Active and Healthy Ageing Innovation Partnership: adding 2 years to the average healthy lifespan in the EU by 2020

The European Commission is now seeking the views of public and private organisations, companies and individual citizens on how Europe could scale up innovation to meet the challenges of the ageing population in Europe, and in particular on a pilot European Innovation Partnership on active and healthy ageing. The main target of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing is to add two years to the average healthy lifespan in the EU by 2020, and in achieving this, it seeks to improve older people's quality of life and to lead to more efficient care solutions.
Between 2010 and 2030, the number of Europeans aged over 65 will rise by nearly 40%, posing huge challenges but also offering great opportunities for Europe's society and economy. The European Innovation Partnership (EIP), which the Commission aims to propose, seeks to meet three goals:
to improve the health and quality of life of older people, enabling them to live active and independent lives;
to contribute to the sustainability and efficiency of health and social care systems;
to foster competitiveness and business opportunities.
The consultation invites interested stakeholders at EU, national, regional or local level, to help identify current barriers to innovation and opportunities in the field of active and healthy ageing as well as the scope for action at European level.
The online consultation runs until 28 January 2011. The Commission will publish a report after the consultation together with the received contributions.
The European Commission has already had a first round of discussions with approximately 200 stakeholders including, but not limited to, high-level business and civil society representatives, health and care professionals, citizen representatives, NGOs, industry, academics, and policy-makers from Member States and regions at a conference which took place on 26 November in Brussels. Ministers of the 27 Member States also supported the launch of this pilot project at the Competitiveness Council of 26 November 2010.
*The consultation document is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/health/ageing/consultations/ageing_cons_01_en.htm