Leiden & Munich, 8 June 2016 – Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing in Leiden, the Netherlands, has joined EIT Health, one of five large EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communicates (KICs), as associate partner. More than 130 European organizations, i.e. academia, industries and municipalities, are committed to explore the opportunities and face the challenges of the demographic changes in the field of healthy living and active ageing. With a budget of EUR 2 billion over the next decade, EIT Health is one of the largest healthcare initiatives worldwide.
Focus on Professional & Executive Education
EIT Health is a consortium of leading businesses, knowledge institutes and municipalities from across fourteen EU countries. Other partners from Belgium and the Netherlands include Philips, Achmea, the Universities of Leuven, Maastricht and Gent, Delft Technical university, UMCG, LUMC and Erasmus MC. The partnership will promote entrepreneurship and develop innovations in healthy living and active ageing, providing Europe with new opportunities and resources.
Leyden Academy’s contribution lies primarily in the area of Professional & Executive Education, developing educational programmes that will nurture talents and train tomorrow’s workforce, with activities such as:
- Better understanding the needs, habits and values of 55+ citizens in the EU, including methods to measure their well-being.
- Supporting older workers by adjustments in the workplace and in rules and regulations.
- Creating a mindset with health professionals towards person-centred care and well-being.
- Promoting innovative leadership for large organizations.
- Positively influencing the image of European seniors as well as engaging older people towards active and healthy ageing.
Making a positive difference for older people
Professor Joris Slaets, executive director of Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing, welcomes the associate partnership as a unique strategic opportunity: "Our mission is to improve the quality of life of older people, in a rapidly ageing society. As most EU countries face similar demographic and societal challenges, it makes sense to join forces across borders to share and develop knowledge and insights and to deliver new products, concepts and services. Together, we can make a positive difference to the lives of older people throughout the European Union."
For more information, please visit https://eithealth.eu.