REALISING THE POTENTIAL OF ACTIVE AGEING IN EUROPE

Abstract

This symposium reports the findings of the most comprehensive scientific investigation of the challenges presented by population ageing undertaken so far in Europe. The MOPACT (Mobilising the Potential of Active Ageing in Europe) was a four year multi-disciplinary collaboration involving 13 countries, which concluded in early 2017. Its objectives were to conduct systematic reviews of the social and economic challenges of ageing, generate new knowledge on key policy-related dimensions such as late working lives and healthy ageing, collect and analyse social innovations and policy initiatives and map the steps required to realise active ageing. As well as investigating the most important social and economic aspects of ageing, from pension system sustainability to social cohesion, MOPACT also included research on the built and technological environments and biogerontology. The major objectives of the symposium are to report findings from specific parts of this comprehensive project, namely new evidence on extending working lives and the challenge of increasing healthy life expectancy, and to provide a picture of the policy regimes that are associated with different degrees and forms of active ageing. In addition there is an overview of the MOPACT project and the strategy it adopted to enhance the policy relevance of its research. Symposium participants will encounter clear and concise summaries of the key findings from this unique project and take away fresh ideas about the promotion of active ageing in policy and practice.