Focus on longevity: Unicredit actively shaping Europe's future!

Focus on longevity: Unicredit actively shaping Europe's future!

On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, the first Longevity Economic Forum 2025 took place in Milan, organized by Unicredit. The aim of the event was to promote dialogue about the effects of a longer life expectancy. In cooperation with the National Innovation Center for Aging (Nica) and Fidelity International, a new research series was presented that examines different dimensions of life in old age

An essential part of this research is the Unicredit Longevity Index, which evaluates countries based on four dimensions: individual behavior, health systems, environmental conditions and social environment. Interesting insights into lifestyle and leisure trends were presented that are influenced by the increasing life expectancy. Forecasts indicate that life expectancy in Europe will increase by 4.5 years by 2050, while healthy life expectancy could only increase by 2.6 years to 67.4 years.

growing focus on aging

The opportunity to be almost 100 years old brings with it 27.4 additional years of life, which entails considerable social and economic challenges. Richard Burton, Head of Client Solutions at Unicredit, emphasized the importance of a platform that promotes cooperation between institutions and stakeholders. This platform includes Longevity Index, the Empowered Living Indicator (ELI) and thematic research, all of which aims at supporting decision -makers: inside the challenges of an aging population.

The observatory for lifestyle and leisure trends has also found interesting cultural changes. For example, the number of over 65 years will double by 2050. This requires increased focus on secondary career, lifelong learning and flexible educational paths. The appreciation of health, flexibility and sensation is becoming increasingly important in society.

economic challenges and solutions

UniCredit sees longevity as a social problem with financial challenges. Nic Palmarini emphasized that the systems have to be redesigned in order to meet a society with increasing life expectancy. Renown personalities such as Michael Spence and Robert C. Merton demanded investments in systems that enable a fulfilling life, while Annie Coleman addressed dynamic systems to support several phases of life.

The effects of demographic change are already clearly noticeable. In Germany, for example, the number of over 80s will increase from 4.4 million to 6.4 million by 2030. Forecasts show that almost every third of the older people could suffer from dementia, which has significant effects on social security systems and health costs. This is in accordance with the observations on the "drug thesis" and the "compression hypothesis", which shed light on the financial burdens of health care in the past few years of life. In this context, the need to develop new models for the coexistence of the generations and to actively involve older people in the design of social life.

UniCredit undertakes to develop financial solutions that take into account the challenges of a longer life. This should not be used as a load, but as a motor for sustainable growth and prosperity. Both private customers learn support: inside and companies to adapt to the conditions of an aging society.

For more information you can use the detailed reports on ots.at uniCreditgroup.eu and bpb.de Read.