By Business & Finance 
Panellists from ‘The Essential Building Blocks fro the Development of a Smart Ageing Sector in Ireland’ pictured at the Life Sciences International Summit (L-R): Anne Connolly, Tony O’Donovan, Susan Davis and Dr Darrin Morrissey.
Delegates gathered at the Gibson Hotel in Dublin on Wednesday, October 15th, for the third Life Sciences International Summit to discuss smart ageing and the opportunities for innovation and collaboration.
The Life Sciences International Summit 2014 saw life science experts debate the key issues and opportunities in the area of smart ageing. Organised by Business & Finance and in association with Science Foundation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, the summit is now in its third year.
Given the pace of global ageing the underlining message at the summit was that meeting the needs of an increasingly ageing population will be challenging and innovation and collaboration between the life sciences industry, academia, the government and business will be crucial.
Ireland has many of the essential building blocks for the development of a smart ageing sector in Ireland. “In addition to our favourable tax environment, skilled workforce, position as a gateway to Europe – which has served Ireland well in terms of attracting FDI – Ireland has many distinct advantages that are particularly relevant to the growth of smart ageing technologies and services,” Ian Hyland, CEO, Business & Finance said.
During the panel discussions, delegates attending the summit also heard from industry experts who discussed the opportunity for Ireland to become a global hub for smart ageing technologies. Fostering a smart ageing hub presents both an opportunity for the creation of new businesses that will deliver increased value, grow exports and create further employment.
“The creation and sustainability of this important industry sector will also have a positive impact on the health-related expenditure of the public finances as well as improve quality of life,” Hyland added.
