Geronpreneurship Innovation Festival 2026 Opening Ceremony

Welcome Address:

Keynote 1: Ageing Minds, Thriving Minds: The New Science of Brain Health

The brain has always been a subject of human curiosity.  Human beings have a long history of intentionally acting on the brain using alcohol and other substances.  There is also a legacy of surgical interventions going back centuries.  Our efforts to understand the brain, until now, have been indirect.  We have drawn inferences from the behaviour of the individual whose brain was manipulated in some way, or we have compared a group whose brains have been modified with another group. The brain itself remained a ‘black box’.

Today, however, the brain can be directly observed in living human subjects without significant physical damage.  Anyone can view an image of their own brain in action.  Brain science as a field of research is growing and diversifying, driven by many different disciplines.   Understanding about what is good or bad for the brain is derived largely from this wide body of research.  This paper will look at what the scientific evidence says about the healthy brain and what questions remain to be answered, including ‘what is the brain for?’.

Taking a life-long perspective, the brain-health factors which are most salient to people at different stages will be reviewed briefly, focussing on the ageing brain.  Looking into the variables which appear to drive brain health at each stage, new questions arise: who has the power, and who has the responsibility to promote brain health?  These questions will be tackled from a social science perspective.

Keynote 2: Ikigai in the Longevity Era: Finding Purpose Across Life Stages
Beyond Healthy Longevity: Empowering Community (Residents)-led Frailty Prevention in Japan to Cultivate Individual Well-being "Ikigai" and Community Well-Being

As global societies navigate the "Longevity Era," achieving healthy longevity requires looking beyond mere clinical interventions.  In Singapore, initiatives like Healthier SG and Age Well SG underscore the urgent need to foster senior volunteerism and social connection.  However, a critical challenge remains: how to shift older adults from passive recipients of care to active contributors to society.  This presentation introduces Japan’s "Community-led Frailty Prevention Activity model", demonstrating how empowering residents to lead peer-to-peer frailty check programmes can systematically cultivate individual Ikigai (purpose in life) while elevating community-wide well-being.

Developed by the University of Tokyo, this evidence-based programme trains local senior volunteers, "Frailty Prevention Supporters", to conduct simplified, scientific frailty assessments for their peers.  This approach transforms the traditional paradigm of frailty prevention. Rather than focusing solely on personal health, the act of serving as a supporter provides older adults with a renewed social identity, a sense of utility, and a structured role after retirement.  Resident-led frailty prevention initiatives are fostering behavioural changes in lifestyle by encouraging residents to recognise the “Trinity of nutrition, physical activity, and social participation” and to support one another in achieving these goals. Recently, high school and college students have also joined as volunteers in frailty prevention efforts, contributing to these resident-led activities through intergenerational interaction.  Long-term data from Japan reveals a powerful "spiraling-up" effect: supporters experience significant improvements in cognitive and physical resilience, driven by their enhanced self-efficacy and social participation.  Simultaneously, their grassroots activities mitigate social isolation among participants, building robust social capital.

True well-being in a super-aged society is achieved when individuals find purpose across all life stages.  In other words, it redefines retirement not as the conclusion of one’s career, but as the transition to a vital new life stage dedicated to community empowerment.  By blending high-tech university evidence with high-touch grassroots engagement, the Community (Residents)-led Frailty Prevention activity provides a scalable, sustainable blueprint.  It proves that fostering a culture of mutual aid is the ultimate strategy for achieving both personal Ikigai and collective resilience in the longevity era.

Panel Discussion: Too old to start? Think again. 

What if your age isn’t holding you back, but instead giving you an unfair advantage? What if your most exciting chapter hasn’t happened yet?  

Pitch for Good 2026 Opening Ceremony

Opening Address:

Presentation of Tzu Chi GLOW Award

Pitch for Good 2026 Grand Finals: Silver Category

Pitch for Good 2026 Grand Finals: Gold Category

Presentation: Japan Tech Wonder: Never Too Old to Learn

Hear from Ms Masako Wakamiya, a 91-year-old game app developer from Japan, as she shares her inspiring journey of embracing technology later in life. After retiring from her banking career, Ms Masako taught herself programming and developed Hinadan, an iPhone game app designed for older adults. Her work gained international recognition, including acknowledgment from Apple CEO Tim Cook at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in 2017. Through her story, discover how technology can empower older persons to continue learning, creating, and contributing meaningfully at any age.

Panel Discussion: Stories Across Generations

Explore the power of storytelling in bridging generations and strengthening community connections. Representatives from community and care organisations will share their experiences in empowering older adults to share their stories, perspectives, and lived experiences. Drawing on initiatives by TMIG Japan and SUSS, the discussion will examine how storytelling supports lifelong learning, social engagement, and meaningful participation, while fostering memory recall, communication skills, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Presentation: The Power of Storytelling and Purpose in Action

Experience the impact of storytelling through a live narration of the mother tongue editions of My Little Chingay Float, a storybook by the People’s Association. Presented by trained senior storytellers, this session showcases how stories can preserve culture, spark conversations, and bring people of different generations together.

Panel Discussion: How AI, Social Robots and Ethics Are Shaping the Future

Join experts in robotics, artificial intelligence, and policy as they explore how AI-powered social robots are transforming the way we live, work, and age. The discussion will examine emerging developments in robotic intelligence and their potential applications in companionship, caregiving, and elder engagement. Panellists will also address key ethical considerations, including trust, accountability, privacy, and the evolving relationship between humans and intelligent machines.

Panel Discussion: Designing Spaces for Inclusive and Integrated Living

Discover how housing and community design can support more inclusive and integrated living across generations. Experts in housing, urban planning, and community development will discuss innovative living models that foster connection, independence, and a sense of belonging. Through examples such as intergenerational housing and assisted living communities, the panel will explore how thoughtful design can create vibrant, age-friendly environments that promote well-being, dignity, and meaningful social interaction.

Dialogue: Eating Well and Cooking Safely with Cognitive Changes

Gain practical insights into supporting nutrition, mealtimes, and safe cooking practices for individuals living with cognitive changes. Through lived experiences and shared perspectives, this dialogue will explore common eating challenges, meal preparation strategies, and ways to promote independence and dignity. The conversation will also discuss chewing and swallowing difficulties, the emotional importance of food and mealtimes, and how families can continue to foster connection, enjoyment, and routine through shared meals.

Panel Discussion: Voices for Innovations in an Ageing Society - A Person-Centred Approach

Gain insights from experts across disciplines on how workplaces, technology and community-based approaches can better support the diverse needs and aspirations of older adults. Discover how flexible environments, multigenerational collaboration and assistive technology can empower older adults, strengthen mental wellness and address challenges such as loneliness and cognitive decline.