Competition Objectives

Requirements of older people differ quite strongly. However, common to all of them is the desire for quality of life, good service deliver and individual appeal. To achieve this, they demand new products and services. Innovation for more quality of life in an older age will therefore result in a thrust for more growth and employment.

The silver economy constitutes an important future market for many sectors of the economy. Many organisations have already today identified the opportunities which can result from the demographic developments in our societies. They have started to offer products and services which lend themselves to the silver market. Many sectors will benefit from these developments, including housing, services, health and leisure, sports, culture, tourism, new media and telecommunications, transport etc.

Those looking at the ageing of society as an opportunity for industry and society will have a locational advantage in a global world economy. What is needed are innovative productions processes, skills and qualifications and new forms of co-operations along the value added chain.

The best-practice competition "Silver Economy in Europe 2005" will demonstrate through outstanding products and services as well as economic co-operations and dedicated regional silver economy networks how Europe has started to utilise the opportunities provided by demographic changes in our society. The competition will contribute to the development of new concepts and the strengthening of already existing approaches in the European silver economy.

The competition, together with the European conference and the newly established Silver Economy Network of the European Regions (SEN@ER) will contribute to shaping Europe’s profile as a continent where ageing of society is being managed in a very positive way and where the skill gained in this process will be actively communicated to other countries and regions.

An overall aim of this competition is to achieve:

• An improvement in the quality of life of older people in Europe’s regions
• An extension of employment in European companies, developing products and services for the improvement of the quality of life of the ageing population;
• A mobilisation of the purchasing power of older people in Europe;
• A worldwide clear profile of the participating European regions as competence centres and regions on questions and issues relating to the demographic development, the ageing of societies and the silver economy.