Intergenerational Living Innovation Hub

The new Intergenerational Living Innovation Hub, established through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, is a multi-million pound research and development platform. Its aim? To transform the narrative of ageing from one of challenge to opportunity.

The challenge and opportunity

Across the industrialised world, populations are getting older. Globally, the population of people aged 60 and over is set to double by 2050, while in Scotland the population is ageing at a faster rate than the rest of the UK. This shift is already disrupting economic and social patterns, and creating the demand for new technologies, products and services.

This changing balance presents a profound set of challenges around quality of life, health and well-being but also creates opportunities for economic development and social inclusion. An ageing population creates demand for new care technologies, new housing models and innovative savings products for retirement to help people remain independent for longer, continue to work or remain economically active, and stay connected to others within and beyond their communities.

The solution

The Intergenerational Living Innovation Hub is a multi-million pound research and development platform that will respond to the demands of an ageing population, transforming the narrative from one of challenge to opportunity. Through pioneering novel approaches to ways of living, working and socialising, the hub will co-create the solutions necessary to support an ageing society to adapt to changing its demographics.

Established with £7.25m of UK Government funding awarded through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, the hub will develop solutions that enhance well-being as we age, providing access to skilled work and driving inclusive economic growth through company creation and inward investment.

A collaborative approach

Incorporating state-of-the-art infrastructure and a development zone, the hub will enable businesses to embrace the opportunities presented by an ageing population by undertaking at-scale research, product and service development and testing, skills development and training. The hub will bring together architects, designers, construction companies and services, healthcare and technology providers, and the markets they serve.

This collaborative approach will enable industry, academic partners, service and healthcare providers and the third sector to translate novel and innovative ideas into commercially and socially viable solutions and models through rapid prototype development.

Our expertise

The University of Stirling has established itself as a leading international centre of expertise in the field of ageing and dementia. The University’s Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) is recognised worldwide for its track record in supporting individuals, governments and industry to meet the changing needs of an ageing population, including through developing guidance on how to modify environments to support people to live better with dementia, and to be socially, economically and physically active. The DSDC Dementia Design Audit Tool is recognised as a global exemplar of how to design living and caring environments for those living with the condition, while the award winning IRIDIS app is an innovative design tool that has revolutionised how dementia-design principles are implemented in the built environment. Since its launch in 2017 it has more than 25,00 users worldwide.

The University works with a global network of companies that includes large multinationals (such as BoKlok, BUPA, ARJO and MEdiva), SMEs (including Contractors and architectural practices) and specialist foundations and third sector organisations, such as Silviahemmet. Our established product accreditation scheme allows companies to have their products assessed and accredited for dementia friendly design. The Intergenerational Living Innovation Hub will build on this established global presence to reinforce the University’s position at the leading edge of healthy ageing research, supporting the creation of innovative products and services, and delivering jobs, investment and skills through genuinely inclusive growth.

Dementia Services Development Centre

Watch the Dementia Services Development Centre tour where experts in ageing, dementia and housing at the University of Stirling shared their pioneering research.

Get in touch

If you’d like to know more about the University's projects within the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, please contact Dr John Rogers, Executive Director of Research, Innovation and Business Engagement.