Japan is the first "super-aging" society in the world. It is estimated that about 40% of the Japanese population will be over 65 years of age by 2050. The Swedish Agency for Growth Policy Analysis - Office of Science & Technology Embassy of Sweden and its different predecessors have long been interested in increasing Swedish-Japanese cooperation into questions concerning aging.

Between 6-9 October a large Swedish delegation will travel to Japan to study research into aging.

On 7 October the University of Tokyo will be hosting a public symposium in conjunction with Vinnova, the Vårdal Foundation - for Health Care Sciences and Allergy Research, FAS and the Swedish Agency for Growth Policy Analysis. The symposium will be opened by the President of the University of Tokyo, Junichi Hamada, and the Vice-Chancellor of Uppsala University, Anders Hallberg, and Sweden's Ambassador to Japan, Stefan Noreén. The opening address will be held by the former President of the University of Tokyo, Hiroshi Komiyama, currently Chairman of the Mitsubishi Research Institute, and from Sweden, Peje Emilsson, the CEO of the PR company, KREAB, and founder of Kunskapsskolan (Knowledge School), also well-known for his work on behalf of the Swedish Moderate Party. A panel debate then follows.

The conference will continue for a further two days with a programme broadly focusing on social science perspectives, and more detailed medical aspects. The Swedish delegation with some 30 members includes representatives from Uppsala University, Lund University, Chalmers University of Technology, the Karolinska Institute, Luleå University of Technology, Örebro University, the Vårdal Foundation, Vinnova, FAS, and from the Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs.


Study visits will be arranged in connection with the conference to the companies, Toyota and Panasonic, and to residential facilities for the elderly.