for Kindness (善) pronounced as (shàn) represents
Ageing Asia’s vision for the year, ‘Age with Kindness’. A world where we can find kindness andgraciousness in everyone – to extend compassion, consideration, and helpfulness towards others.
Together, we strive to build kinder communities that will change the future of ageing in Asia Pacific.
Singa, the Kindness Lion will be at the event on 24 May from 8.30am to 10.30am to welcome
participants and celebrate. Dr William Wan, General Secretary, Singapore Kindness Movement,Singapore, will deliver a speech on Age with Kindness: Inspiring graciousness, one kind act at a time.

•Sponsorship of paint materials Singapore’s heritage mural artist, Yip Yew Chung, paints live at theWorld Ageing Festival on 24 May for an auction donation at the Awards Gala Dinner. Proceeds will go
towards Senior Art Excursions facilitated by our Cultural Partner, The Private Museum, Singapore, acharity and not-for-profit organisation.

•Sponsorship of Exhibition Space for Silver Entrepreneurs showcase at the Exhibition featuring
three senior businesses – Gold Kimchi, Sylvia’s Lace and Through the Valley: The Art of Living Well
and Leaving Well.

– END –Ageing Asia Pte Ltd, Singapore
Ageing Asia is Asia Pacific’s first industry alliance on the business of ageing. We are an independent global
eldercare knowledge platform with a community of business, government and community leaders that aimto drive change in the future of ageing in Asia Pacific. Our vision is to lead an advocacy and educationalrole in improving quality and standards of eldercare, nurture partnerships and curate development ofsolutions that address the new opportunities and market demands of the ageing baby boomer population.
For more information on Ageing Asia, please visit www.ageingasia.com.
Singapore University of Social Sciences
SUSS is a university with a rich heritage in inspiring lifelong education and transforming society throughsocial sciences. We develop students and alumni to be work-ready and work-adaptive, aspiring to reach
their full potential, through our 3H’s education philosophy – ‘Head’ for professional competency with applied
knowledge, ‘Heart’ for social awareness of the needs of the society, and ‘Habit’ for passion towards lifelong
learning. We offer more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programmes, available in full- and part-time
study modes which are flexible, modular and interdisciplinary, catering to both fresh school leavers and4

MEDIA RELEASE
12 May 2023
adult learners. SUSS also offers a broad range of continuing education and training modular courses forthe professional skills upgrading of Singapore's workforce.
Our programmes and courses are offered by our five schools:• S R Nathan School of Human Development• School of Business• School of Humanities and Behavioural Sciences• School of Law• School of Science and Technology
To date, over 44,000 graduates have experienced our unique brand of education, and each year, over21,000 students are pursuing their full- and part-time studies with us.
The Institute for Adult Learning (IAL), as part of SUSS, leads in the field of research on adult and workplacelearning and training of adult educators to build capabilities of the training and adult education sector inSingapore and beyond.
For more information on SUSS, please visit suss.edu.sg.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Ageing Asia (Organiser) Media Contacts:
Chan Loke Fung (Mr)Communications & Marketing
Email: lokefungchan@ageingasia.com
Mobile: 8112 7029

Janice Chia (Ms)
Communications & Marketing
Email: janicechia@ageingasia.com
Mobile: 9684 6966

Singapore University of Social Sciences, SUSS (Co-organiser) Media Contacts:
Carol Chong (Ms)
Communications & Marketing
Email: carolchongsw@suss.edu.sg
Mobile: 9475 3167

Stephanie Tiu (Ms)
Communications & Marketing
Email: stephanietiutw@suss.edu.sg
Mobile: 9828 2141

5