Around the world societies are facing major demographic shifts. Populations are living longer, presenting a whole set of new business and innovation opportunities to meet the wants and needs of our ageing societies. This growth market for senior citizens is known as the “silver economy”.

To better prepare APEC member economies for this multifaceted societal challenge, Standards Australia and the Australian Government – Department of Industry, Innovation and Science in association with national standards bodies across the Asia Pacific region have commenced a project to examine how standards and innovation can support APEC’s silver economy.

As part of this project, today marks the launch of a survey across APEC to deepen regional collaboration and deliver a Silver Economy Standards and Innovation Framework. The aim is to capitalise on the increasing untapped demand for products and services to support our ageing populations.

Members of national standards bodies, government, regulators, industry, academics, consumers, innovation/technology organisations and interested individuals from the APEC member economies are all invited to complete this survey.

Increased standards collaboration and fostering innovation across APEC is essential if we are to fully benefit from the new and emerging business opportunities provided by the silver economy.

The survey is open until 31 October 2016. It will impact the development of an issues paper that will be presented at APEC meetings in 2017. It will also help shape and inform an APEC Silver Economy Standards and Innovation Workshop to be hosted in Sydney in early April 2017.

This project is funded through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s APEC Economic Diplomacy Fund.

To access the survey, click here. Thank you in advance for your participation and input.

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