Without children and increasingly elderly: the "silver economy" is the next major technological opportunity

Friday, Sep 12, 2025

El Confidencial

Aging populations create a massive “silver economy” market, driving innovation in health and tech for seniors.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

Bill Gates offered a million-euro prize for AI innovation in Alzheimer’s treatment to accelerate research into age-related diseases. This coincides with the rise of the “silver economy,” a lucrative market driven by increasing longevity and aging populations, which is projected to grow significantly between 2020 and 2050. Experts suggest this demographic shift will impact all sectors, including healthcare, technology, housing, finance, food, and textiles. Examples of silver economy trends include specialized cohousing in Europe and adapted menus for older adults in Japan. While some view it as a bubble, experts argue that undeniable demographic trends guarantee its long-term growth. Countries like Italy are emerging as testing grounds due to their aging populations and public healthcare systems. To ensure these innovations benefit society rather than just marketing, there is a call for universal design and involving older individuals from the start, while technology should complement human care rather than replace it.

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