Ipoh to Pioneer City-Scale Living Lab for Ageing and Care in Landmark Cross-Border Partnership Between SUSS, UPSI and IDR

Tanjung Malim, Malaysia, 23 April 2025 – In a first-of-its-kind regional initiative, Ipoh, Malaysia will become a Living Lab for Integrated Ageing and Care, transforming into a real-world testbed for how ASEAN cities can support ageing communities. 

The bold initiative is the result of a tripartite partnership between the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), and Institut Darul Ridzuan (IDR). Bringing together expertise in applied research, community development, and public policy, the three institutions will jointly develop and test holistic, scalable care models that blend healthcare, social support and everyday life. 

Unlike conventional pilot programmes confined to isolated settings, the Living Lab will embed innovation directly into Ipoh’s social fabric. From interoperable care frameworks and inclusive tech platforms to intergenerational engagement and grassroots participation, the initiative will prototype integrated systems in a real-world environment, shaping the city into a blueprint for age-inclusive urban living in ASEAN. 

As the capital of Perak – the Malaysian state with the highest proportion of residents aged 60 and above – Ipoh’s urban-rural mix, socioeconomic variation, and lived experiences of ageing make it an ideal setting for piloting solutions that can be adapted across ASEAN. 

MOU Signing 

The tripartite partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the key representatives of the collaborating institutions: 

1. Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) 
   Professor Dato’ Dr. Md Amin bin Md Taff, 
   Vice-Chancellor
   
   
2. Institut Darul Ridzuan (IDR)
   Dr. Maisarah binti Ahmad
   Chief Executive Officer
   
   
3. Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)
   Professor Tan Tai Yong
   President
   

Also present at the MOU signing ceremony were:  

• His Royal Highness Paduka Seri Sultan Perak Darul Ridzuan, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah
• Her Royal Highness Raja Permaisuri Perak Darul Ridzuan, Tuanku Zara Salim
• Chief Minister of Perak, Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Seri Saarani bin Mohamad, Menteri Besar of Perak Darul Ridzuan 

This signing marks the beginning of a transformative journey that will reshape integrated care models, blending research with real-world implementation for tangible societal impact. 

“Ageing is no longer just a health issue – it’s a systems challenge,” said Professor Tan Tai Yong, President of SUSS. “By turning an entire city into a living lab, we’re breaking out of silos and showing how integration can work at the ground level, for real people. This is what applied research should look like – bold, rooted in reality, and transformative.” 

The initiative will unfold in three phases: 

1. Phase 1: Baseline Research and Systems Mapping – A city-wide needs analysis to identify care gaps and opportunities. 
2. Phase 2: Co-Designed Pilot Implementations – Development of community-led, tech-enabled care prototypes.
3. Phase 3 and Beyond: Scaling and Institutionalisation – Integration of successful models into city systems and policies, positioning Ipoh as a regional hub for training and knowledge exchange. 

Who Will Benefit from the MOU? 

The collaborative initiative is designed to deliver tangible benefits to a wide range of stakeholders: 

• The residents of Ipoh, particularly older adults, who will experience more coordinated, community-based care systems that support ageing in place. 
• Local service providers, who will gain access to new frameworks, capacity-building opportunities, and digital tools for integrated care.
• Policymakers and planners in Perak, who will receive data-driven recommendations and tested solutions to guide social and health policies.
• Academics and students from UPSI and SUSS, who will benefit from joint research, training, and applied learning opportunities.
• The ASEAN region, through the eventual scaling of tested models for other mid-sized cities facing similar demographic shifts. 

This city-scale collaboration will engage a diverse network of stakeholders, including healthcare providers, policymakers, grassroots organisations, technology partners, and residents, to actively co-create and implement innovations such as shared care frameworks, interoperable digital ecosystems, intergenerational initiatives, and inclusive support networks. Policymakers and practitioners will have the opportunity to actively engage with and shape integrated ageing systems at scale, refining these models, which are poised to transform care systems across the region. 

Through this innovative partnership, the Ipoh Living Lab will enhance local health and social outcomes while generating valuable insights that will help reimagine how communities across ASEAN approach integrated care for ageing populations. 

The Ipoh Living Lab builds on SUSS’ broader commitment to advancing applied research that directly impacts real-world challenges. It complements existing efforts like the Age+ Living Lab in Singapore and the Intercontinental Alliance for Integrated Care (IAIC), of which SUSS is a founding member.