Demographic Change
Demographic change is arguably the most significant process of social change in Germany, in Europe and in many countries throughout the world. Measures are required in order to face the increase in the number of elderly and aged people in our society. A society in which elderly and old people constitute a majority will be different from today’s society. However, this does not mean that such a society would be worse or less efficient - economically, socially or for the individal. Moreover, developing the growth markets connected to demographic change offers great opportunities.
Project examples
Within the framework of the Federal Government’s high-tech strategy, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding research projects on a national and European level for the development of systems of assistance adapted to the needs of the elderly. This is done by addressing the need for research in all areas of elderly persons’ daily life through specifically directed announcements: “Age-adapted Assistance Systems for Healthy and Independent Living (AAL)”, “Development of Further Education Programmes and Additional Qualifications on Vocational and Higher Education Level in the Field of Age-adapted Assistance Systems (QuAALi)”, and “Mobile until Old Age – Seemless Mobility Chains to Eliminate, Circumvent and Overcome Barriers”. Funding measures for “Tomorrow’s Assisted Care” and “With 60+ in the Midst of Working Life” are in preparation. In parallel with these cooperative projects, measures such as accompanying research and innovation partnerships are being implemented.
The five central research topics Health, Social Systems, Basic and Further Training, Working Environment/Innovation, as well as Development of Urban and Rural Areas/Living and Mobility are key areas of research in the proposal, developed on the German initiative, for a “Gemeinsame Projektplanung” (Joint Programming Initiative) in the domain of demographic change. These will be topics for treatment by the member states on a coordinated, interdisciplinary and transboundary basis.
Within the framework of the annual AAL Congress, developments in the field of Ambient Assisted Living (with well over 900 participants lately) have been presented to a broad public since 2008. The congress is jointly organised and held by the BMBF and VDE. VDI/VDE-IT supports the Ministry in its preparation and implementation content- and organization-wise.
