Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister
Mrs Mildred Tan, Chairman, SUSS Board of Trustees
Excellencies
Friends from Overseas
Partners, Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
1. Welcome to the launch of the Intercontinental Alliance for Integrated Care, or IAIC.
2. Today we gather to address one of the biggest challenges faced by societies all over the world —ageing.
Ageing is a global challenge
3. Globally, the population is ageing at an unprecedented rate. By 2050, one in four people in Asia-Pacific will be over the age of 60, three times more than in 2010. This means that within the next 30 years, there will be nearly 1.3 billion senior citizens in the region.
4. In Singapore, we know this challenge all too well. By 2026, we will be a “super-aged” society with all the implications it brings. This will put an immense strain on our healthcare and social systems
5. As a university of social sciences and dedicated to social good, we asked ourselves: What can we do to address the rapidly growing needs of communities worldwide?
Origins of the IAIC
6. Last year, we took our first step by hosting the inaugural Integrated Care Learning Symposium. We partnered with seven leading local organisations across healthcare and social sectors which catalysed deeper conversations on how we could contribute meaningfully to address the urgent challenges of ageing.
7. We recognised that Asia has some of the fastest-ageing populations, which presents an immense opportunity to harness the region’s rich cultural insights and social practices to shape global integrated care models.
8. We sought to impact both regional and global discussions on integrated care, rethinking our efforts as a cornerstone for promoting an Asian perspective globally.
9. This is an important point. It is an opportunity for us here, sitting in Asia, to understand the context that Asia offers – to offer solutions that are not only relevant for us here, but globally as well.
10. So what began as a regional dialogue quickly grew. As discussions deepened, conversations with universities in Asia expanded beyond our expectations to institutions from the UK and Canada—and we’re privileged to have you here with us today as well. These partnerships elevated our original vision of a regional alliance into today’s launch of an Intercontinental Alliance for Integrated Care.
11. This is a significant milestone in our shared vision and resolve to tackle a global problem.
12. Currently, the IAIC unites 13 prestigious universities from Asia, Europe, and North America. I am sure more will eventually follow. Together, we’ll share ideas, spark innovation, and create solutions that make an impact both locally and globally.
p>13. The overarching goal of the IAIC is to think of ways to improve health outcomes, elevate quality of life, reduce healthcare costs, and redefine policies and practices, which aligns closely with the World Health Organisation’s work on the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing.
14. To achieve this, the IAIC will focus on five core themes:
- Digital inclusion and innovation;
- Training and capacity building; and
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SUSS as a leader in integrated care
15. At SUSS, we are honoured to play a leading role in this initiative. By integrating education, research, and practice, we are equipping a new generation of leaders with the knowledge and empathy needed to drive meaningful change in healthcare and beyond.
16. Our strong ties with the community and key stakeholders, including healthcare providers, social service organisations, policymakers, and industry partners, ensure that our efforts are grounded in real-world needs, delivering solutions that are both impactful and sustainable.
17. Today, we’ll also be signing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with local community organisations St Luke’s ElderCare, TOUCH Community Services, and Tsao Foundation.
18. These efforts build on the collaborations we forged last year with seven key healthcare and social sector partners in Singapore to advance capability-building and talent development in integrated care, with several projects already in progress.
Announcing the Alibaba Cloud Prize Competition
19. Later this evening, we’ll witness the launch of the Alibaba Cloud Prize Competition, a collaboration between SUSS and Alibaba Cloud. This initiative highlights the power of innovation and technology in healthcare.
20. As we embark on this journey, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to our partners—universities, policymakers, healthcare providers, social service agencies, and corporations—who have come together to support the IAIC. Your shared vision and unwavering commitment to integrated care are what make this alliance possible.
21. In closing, I invite each of you to join us in advancing this mission. I look forward to collaborating and innovating with purpose as we build a future where integrated care is not just a concept but a reality for all.
22. I wish you an inspiring and fruitful evening ahead. Thank you.