Singapore Management University Pioneers Longevity Research with New Institute Launch
Singapore Management University (SMU) has taken a bold step forward in addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time: the global shift toward longevity societies. On April 14, 2026, the university unveiled the Longevity Societies and Economies Institute (LSEI), a dedicated hub designed to reshape how Singapore and Asia approach ageing through innovative research and interdisciplinary collaboration. This launch, officiated by Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and National Development, underscores SMU's commitment to positioning itself as a leader in higher education's response to demographic transformations.
The institute emerges at a pivotal moment for Singapore, where life expectancy continues to climb, reaching among the highest in the world. With approximately 1,500 centenarians today—double the number from just over a decade ago—the nation is transitioning into a super-aged society faster than many peers. By 2030, one in four citizens will be 65 or older, demanding a rethink of economic structures, social systems, and individual lifecycles. LSEI aims to bridge the gap between current realities and future needs by focusing not just on healthspan extension but on economic productivity and societal integration for longer lives.
Singapore's Rapid Demographic Shift and the Need for University-Led Innovation
Singapore's population dynamics paint a clear picture of urgency. Declining birth rates combined with rising longevity mean a shrinking workforce supporting a growing elderly cohort. The traditional three-stage life model—education, work, retirement—is obsolete in this context, as individuals now face potential 50- to 60-year careers interspersed with caregiving, reskilling, and encore pursuits. Universities like SMU are uniquely positioned to lead, leveraging their research prowess to inform policy and practice.
Government initiatives, such as the refreshed 2023 Action Plan for Successful Ageing, emphasize the '3Cs': Care, Contribution, and Connectedness. This plan outlines over 70 measures to foster inclusive ageing, from enhanced community care to lifelong learning opportunities. Higher education institutions play a crucial role here, producing evidence-based insights that translate into actionable strategies for employers, policymakers, and communities alike.
Building on SMU's Legacy: From ROSA to LSEI
The foundation for LSEI lies in SMU's longstanding Centre for Research on Successful Ageing (ROSA), established in 2014 as an evolution of the earlier Centre for Research on the Economics of Ageing (CREA). ROSA has pioneered the Singapore Life Panel (SLP), the world's largest high-frequency longitudinal survey on ageing, with over 10,500 active respondents and nearly 900,000 surveys completed since 2015. This monthly data collection tracks financial well-being, health behaviors, social participation, and more, providing granular insights into how Singaporeans navigate later life stages.
Key achievements include identifying trends like post-retirement social network expansions—yet a perceived decline in meaningful contributions, particularly among men—and informing interventions for preventive health and financial preparedness. ROSA's work, funded by bodies like The Ngee Ann Kongsi and the Ministry of Education, directly feeds into LSEI, amplifying SMU's impact in Singapore's higher education landscape.
LSEI's Leadership and Strategic Vision
Guided by 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, LSEI embodies an interdisciplinary ethos. Dr Cheong emphasizes viewing ageing as an 'economic and social opportunity' through integrated systems redesign, while Prof Straughan highlights the need to restore purpose for retirees, countering isolation and underutilization of capabilities.
SMU President Professor Lily Kong envisions LSEI closing the gap between a 'designed world' lagging behind lived realities, where people live to 90 or 100 while remaining curious and productive. With a multi-year S$10 million commitment from SMU—aiming for more via the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2030 Plan—the institute aligns with SMU's 2030 strategy, the third in a suite of high-impact centers following those on resilience and sustainability.
Photo by Stephanie Yeh on Unsplash
Core Research Pillars: Economies and Well-Being in a Longevity Era
LSEI organizes its efforts around two pillars. The first, Building Longevity Economies, tackles labour productivity, mature workforce participation, employer practices, retirement adequacy, fiscal sustainability, and silver economy markets. Research will explore job redesign for older workers, flexible career pathways, and fiscal models supporting extended working lives.
The second pillar, Cultivating Holistic Well-Being, addresses preventive health, financial literacy, social engagement, and mental resilience across lifespans. Cross-cutting themes include legal frameworks, assistive technologies, and behavioral nudges. Outputs will target government agencies, financial firms, and NGOs, fostering evidence-based redesigns.
For instance, early insights from ROSA reveal retirees boosting activities but struggling with purpose—prompting LSEI to develop interventions like purpose-driven community roles. This positions SMU at the forefront of Singapore universities pioneering longevity economics.
Strategic Partnerships Driving Real-World Impact
Collaboration is central to LSEI. Partnerships include the Agency for Integrated Care for community care outcomes; Lions Befrienders for eldercare service gaps; Singlife for retirement readiness white papers and actuarial training; St Luke’s ElderCare for social resilience; and Workforce Singapore for mature worker opportunities. These alliances bridge academia and practice, ensuring research translates to policy and programs.
Such ties exemplify how Singapore's higher education sector integrates with industry and government, amplifying university contributions to national challenges like the longevity transition. SMU's official announcement details these collaborations, highlighting their potential for scalable solutions.
Educational Initiatives and Talent Pipeline
Beyond research, LSEI fosters talent development. Initiatives like Singlife scholarships and internships in actuarial science will train the next generation of experts in longevity finance. SMU's interactive, project-based pedagogy—emphasizing real-world application—will integrate longevity themes across disciplines, from economics and sociology to law and tech.
This aligns with Singapore's push for lifelong learning, where universities evolve into hubs for reskilling across ages. Programs may include executive education on silver economy strategies, preparing professionals for emerging markets in eldercare tech and financial planning.
Positioning SMU Among Singapore's Longevity Research Leaders
SMU's LSEI complements a vibrant ecosystem. Duke-NUS Medical School's Centre for Ageing Research & Education (CARE) advances biological insights, like interleukin-11's role in ageing. The National University Health System's Centre for Healthy Longevity (opened 2022) targets adding five disease-free years via clinical trials. Nanyang Technological University (NTU) partners with Nestlé on nutrition-longevity labs, focusing on women's health.
NUS's Healthy Longevity Translational Research Programme and Academy for Healthy Longevity emphasize precision geromedicine. Together, these efforts showcase Singapore universities' multidisciplinary attack on ageing, with SMU carving a niche in socio-economic dimensions. The Straits Times highlights this synergy in rethinking support systems.
Policy Influence and Future Outlook
LSEI's research will inform updates to the Action Plan for Successful Ageing, advocating systems-level changes like flexible retirement ages and intergenerational equity. As Asia grapples with similar shifts, SMU aims for global thought leadership through collaborations and publications.
Challenges remain: funding competition, interdisciplinary silos, and translating findings amid rapid tech evolution. Yet, with S$10m seed capital and strategic partners, LSEI promises to drive Singapore's vision of productive, inclusive longevity. By 2050, when one in three seniors may be 80+, university-led innovation will be indispensable.
Career Opportunities in Singapore's Longevity Higher Education Sector
The rise of institutes like LSEI opens doors for academics, researchers, and administrators specializing in gerontology, economics, sociology, and data science. Roles span faculty positions analyzing SLP data, postdoctoral fellowships in silver economy modeling, and program directors for executive longevity courses.
Singapore's universities offer competitive salaries, research grants, and international exposure. For instance, SMU's focus on practice professors attracts industry experts, while partnerships yield funded PhDs. Aspiring professionals can leverage platforms for university jobs, positioning themselves at the intersection of higher education and national priorities.
In summary, SMU's Longevity Societies and Economies Institute not only elevates the university's profile but catalyzes Singapore's higher education response to longevity, fostering resilient societies through knowledge and innovation.
