Mdm Halimah Yacob, Chancellor, SUSS
Mrs Mildred Tan, Chairman, SUSS Board of Trustees
Excellencies and Distinguished Guests
Friends, Partners, and Colleagues
1. Good evening and a warm welcome to the 2025 Intercontinental Alliance for Integrated Care, or IAIC in short. Now in its second year, the Alliance moves from vision to action: strengthening global collaboration to create systems of care that are inclusive, person-centred, and human-focused.
A Complex World, A Common Purpose
2. All around the world, societies are re-examining how we care for one another, for our communities and for the generations after. As the needs of our populations grow more complex, there will be a blurring of the lines between health and social support. The challenges before us are not new, but they are converging in new ways.
3. It is no longer sufficient to view healthcare and social support as separate systems. The wellbeing of people and societies depends on how well we connect medical, social, emotional, and community care into a seamless pattern of support.
4. Integrated care is a bridge that unite services, people, and purpose in pursuit of dignity and wellbeing for all. It is about designing systems that are flexible, inclusive, and deeply human; systems that recognise that dignity, belonging, and purpose are as vital as treatment and recovery.
From Foundation to Momentum
5. IAIC continues its mission to shape care systems that transcend geography, generation, and institution. Over the past year, the Alliance has deepened its work through expanding global partnerships and advancing research that connects knowledge with real-world impact.
6. One such research is a study led by SUSS in collaboration with the Alliance members. It examined how older adults perceive ageing and what it means to age well in different cultures.
7. Early insights reveal that ageing is no longer seen as decline; it is viewed as a pursuit of purpose, connection, and choice. This is a reminder that dignity in later life comes from being able to shape one’s own path. We will share moremore details later this evening.
8. It’s not easy to bring together partners from across the region for this study, but it’s this commitment and shared purpose of the Alliance that made this gatheringthis gathering possible.
9. In future, the study will also see the participation of new Alliance members, further expanding its global reach and perspective.
10. Importantly, this research does not conclude this year; it will continue to generate valuable data and insights over time, deepening our understanding of how societies can support ageing with meaning and respect. This is the beginning of a larger endeavour thatthat will grow in scale, impact, and significance in the years ahead.
11. Through this study, SUSS demonstrates its role as a convener of knowledge and catalyst for impact, translating this international collaboration into better care and stronger communities. IAIC is not just a network; we hope this will develop into a movement that can bring about real change.
Beyond Borders, Beyond Age
12. This year’s theme “Beyond Borders, Beyond Age: Shaping Tomorrow’s Tapestry of Integrated Care”, captures both the philosophy and the aspiration that guide our work.
13. Beyond Borders calls on us to collaborate without limits. It urges us to look beyond geography, sector, and discipline to share expertise and experiences so that care can evolve collectively.
14. It challenges us to bridge the gaps between research and application, ensuring that knowledge is applied where it matters most: in homes, communities, and lives.
15. Beyond Age asks us to rethink ageing itself. To embrace the later years of life as a time of renewal rich with possibility and contribution. As societies, we must move from viewing seniors as recipients of care to recognising them as co-creators of tomorrow’s care landscape.
16. This evening’s programme will feature seniors as active participants where they will be taking centre stage in a special segment that celebrates their creativity, confidence, and voice.
17. Their participation captures the essence of “Beyond Age”. Dignity in ageing comes not only from being cared for, but grows from being included, engaged, and empowered.
Learning Journeys and Shared Perspectives
18. Over the past few days, our delegates have experienced the spirit of collaboration through visits and dialogue that showcased integrated care in action.
19. The Learning Symposium further deepened these insights, bringing together voices from Singapore and abroad to explore how systems, technology, and communities can shape the future of care.
20. These engagements reflect what IAIC stands for. It is a living network of shared learning, where ideas cross borders and translate into impact on the ground.
The Role of SUSS: Education, Innovation, and Social Good
21. At SUSS, we imbue learning with purpose. We connect education, research, and community in ways that create impact and contribute to social good. Through the IAIC, we extend this commitment globally, linking knowledge with compassion and innovation with inclusion.
22. As IAIC enters its next phase, we will build on our foundations to drive deeper research, stronger collaboration, and greater impact. We will nurture leaders who can bridge health, technology, and social care, and expand partnerships that turn knowledge into action. Guided by our founding pillars: continuity of care, healthy ageing, digital inclusion, capacity building, and good governance, we remain committed to shaping systems of care that are both rigorous in design and human in spirit.
Closing: Weaving a Shared Future
23. Set against the backdrop of rising complexity in health and social needs, IAIC 2025 reaffirms a simple truth: that care is strongest when it is shared and when we act together to uphold dignity and hope across every community. If last year was about laying the foundation, this year is about weaving the fabric, threaded with the colours of diversity, innovation, and hope.
24. Let us continue to build a future where care is integrated, where every life is valued, and where every generation finds its place in the tapestry we are creating together.
25. Thank you all very much and have a great evening.