5 Key Insights on Ageing from the DBS Foundation Impact Beyond Dialogue

With birth rates declining and lifespans rising, Taiwan officially enters a "super-aged society" in 2025, where one in five residents is aged 65 or older. Officiated by DBS Taiwan General Manager Sier Han Ng and National Development Council (NDC) Deputy Minister Peng Li-pei, the forum titled “Turning Point in a Super-Aged Era” moved beyond traditional views of aging as a "problem" to be solved, instead positioning it as a transformative force for innovation.

Here are the five key takeaways from the Dialogue:

1. A Shift in Mindset: Longevity as an Opportunity

It is not enough to live longer; we must ensure people age with vitality and purpose.

Karen Ngui, Head of DBS Foundation, pointed out: “We must champion longevity as a catalyst for change. It is about extending ‘living spans’—empowering people to thrive physically, mentally, socially, and financially in their later years."

2. The Longevity Dividend

The ageing population is a sunrise industry for Taiwan's technological and service sectors.

"We view the ageing population as a ‘longevity dividend.’ By shifting mindsets and building resilience, we can transform these demographic challenges into a transformative force for societal progress." said Sier Han Ng, General Manager, DBS Bank Taiwan.

3. The 20% Threshold as a Call to Action

2025 is the definitive year for structural mobilization in Taiwan.

"According to the National Development Council, the proportion of the population aged 65 and older is expected to exceed 20 percent this year. This is no longer a forecast—it is Taiwan’s entry into a ‘super-aged society’ that requires us to rethink our entire social structure." said Peng Li-pei (彭立沛), Deputy Minister, National Development Council (NDC).

4. Whole-of-Society Ecosystems

Meaningful change requires the combined engine of government policy, private capital, and social innovation. Lasting, meaningful change requires a whole-of-society approach that brings together like-minded partners... connecting policy with private capital and social innovation.

5. Extending ‘Living Spans’ via Silver Motion

The dialogue emphasized that adding "years to life" is insufficient if those years aren't spent in good health. The “Silver Motion” initiative was launched to provide muscle endurance training to 8,200 seniors, aiming to reduce fall risks and long-term hospitalizations.

Leading the Silver Revolution

As one of the world’s fastest-ageing societies, Taiwan has the opportunity to set new global benchmarks for how societies adapt, innovate, and thrive in the age of longevity.

By combining its strengths in advanced manufacturing, digital technologies, and semiconductors with deeply human-centric social services, Taiwan is uniquely positioned to lead the next wave of gerontechnology innovation. Beyond meeting domestic needs, this integrated approach enables the development of scalable, exportable longevity solutions that can support ageing societies worldwide.

In doing so, Taiwan can redefine ageing not as a socioeconomic burden, but as a platform for inclusion, dignity, and sustained growth—demonstrating that longer lives can also be healthier, more purposeful, and more connected.