Elite gathering will address the business, government, and societal imperative of capturing the aging opportunity

New York, NY (July 8, 2019) – Tomorrow, the Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA), the global business voice on aging, and the Finnish Government will host the High-Level Forum on the Silver Economy, the first-ever conference focused on global business and government leadership to reimagine aging. The two-day Forum, taking place in Helsinki, Finland, at the iconic Finlandia Hall, will examine how business and government can drive innovation and economic growth by leveraging opportunities in healthy aging, elder home care,  the future of work, technology, and combatting ageism. The Forum is the first official convening of the Finnish EU Council Presidency.

Recognized as a major global megatrend at this year’s G20 Summit in Osaka, aging presents a unique opportunity for leaders across industries to leverage the significant momentum gaining around this pressing topic. With WHO designating 2021-2030 the Decade of Healthy Ageing, world leaders in government and business alike are recognizing that the time to address the challenges and opportunities of our unprecedented longevity is now.

“The aging of our global population is the most consequential megatrend of our time,” said Michael W. Hodin, PhD, CEO of the Global Coalition on Aging and co-organizer of the Forum. “Business and government alike have critical roles to play to combat the negative and incorrect assumption that our aging populations around the world are drains on society, but in fact are already  becoming drivers of economic growth and benefits to all of us across society.”

The Forum will draw close to 700 attendees from 45 countries, including government leaders from around the world, CEOs from Fortune 100 companies, and thought leaders from academia, think tanks, the media, and non-governmental organizations to offer solutions and innovative ideas on how to ensure that aging is a driver of continued economic growth. Attendees will gain new perspectives on the social, financial, and policy opportunities of longevity and aging, strategies that create value for businesses and entrepreneurial ventures, and a renewed mindset focused on the possibilities of the growing Silver Economy.

To view the Forum program, click here, and to view the full roster of expert speakers, click here.  For additional information, visit the Forum website at www.thesilvereconomyforum.com.

The Silver Economy Forum’s two-day event will:

• Identify the silver economy business opportunity. The world’s 60+ population is set to double to 2 billion between now and 2050. With a combined spending power well in excess of US$15 trillion, this demographic’s market share will grow even larger. This group is healthier and living longer than ever, so how can companies develop strategies to better serve this untapped market?
• Redefine age in the workplace. Older adults play key roles across society, as active citizens, powerful consumers, and valued members of their communities. Yet, these contributions are often overlooked, and many seniors face discrimination in the workplace. How can we reshape our view of aging and challenge preconceived notions of seniors’ contributions at work, now that there are five generations in the workplace?
• Determine the policy agenda. Crafting effective policies with aging in mind will be the most important imperative for governments – at national and city levels – going forward in the coming decades. From physical and mental wellbeing to caregiving, and from social benefits to infrastructure, aging will be the central driver of policy reform. How will national policies adjust? How can the private and public sectors collaborate to address aging on the policy level together?

The High-Level Forum on the Silver Economy was organized in collaboration with the public and private sectors and with the support of our partners and sponsors. For more information about the Forum, please contact Susan Wile Schwarz at sschwarz@globalcoalitiononaging.com or +1 917 946 1254.