Ageing and Technology

Ageing in Place: Aligning Technology, Care and Policy to sustain a life of quality

On the initiative of the Class of the Technical Sciences (KTW), the KVAB organizes in 2026 a Thinker’s cycle which will focus on the use of technology to support the challenges associated with the ageing. Our health system, and indeed society more broadly, is under increasing pressure from a rapidly ageing population. The implications are not only clinical, but also economic, ethical and technological. We need to ask, in a clear and pragmatic way: can existing technical solutions provide support for older people living independently, which solutions need to be developed, and how can we integrate these solutions into existing care pathways so that they enhance, rather than replace, human delivered healthcare? A key challenge is to design a healthcare system in which professional expertise, family support and technical solutions work together in a coherent, mutually reinforcing manner.

Ageing in Place: Aligning Technology, Care and Policy to sustain a life of quality.

This Thinker’s cycle is coordinated by Greet Keppens (member of KTW KVAB), Sabine Van Huffel (member of KNW KVAB), Jos Vander Sloten (member of KTW KVAB) and Inez Dua (KVAB staff member), in close consultation with a broad steering group of Flemish academics and experts.

A central role goes to our Thinker Richard Reilly, Professor of Neural Engineering at Trinity College Dublin, who will actively participate in the program for a period of at least six months. Prof. Reilly will participate in the meetings and events, hold discussions with key stakeholders, and offer perspectives for future policy in Flanders during a closing symposium and in the final report.

Based on discussions within the core group and in consultation with the steering group, the topics to be addressed include:

• Technical solutions to prevent but also support the physical and cognitive challenges associated with older adults living independently
• The need for new educational programs and training for healthcare workers to design, recommend, configure technologies and interpret data that support independent living
• The importance of patient confidentiality and GDPR when remotely monitoring physical and cognitive health.
• How longitudinal monitoring of nutrition can be used to support personalised healthcare in older age

The Thinker’s cycle will also integrate the overall socio-economic context and investigate how the points above may impact health care delivery in the future. Finally also opportunities for industry will be explored.

In order to bring the Thinker into contact with as many relevant actors as possible, two visit weeks will be organized on January 26-30, 2026 and on March 23-27, 2026.

SAVE-THE-DATE: September 29, 2026 – Final Symposium