Acer Group Founder Stan Shih Becomes NICA's First Asian "Global Longevity Ambassador

The National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA) awarded Stan Shih, founder of Acer Group, the title of "Global Longevity Ambassador," making him the 11th person globally to receive this honor and the first Asian to do so. In the future, Shih will use his role as a Global Longevity Ambassador to rally Taiwan's industries to support the growth of the country's health and longevity technology sector.

Shih, though retired, emphasized that he has not retired from society and continues to uphold his Personal Social Responsibility (PSR). He sees this accolade not only as an honor but also as a responsibility. In his new role, he aims to integrate Taiwan's cross-sector resources and leverage the country’s strong ICT foundation, applying Taiwan’s strength as a technology and innovation hub to the health and longevity industries.

Together with Chairman Pan-Chyr Yang, Stan Shih has called on Taiwanese companies to address aging-related issues and develop innovative applications to meet the needs of the elderly. On September 5th, Shih was appointed Chairman of Taiwan Innovation Centre Ageing Ltd. (TICA).

TICA was founded by three entrepreneurs: Richard M. Tsai, Chairman of Fubon Financial; Chung-Yao Yin, Chairman of Nan Shan Life Insurance Company; and Simon Lin, Chairman and CSO of Wistron Corporation. Sinyi Realty and D&S Intelligence also contributed to its founding, with Pan-Chyr Yang serving as Chief Consultant.

Other advisors include Liang-Kung Chen, Distinguished Professor at National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University (YMCT) and Director of Taipei Municipal Guandu Hospital, as well as Lien-Ti Bei, Distinguished Professor of Business Administration at National Chengchi University (NCCU). NICA will also serve as an international strategic advisor to TICA.

With the world on the brink of a demographic shift, the trend of an ultra-aged society presents a global challenge. Taiwan is experiencing a rapid increase in its elderly population, with projections that by 2025, the country will become a super-aged society, where approximately 20% of the population will be seniors. Building a friendly and healthy longevity society is a shared global goal.

NICA, a global organization initially funded by the UK government, focuses on innovation and research in the longevity sector. Through public participation and collaboration between industry, government, and academia, NICA aims to develop technologies and products for the future of health and longevity. It also leverages AI-generated data analysis to provide solutions for market use. According to Lynne Corner, COO at NICA in the UK, the organization applies technology to connect and understand different aspects of life—social, economic, and environmental—while researching trends in aging societies. The ultimate goal is to create a higher quality of life and a more sustainable world for all.

To effectively promote international collaboration, NICA has established the global citizen network "VOICE" in participating countries, aiming to gather knowledge and ideas from around the world to foster innovation in the health and longevity sector. NICA plans to work with TICA through this platform, aligning with the Executive Yuan's National Action Plan for the Longevity Technology Industry. This public engagement model will collect feedback and suggestions to address the needs of a healthy longevity society. This year, NICA signed MoUs with National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University (YMCT) and National Cheng Kung University (NCKU).

Jessica Henry, Director of Economic Growth at the British Office Taipei, remarked, "We are delighted to see NICA deepening its relationship with Taiwan, supporting the development of innovative services and products, and leveraging each other's complementary strengths."

NICA has granted exclusive licensing of its global digital platform, NICA+VOICE, to TICA+VOICE Taiwan for use in the health and longevity industry in Taiwan. TICA+VOICE Taiwan will introduce AI-generated services from the UK to help Taiwan proactively develop a diverse health and longevity society. This initiative will enhance Taiwan's international standing and further align public input with the needs of a healthy longevity society. It will also help Taiwan leverage its technological innovation to establish a thriving longevity technology industry, promoting its products and services globally.

Note:
Stan Shih is the founder of Acer Group and Chairman of Stans Foundation. He has long been committed to advancing Taiwan's industrial transformation and elevating its global competitiveness, playing a key role in integrating culture and technology to create cross-disciplinary value.