Ageing Europe

As medical progress accelerates and we continue to raise our standards of living, this pattern will only continue. It is expected that by 2020, a quarter of Europeans will be over 60 years of age, meanwhile the number of people aged over 65 will have grown by 70 % by 2050. Sociologists warn that this reality, combined with low birth rates, will bring about significant changes to the structure of our society, which will impact on our economy, social security and health care systems, the labour market and more.

So how well prepared is Europe to meet the needs of its ageing population? Through Horizon 2020, EU research and innovation aim to ensure that we are equipped to tackle the many challenges that an ageing Europe presents. For example, by developing new technologies like patient-focused apps or robots that can monitor and assist us at home, we can help to keep older people active and independent for longer. And by testing and demonstrating new models and tools for health and care delivery, we can try to ensure that our systems develop and remain sustainable to support the needs of an older population.

During the first two years of Horizon 2020 (Work Programme for 2014/15), the EU is investing some EUR 1 200 million in the challenge of Health, Demographic Change and Wellbeing. During this time, the Ambient Assisted Living Programme (AAL) will also support market-oriented research and SMEs, and work in tandem with the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA) to ensure that best practices are widely disseminated.