The congress, organized by the Adinberri Foundation, focuses on four main axes: applied science and technology, prevention of vulnerability, the silver economy, and practical applications. Regarding science, Dr. Andrew Steele, an international expert in longevity research, notes that the global average life expectancy is 73.2 years and that one of medicine's greatest challenges since the discovery of antibiotics is the future of longevity.
In terms of preventing vulnerability, the forum will highlight comprehensive strategies to avoid dependency and focus on nutrition, including the study of the microbiota and adapted foods.
From the perspective of the silver economy, aging will be analyzed not just as a demographic challenge but as a driver for economic development, new markets, entrepreneurship, and employment.
Over two days, best practices, devices, and services will be showcased through stands installed on the ground floor of the Kursaal Palace by over 40 participating entities. This living-lab presents innovations aimed at improving longevity, including projects from Ingevital, Biolan, Vicomtech, Tecnalia, Gogoa, Azti, Athlon Koop., and Legrand Care, among others. More than 700 interactions between agents are expected.
At the opening ceremony, counselor Nerea Melgosa stated that "despite the high life expectancy of the population of Euskadi, if those years are not filled with enthusiasm, projects, curiosity, relationships, and well-being, the achievement falls short." "In the Basque Government, we have made a clear choice: to reinforce the support and opportunities each person needs to maintain their life project. That is our direction, Euskadi for all ages, more inclusive, cohesive, and humane," explained Nerea Melgosa.
Meanwhile, Maite Peña, Deputy for Care and Social Policies of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, reported that if the percentage of the population over 55 in Gipuzkoa was 35% in 2017, it will reach 46% of the total population in 2031. Maite Peña added that "Gipuzkoa is taking firm steps to respond innovatively and positively to the aging of society."
Several workshops and conferences are scheduled for this afternoon as part of the ADINBERRI LONGEVITY FORUM program. Among them, Iván Larraza, Vice-Minister of Social Welfare of the Basque Government, will discuss the well-being generated for users by the betiON tele-assistance service in Euskadi, which already serves over 90,000 people.
