Singapore – The ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) are proud to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for academic collaboration. This landmark agreement solidifies a strategic partnership aimed at advancing active and healthy ageing across ASEAN Member States and beyond.

The MOU, formalised today, establishes a framework for collaboration to promote joint research and development activities, policy development, capacity building, and knowledge sharing in areas of mutual interest.

This collaboration marks a significant step forward in our mission to foster active and healthy ageing throughout the ASEAN region. By combining ACAI’s regional reach and global aspirations with NUS’ academic excellence, ACAI is poised to make a substantial impact on ageing policies, enhance elderly well-being, and drive sustainable innovation across Southeast Asia.

The collaboration will focus on several key areas. In research and innovation, this involves the exchange of technical information and expertise on the ASEAN Active Ageing Index (AAAI) initiative, including benchmarking against global standards. It also includes collaboration on joint research activities such as life-course cohort studies and other comparative ageing analyses, and the co-development of proposals for regional and international funding opportunities.

The partnership will also contribute to the drafting of a Regional Action Plan on active ageing, and jointly produce white papers, policy briefs, and evidence-based recommendations for ASEAN and global stakeholders. In addition, ACAI and NUS will co-design and deliver training programmes for ACAI Country Coordinators and ASEAN officials, and organise executive leadership courses and capacity-building workshops on ageing-related topics, facilitated by NUS.

In Age-Friendly Cities & Smart Solutions, the collaboration will provide technical advisory support for age-friendly city initiatives and pilot assistive technologies in ASEAN communities. Lastly, ACAI and NUS aim for collaboration on an open-access digital repository for ageing-related research and best practices, and the joint organisation of webinars, conferences, and regional forums.

Both parties anticipate that this strategic partnership will accelerate ASEAN’s progress in active ageing and establish both ACAI and NUS as key contributors to global ageing solutions.

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