Taiwan: Unlocking Opportunities in a Super-Aged Society

As Taiwan officially entered a super-aged society, longer life expectancy is reshaping how people live, work and age. Beyond healthcare and long-term care, ageing is increasingly influencing financial resilience, social connectedness, community support and overall wellbeing.

Against this backdrop, DBS Foundation brought the 2026 Impact Beyond Dialogue – Taiwan Edition to Taipei, convening more than 300 policymakers, academics, business leaders, healthcare practitioners and social innovators to explore the theme, “Longevity as a new Opportunity: Driving a Resilient and Inclusive Society.”

The Dialogue served as a platform to explore how societies can unlock the social and economic value of longevity, while building more resilient and inclusive communities where people can thrive across all stages of life.

Reimagining Longevity as an Opportunity

The Dialogue convened leaders from government, academia, business and the social innovation sector to reimagine ageing and explore how societies can unlock the opportunities of longevity.

DBS Foundation Head Karen Ngui highlighted the importance of reimagining ageing beyond traditional narratives of dependency and decline. As societies live longer, she emphasised the need to create opportunities for people to age with dignity, purpose and joy, while continuing to contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Professor Chien-Jen Chen, Academician of Academia Sinica and Former Vice President of Taiwan , emphasized that we must move beyond the old belief that “ageing is a social burden”. The life experience and wisdom of older persons are precious social assets, and a shared dividend for families and society. The meaning of longevity is not to add years to life, but to add life to years.

Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Chien-Te Lu shared Taiwan’s efforts to strengthen community-based support systems, so that everyone may receive care, companionship and support in the places they know best.

Together, the speakers underscored a shared belief: that ageing societies should not only be viewed through the lens of care needs, but also as an opportunity to unlock new forms of resilience, participation and social value.

Choices in the Age of Longevity

Moderated by author Hui-Ru Huang , the panel discussion brought together Sier Han Ng, CEO of DBS Bank (Taiwan), Chin-Li Lin, Honorary Chairman of the Taiwan Self-Support Care Development Association, and Dr. Paul Lin , advocate for active ageing and lifelong wellbeing.

The conversation explored how individuals and societies can better prepare for longer lives, spanning topics such as financial resilience, retirement readiness, independent living, active ageing and social participation.

Sier Han Ng highlighted the importance of financial resilience in an ageing society. As life expectancy continues to rise, he emphasised that financial preparedness should begin early, enabling individuals to navigate longer lifespans with greater confidence, security and choice. Time is the greatest force behind building wealth.

Chin-Li Lin shared insights from decades of experience in long-term care, moving beyond mere physical assistance to focus on rebuilding the "system of everyday life" for older adults. A person may need only one hour of professional care each day; the remaining twenty-three hours depend on community, environment and daily support to hold them up.

Dr. Paul Lin encouraged a more positive view of later life, when people consume, experience and enjoy life, they are sustaining society itself, while also supporting industries for younger generations.

Driving Impact Through Ecosystem Partnerships

The Dialogue also featured breakout sessions showcasing innovative solutions from organisations supported through DBS Foundation’s grants and ecosystem partnerships, including I-Long-Term Care, UMAMI LIFE, the Garden of Hope Foundation, Hondao Senior Citizen’s Welfare Foundation, and Yusen Biotechnology.

Working on the frontlines of ageing-related challenges, these organisations are developing scalable approaches that strengthen resilience, inclusion and wellbeing across communities.

Together, they shared insights and experiences across five key themes: resource integration, value co-creation, mental resilience, active ageing, and preventive empowerment .

Through its ecosystem of partners, DBS Foundation continues to support and connect organisations that are developing practical solutions to address the opportunities and challenges of ageing societies. The Dialogue highlighted how collective action can help unlock new possibilities for longer lives, while creating more resilient, inclusive and purpose-driven communities for future generations.

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