The Launch of a New Era in Ageing Research at SMU

Singapore Management University marked a significant milestone in higher education's response to demographic shifts with the official launch of the Longevity Societies and Economies Institute on April 14, 2026. Held during the 17th World Ageing Festival, the event was graced by Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and National Development. This initiative consolidates years of pioneering work at SMU, positioning the university as a leader in addressing Singapore's transition to a super-aged society.

The institute arrives at a critical juncture. Singapore is projected to have over 21 percent of its population aged 65 and above by 2026, earning the 'super-aged' designation. By 2030, this figure rises to one in four citizens, straining labour markets, healthcare systems, and social structures while opening doors to the burgeoning silver economy, estimated at US$72.4 billion locally by 2025.

SMU President Professor Lily Kong emphasized redesigning systems for longer lives, noting that traditional 'learn, earn, retire' models are obsolete. The institute aims to bridge this gap through interdisciplinary research, translating insights into practical solutions for policymakers, businesses, and communities.

Singapore's Rapid Path to Super-Aged Status

Singapore's demographic transformation is among the fastest globally. Life expectancy has climbed to 83 years, while fertility rates hover below 1.1 children per woman. The working-age population (20-64) has shrunk from 64.5 percent in 2015 to 59.8 percent in June 2025, with projections showing continued decline.

This shift demands innovative approaches. The government's refreshed Action Plan for Successful Ageing 2023 outlines over 70 initiatives across health, participation, and care, aligning seamlessly with LSEI's goals. Universities like SMU play a pivotal role, leveraging data-driven research to inform national strategies.

Challenges include rising chronic conditions—SLP data shows the mean number increasing steadily—and economic pressures like retirement adequacy. Yet opportunities abound in the silver economy, where mature workers can extend careers via flexible roles, boosting productivity and personal fulfilment.

Building on SMU's Legacy: From CREA and ROSA to LSEI

The institute evolves from SMU's established centres. The Centre for Research on the Economics of Ageing (CREA), launched in 2014 with MOE funding, pioneered the Singapore Life Panel (SLP), the world's largest high-frequency longitudinal ageing survey. Renamed the Centre for Research on Successful Ageing (ROSA) in 2021, it now boasts 10,580 active respondents and over 884,000 surveys completed.

Key SLP insights reveal nuanced ageing trends: living alone rose from 5.5 percent in 2016 to 9.2 percent in 2024; full-time employment among seniors dropped to 26.5 percent; life satisfaction dipped during COVID but shows partial recovery, with higher education linked to better outcomes. Retirement often reduces perceived social contribution, highlighting needs for purposeful engagement.

LSEI integrates these efforts, expanding scope to economies and societies for holistic impact.

Leadership Driving Interdisciplinary Innovation

Interim Co-Directors Dr. Cheong Wei Yang, SMU Vice Provost for Strategic Research Partnerships and former Ministry of Health Deputy Secretary, and Professor Paulin Tay Straughan, ROSA Director, lead LSEI. Dr. Cheong views ageing as an 'economic opportunity via the silver economy,' advocating integrated redesigns like micro-jobs for seniors.

Professor Straughan notes retirement's identity challenges, drawing from SLP data on social network expansions offset by contribution declines. Their expertise spans sociology, health economics, and policy, fostering collaborations across SMU's schools of business, law, social sciences, and computing.

Core Pillars: Economies and Well-Being

LSEI's agenda revolves around two pillars. Building Longevity Economies examines labour participation, silver market opportunities, retirement systems, and fiscal adaptations. It targets employer incentives for mature hiring and job redesigns to leverage seniors' experience.

Cultivating Holistic Well-Being employs a life-course approach, integrating physical health, mental resilience, social ties, and financial literacy. Cross-cutting themes include tech adoption, regulations, and behavioural nudges for preventive care.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

• Workforce extension through flexible models
• Silver economy growth via targeted products/services
• Community interventions reducing isolation
• Digital tools enhancing independence

Robust Funding and Strategic Partnerships

SMU's S$10 million+ multi-year commitment seeds LSEI, with ambitions for RIE 2030-aligned grants. Partnerships with Agency for Integrated Care, Lions Befrienders, Singlife, St Luke’s ElderCare, and Workforce Singapore enable real-world translation: joint studies on care models, retirement planning, mature worker pathways.

These ties exemplify higher education's bridge between academia and practice, amplifying impact on Singapore's Action Plan.

Research Initiatives and Data-Driven Insights

LSEI leverages SLP's monthly waves for timely trends. Findings show socioeconomic disparities: lower-educated seniors face poorer health, more chronics; females report worse self-rated health despite fewer conditions. Economic satisfaction ties to education and cohort, underscoring lifelong learning's role.

Future projects will model silver economy potentials, projecting contributions to GDP via senior consumption and labour. ROSA's symposiums and reports inform policy, with LSEI expanding to pan-Asian comparisons.

Higher Education's Pivotal Role in Policy and Innovation

In Singapore's university landscape, SMU's LSEI complements NUS and NTU efforts in healthy longevity, but uniquely focuses socioeconomic dimensions. It trains future leaders via courses, fellowships, attracting talent to ageing studies.

Interdisciplinary programmes equip graduates for silver sectors, aligning with national skills needs. Research influences re-employment to 70 by 2030, fostering inclusive growth.

Global Relevance and Asian Leadership

As Asia greys fastest, LSEI positions Singapore universities as hubs. Collaborations like LSE-SMU seed funds on longevity extend impact, sharing SLP methodologies regionally.

Outcomes could model resilient economies, exporting solutions to Japan, South Korea—fellow super-aged peers.

Career Opportunities in Longevity Research

LSEI opens doors for academics in economics, sociology, public policy. Postdocs, research fellows analyse SLP data, design interventions. Singapore's higher ed invests heavily, with competitive salaries and global networks.

• Interdisciplinary roles blending business and social sciences
• Policy advisory positions with govt partners
• Innovation in silver tech and finance

This field promises purpose, mirroring seniors' needs.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Future Outlook: Thriving in Longevity

LSEI charts optimistic paths: silver economy to US$122 billion regionally by 2030, seniors contributing via purposeful work. Challenges like isolation (9% living alone) met with community innovations.

SMU's bold step inspires universities to lead demographic adaptation, ensuring Singapore ages successfully.