The ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI) is delighted to announce the 2025 recipients of ACAI-funded research and innovation grants.
Scale-Up Grants (up to USD 150,000, including co-funding)
Supporting the expansion of tested innovations to broader national or regional implementation.
- Ageing Well in a Warming City: Housing, Climate Resilience, and Community Networks in Malaysia and Indonesia — Malaysia, Indonesia (lead applicant: Rujak Center for Urban Studies)
- Socially Connected, Mindful, Active, Resourceful Ageing (SMART Ageing) — Malaysia, Indonesia (lead applicant: Universitas Indonesia)
- Community-Based Models for Active Ageing-in-Place — Thailand, Vietnam (lead applicant: Kenan Foundation Asia)
- Bridging the Digital Divide: Enhancing Digital Literacy and Inclusion Among Older Persons — Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam (lead applicant: Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing)
- Improving Health, Digital, and Innovation Literacy for Older Adults — Thailand, Lao PDR (lead applicant: SUPA71)
- TELE-COPE Thailand: A Community-Led Telemedicine Model for Older People’s Care — Thailand (lead applicant: Mahidol University)
Small Grants up to USD 50,000, including co-funding)
Encouraging innovative pilot projects, applied research, and community-based initiatives promoting active and healthy ageing.
- Strengthening Healthy Ageing through CHW-led Health Promotion — Indonesia (lead applicant: reach52)
- Scaling ALZICare: A Digital Innovation for Caregivers of Older Persons — Indonesia (lead applicant: Alzheimer’s Indonesia)
- Strengthening the Livelihood of Rural Elderly Populations through Sustainable Enterprises — Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia (lead applicant: Institute for Human, Family and Gender Studies)
- Resilience in Ageing: Strengthening Local Governance and Community Networks for Older Persons — Indonesia (lead applicant: Research Center for Population – The National Research and Innovation Agency)
- From Vulnerability to Vitality: Climate-Resilient Communities for Older Persons — Philippines (lead applicant:Northwestern University)
- Age-Inclusive Employment in Indonesia: A Mixed Methods Study — Indonesia (lead applicant: Ganesa Research and Consulting)
- Smart & Healthy Ageing in West Sumatra Project — Indonesia (lead applicant: UIN Batu Sangkar)
- Evaluation of the Vulnerability and Coping Mechanisms of Ageing Communities to Urban Heat Island Issues in Bangkok, Thailand — Thailand (lead applicant: Srinakharinwirot University)
Through these 14 pioneering initiatives, ACAI reaffirms its commitment to fostering research and innovation that enable older persons across ASEAN to live healthier, more active, and more empowered lives. Congratulations to all the grant recipients; we look forward to seeing the positive impact of your work.
Successful applicants will be contacted individually by the ACAI Secretariat for further coordination, including grant agreements and next steps for project implementation.