The Launch of a Groundbreaking Initiative at World Ageing Festival 2026
On April 14, 2026, Singapore Management University (SMU) unveiled its Longevity Societies and Economies Institute (LSEI) during the prestigious World Ageing Festival 2026 at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre. The event, co-hosted by SMU and organised by Ageing Asia, drew thousands of participants, including policymakers, industry leaders, and academics, underscoring the urgency of addressing Asia's demographic shifts. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance, and Second Minister for National Development, Ms Indranee Rajah, officiated the launch, highlighting government commitment to innovative research for sustainable ageing. SMU President Professor Lily Kong emphasised the need to redesign systems no longer suited to lifespans extending to 90 or 100 years, pointing to everyday barriers like fast escalators and employer-centric digital forms that marginalise older adults.
This launch positions SMU as a leader in higher education's response to Singapore's transition into a super-aged society, where over 21 percent of the population will be 65 or older by 2026, rising to nearly 24 percent by 2030. The institute represents a strategic escalation of SMU's longstanding work in ageing studies, backed by a multi-year commitment exceeding S$10 million.
Singapore's Rapid Path to Super-Aged Status
Singapore's demographic landscape is transforming at an unprecedented pace. Currently, 20.7 percent of citizens are aged 65 and above, up from 13.1 percent in 2015. This acceleration stems from low fertility rates around 1.1 births per woman and rising life expectancies—81.3 years for men and 86.6 for women—making the island nation one of the fastest to reach super-aged status globally. By 2030, one in four residents will be seniors, straining labour markets, healthcare, and retirement systems while unlocking potential in the 'silver economy'.
Higher education institutions like SMU are pivotal in navigating this transition. Through LSEI, universities can lead evidence-based policy reforms, workforce redesign, and community innovations, ensuring academia contributes directly to national resilience.
SMU's Legacy in Ageing Research: From ROSA to LSEI
LSEI builds directly on SMU's Centre for Research on Successful Ageing (ROSA), established from the earlier Centre for Research on the Economics of Ageing (CREA) in 2014 with Ministry of Education (MOE) Tier 3 funding. ROSA pioneers holistic well-being studies for older adults, leveraging the Singapore Life Panel® (SLP)—a high-frequency survey of over 10,580 respondents aged 50-80, yielding 884,490 data points since 2015.
ROSA's multidisciplinary team of 28 specialists spans psychology, economics, sociology, and public policy, producing insights on ageing trends, financial security, and social connectivity. Key findings reveal retirement as a 'pivotal life course transition' disrupting identity and purpose, particularly for men, despite increased social participation. LSEI elevates this to university-level impact, integrating economics, business, law, and computing for broader societal redesign.
Leadership Driving Interdisciplinary Innovation
Guiding LSEI are Interim Co-Directors Dr Cheong Wei Yang, SMU Vice Provost for Strategic Research Partnerships and Professor of Sociology (Practice), and Professor Paulin Straughan, ROSA Director. Dr Cheong focuses on economic opportunities like the silver economy, advocating systems redesign for self-reliant seniors. Professor Straughan emphasises purpose-driven longevity, drawing from SLP data on post-retirement social dynamics.
This leadership duo exemplifies higher education's role in convening experts across disciplines, fostering collaborations that translate theory into practice—a model for other Singapore universities facing similar demographic pressures.
Core Research Pillars: Economies and Well-Being
LSEI organises its agenda around two pillars:
- Building Longevity Economies: Adapts labour markets, retirement frameworks, and fiscal policies to ageing. Explores mature worker participation, job redesign, silver economy growth (products/services for seniors), and employer practices for flexible careers.
- Cultivating Holistic Well-Being: Life-course approach to preventive health, financial literacy, social engagement, and mental resilience. Integrates physical, mental, social, and financial dimensions at individual, community, and policy levels.
Cross-cutting themes include technology adoption (digital/assistive tools), legal/regulatory reforms, and behavioural interventions. Aligned with Singapore's Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2030 Plan, these pillars position SMU researchers at the forefront of longevity studies.
Strategic Partnerships Bridging Academia and Practice
LSEI's impact amplifies through partnerships:
- Agency for Integrated Care (AIC): Community care models and purpose-driven engagements.
- Lions Befrienders: Eldercare delivery innovations.
- Singlife: Retirement readiness white paper (H2 2027), actuarial scholarships/internships; addresses 71% lacking retirement confidence.
- St Luke’s ElderCare: Mental resilience and social connections.
- Workforce Singapore (WSG): Mature worker pathways and policy proposals.
These MoUs exemplify how Singapore's universities collaborate with industry and government, creating research-to-policy pipelines.
Opportunities for Higher Education Talent and Students
As a hub for gerontology, economics, and policy research, LSEI opens doors for academics and students. SMU seeks faculty in interdisciplinary fields, with roles in data analysis (SLP), economic modelling, and behavioural studies. PhD/postdoc positions will leverage RIE funding, while undergraduates gain internships via partners like Singlife. This aligns with Singapore's push for research careers, positioning SMU as a top destination for longevity scholars.
| Aspect | Current (2025) | Projection 2030 |
|---|---|---|
| % Aged 65+ | 20.7% | 23.9% |
| Life Expectancy (Avg) | 84 years | ~85+ years |
| SLP Respondents | 10,580 | Expanding |
Policy Implications and National Alignment
LSEI's outputs—white papers, talent pipelines, prototypes—inform policies like retirement age extensions and silver economy incentives. By evidencing gendered retirement impacts and silver market potential, it supports Singapore's Action Plan for Successful Ageing, enhancing fiscal sustainability amid shrinking workforces.
Future Outlook: Global Leadership from Singapore
With events like World Ageing Festival and LSE collaborations (e.g., LSE Urban Institute), SMU eyes Asia-wide influence. Future grants will fund AI-driven ageing analytics and cross-border studies, cementing Singapore universities' role in longevity innovation.
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
Career Pathways in Singapore's Longevity Research
For aspiring researchers, LSEI exemplifies booming opportunities in Singapore higher education. Roles span professorships in sociology/economics to research assistants analysing SLP data, with competitive salaries and global partnerships.