Source: Ai She Kang
On 2026年10月10日, the 2nd Smart Aging and Longevity Economy Conference was held at NYU Shanghai's Qiantan campus. The conference featured four modules: macroeconomic trends, full-cycle dementia management, long-term care insurance and longevity finance, and the commercial implementation of intelligent technologies. Experts and industry representatives from policy research institutions, universities, financial and insurance organizations, senior care enterprises, and tech companies gathered to discuss development pathways in the era of longevity.
This meeting is organized by Aishekan (Shanghai) Health Consulting Co., Ltd., with academic guidance from NYU Shanghai's Institute on Aging and Resilience Development. We are grateful for the strong support of our partners: the Dementia Committee of the Shanghai Elderly Care Services and Aging Industry Association, and the Research Office for High-Quality Development of Health Initiatives at Fudan University School of Management.
Opening Remarks
Yin Zhigang
Distinguished expert on aging issues and former Director of the Shanghai Research Center for Aging Studies.
Liu Chang
Founder and CEO of Asia, Aishe Kang
The meeting was co-hosted by Yin Zhigang, former Director of the Shanghai Research Center for Aging Science, and Liu Chang, Founder and CEO of Aishe Kang Asia.
Wu Bei
Dean of Academic Affairs at NYU Shanghai; Founding Director of the Institute for Longevity and Resilient Development, NYU Shanghai
In the opening remarks, Wu Bei, Dean of NYU Shanghai and founding Director of the NYU Shanghai Institute on Aging and Resilience Development, welcomed guests on behalf of the academic advisory unit. She emphasized that increased longevity is a testament to medical advances, improved public health, and socio-economic progress, with the key goal being not just longer lives, but healthier, more dignified, and higher-quality ones. Healthy aging spans the entire life course, requiring greater focus on disease prevention, health promotion, and early intervention. The longevity economy encompasses all sectors from products to services; its growth relies on technological innovation, institutional reform, and cross-sector collaboration. Older adults are both recipients of care and vital contributors to families, communities, and society. She noted that the NYU Shanghai Institute on Aging and Resilience Development was established this 9 month, leveraging the university's international and interdisciplinary strengths to advance research in healthy longevity, brain health, and social and environmental resilience, while translating findings into policy and practice. She expressed hope that this conference would serve as a catalyst for deeper collaboration with partners across sectors to explore new ideas, models, and opportunities for addressing population aging.
Zheng Bingwen
Professor at the School of Government, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Chief Expert at the World Pension Research Center, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Zheng Bingwen, professor at the School of Government, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and chief expert at the World Pension Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted in his address that China stands at a historic inflection point amid rapid population aging. He explained that the Fourth Plenary Session and the 15th Five-Year Plan have laid out a systematic response to aging, covering policies for coordinated development of pension services and industries, optimizing basic elderly care supply, improving urban-rural elderly care networks, implementing long-term care insurance, developing the silver economy, and mobilizing older adults' human resources. From pension security and services to health support and social participation, this forms a clear institutional response. Zheng projected that the next 10 to 15 years represent China's most cost-effective window with the best conditions for addressing population aging. He emphasized that the four modules of the conference—system design, brain health management, financing and payment, and technological innovation—share a common underlying logic: shifting from investing in physical assets to investing in people, and tightly integrating both approaches. These correspond respectively to top-level design for investing in people, accumulation of health capital, funding assurance mechanisms, and efficiency-enhancing tools.
Module 1
Breaking New Ground and Looking Ahead: Macro-Reshaping of the Longevity Economy Guided by National Policy
Yang Jun
Executive Director and Head of Healthcare and Other Industries at DBS Bank (China) Co., Ltd.
During the keynote session titled "Empowering the 'Sunrise Industry' Within the 'Sunset Years': Exploring How Banks Can Support Silver Economy Enterprises," Yang Jun, Executive Director and Head of Healthcare at DBS Bank (China) Ltd., shared insights on how financial institutions can serve silver economy businesses. He noted that industries related to the silver economy have grown rapidly in recent years. To support these enterprises, DBS Bank focuses on three key strategies: "Going Global," "Bringing In," and "One-Stop Services." This includes helping companies strengthen their risk resilience during international expansion, introducing advanced overseas medical service providers, and offering integrated cross-border financing solutions that combine investment banking and commercial banking capabilities. Drawing on real-world challenges such as exchange rate volatility, cross-border capital flows, and regulatory compliance, Yang outlined comprehensive financing, M&A, capital markets, and wealth management services tailored to each stage of a company's growth. He also presented case studies involving loans and trade financing for enterprises in the medical services and medical equipment sectors.
Roundtable Discussion | Global Coordinates and Local Implementation: Model Reconstruction and Cross-Border Insights Under New Policies for the Longevity Economy (Left to Right)
· Chu Rongwei, Associate Professor and Associate Department Head of Marketing at the School of Management, Fudan University (Moderator)
· Ding Hansheng, Party Secretary of the Shanghai Center for Health and Development Research (Shanghai Medical Science and Technology Information Institute)
· Chen Yuxin, Director of the School of Business and Global Distinguished Professor in Business at NYU Shanghai
· Zhong Peng, Head of Bayer Foundation Asia-Pacific
· Li Jiaxuan, Senior Commercial Officer for Business and Trade Promotion at the Embassy of Finland in China
· Zhang Jiaming, Head of the Macroeconomic Research Center at the Longevity Era Research Institute, Taikang Insurance Group
During the roundtable discussion on "Global Coordinates and Local Implementation: Model Reconstruction and Cross-Border Insights Under New Longevity Economy Policies," panelists noted that at the national level, population aging is now viewed as an economic opportunity. The focus of the longevity economy is shifting from merely addressing elderly care needs to proactive development, extending from later life to the entire lifespan, with greater emphasis on early intervention and prevention. Given the strong externalities of longevity-related products and services, payment models combining government support and market mechanisms should be explored. International best practices must be adapted to China's family structures, care systems, and payment frameworks through joint innovation between Chinese and global stakeholders. Impact capital can play a catalytic and bridging role during early risk stages. Panelists also highlighted that pension finance, data openness and sharing, and talent development are critical pillars for the next phase of the longevity economy.
Module 2
The Future of Brain Health: Technology for Comprehensive Cognitive Impairment Management Across the Care Continuum
Wu Bei
Dean of Academic Affairs at NYU Shanghai; Founding Director of the Institute for Longevity and Resilient Development, NYU Shanghai
At the keynote session titled "Longevity Era and AI Transformation: Reshaping Health and Economic Resilience," Wu Bei, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at NYU Shanghai and Founding Director of the NYU Shanghai Institute for Longevity and Resilient Development, shared insights on resilience in a longevity society. She noted that demographic shifts represent the demand side of the longevity era, while AI and technological revolutions drive the supply side. The concept of aging has evolved from "successful aging" and "healthy aging" to "resilient aging," encompassing individuals, families, communities, cities, economies, and technology. Truly resilient technologies do not replace people; instead, they provide appropriate support as older adults' capabilities and needs change. AI can simultaneously enhance health and economic resilience through risk identification, functional assessment, and coordinated care. Wu highlighted that the Institute comprises four research pillars and will use Shanghai as a real-world testbed, aiming to deepen collaboration with industry and government partners.
Roundtable Discussion: From "Digital Intelligence" to "Healing": Precision Care and Ecosystem Co-creation for Dementia Empowered by Cutting-Edge Technology (Left to Right)
· Si Xinli, Senior Advisor at Ai She Kang (Moderator)
· Wu Chenkai, Associate Professor of Global Health at Duke Kunshan University
Qu Wen, Co-founder and Chairman of Shanghai Fuyuan Kangyang Health Management Co., Ltd.
· Kang Jian, Head of Products and Supply at Fushoukang Group and General Manager of the Shanghai Branch
· Chen Nan, Co-founder and CEO of Boseng Technology
· Liu Chunfeng, Co-founder of Shanghai TechHofen Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.
At the roundtable discussion titled "From 'Digital Intelligence' to 'Healing': Precision Care and Ecosystem Co-creation for Dementia Empowered by Cutting-edge Technology," participants exchanged views on dementia screening, intervention, and care coordination. They highlighted that dementia often goes undetected due to public stigma, urging a shift toward proactive prevention ("front-loading" the process). By leveraging low-cost technologies like speech recognition within existing platforms such as annual senior health checkups, screening can be expanded while boosting public awareness. Post-screening referral, intervention, and ongoing care require a full-cycle data loop covering screening, assessment, intervention, and follow-up. Technology must be paired with human-centered care to support seniors in sustaining long-term interventions. Participants noted that while technology can bridge gaps in tools and information, seamless responsibility handoffs between hospital and community settings, families, and care institutions still demand coordinated efforts from government bodies and all stakeholders. Over time, accumulated data will help establish industry standards.
Module 3
Funding and Payment: Deepening Long-Term Care Insurance and Building a Longevity Finance Ecosystem
(Left to right)
· Wang Yanni, Postdoctoral Researcher in Aging and Health at NYU Shanghai
· Liu Chang, Founder and CEO of Aishe Kang Asia
The afternoon session was co-hosted by Wang Yanni, Postdoctoral Fellow in Aging and Health at NYU Shanghai, and Dr. Liu Chang.
Yao Lan
Dean of the School of Health Policy and Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Executive Director of the National Healthcare Security Administration Research Institute HUST Base
During the afternoon remarks, Yao Lan, Dean of the School of Health Management at Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and Executive Director of the National Healthcare Security Administration Research Base at HUST, highlighted that long-term care insurance (LTCI) has nearly completed a decade since its pilot launch in 2016. It now stands at a critical inflection point, transitioning from local experimentation to institutional consolidation, with a focus on quality improvement, efficiency gains, and sustainable deepening. She offered three key insights: First, LTCI should not merely serve as a financial safety net but must act as a "strategic purchaser." By defining covered services, it can guide providers to better meet residents' needs and drive a shift toward value-based care.
Second, clarify division of responsibilities to build a continuous care system covering acute treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term support, encompassing service delivery, investment frameworks, and integration of social and commercial sectors.
Third, move beyond the mindset of relying solely on public investment. Foster a long-term financial linkage between long-term care insurance and commercial insurance to share disability risks through a combination of social resources and commercial coverage.
Zheng Bingwen
Professor at the School of Government, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Chief Expert at the World Pension Research Center, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
In the keynote session titled "Long-Term Care Insurance Financing: Status, Challenges, and Reform," Professor Zheng Bingwen from the School of Government, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Chief Expert at the World Social Security Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, presented research findings based on surveys conducted in 10 pilot cities. He reviewed ten years of pilot implementation across five key dimensions: financing standards, financing structure, funding channels, coverage scope, and dynamic financing adjustments. He noted that local systems largely follow a "one city, one policy" approach, facing challenges such as fragmentation, misalignment between financing burdens and economic development levels, overreliance on medical insurance funds for financing, absence of clear contribution responsibilities for employers and individuals, and lack of mechanisms for dynamic adjustment. He recommended that upon nationwide rollout, sufficient transition periods should be allowed to ensure system uniformity, financing should remain proportional to strengthen fund pooling capabilities, and a dynamic financing adjustment mechanism should be established based on social insurance actuarial practices.
Roundtable Discussion: Breaking the Impasse of Long-Term Care Insurance and Closing the Loop on the Longevity Finance Ecosystem (Left to Right)
· Chen Ming, Head of RGA China Office (Moderator)
· Yao Lan, Dean of the School of Health Policy and Management at Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Executive Director of the National Healthcare Security Administration Research Institute (Huazhong Base)
· Li Qi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Insurance Service Ecosystem Network (ISE) and Executive Vice President of Chenxi Technology
· Wang Yiping, Co-founder and Senior Vice President of Fuli Health
· Su Yongqiang, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Long-Term Care Insurance Association
· Guodong Chen, Associate Professor of Practice in Finance at NYU Shanghai
During the roundtable discussion on "Breaking Through Long-Term Care Insurance and Building a Closed-Loop Ecosystem for Longevity Finance," participants noted that public awareness of long-term care insurance remains insufficient, particularly among younger demographics—a key bottleneck in its rollout. As coverage expands, funding must align with service delivery, payment settlement, and provider capacity. Meanwhile, disability assessments are increasingly moving toward objective standards. Public-private integration should be built upon the national basic social security framework. Commercial insurance can fill gaps in mild-to-moderate disability, short-term care, and mid-to-high-end nursing services, while exploring hybrid "cash + service" product models. Payment mechanisms should prioritize care outcomes to advance value-based care. Dynamic data collection and sharing will also support more accurate product pricing. Closing the loop between long-term care insurance and longevity finance requires resource integration, open collaboration, and clear role definition across all stakeholders.
Module 4
Technology & Innovation: Smart Tech Reimagines the Longevity Economy
Roundtable Discussion: Era Disruptors – Commercializing Digital Intelligence Innovation and the Longevity Economy (Left to Right)
· Wang Yanni, Postdoctoral Researcher in Aging and Health at NYU Shanghai (Moderator)
· Wang Yao, Director of the Department of Computer Science and Data Science Engineering at NYU Shanghai; Director of the Shanghai Frontier Research Base for Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning; Professor at NYU Tandon School of Engineering
Meng Mingqiang, CEO and Founder of Xirun Medical Devices Co., Ltd.
· Bu Jiangyong, Chairman of Tianyu Elderly Care
· Shi Yunlei, Founder & CEO of Shanghai Rushen Robotics
Wu Hanzhang, Director of the Shanghai Technology-Assisted Elderly Care Service Center and Founder of the Old Children Online Community
At the roundtable discussion on "Era-Changing Innovators: Commercializing Digital Intelligence and Longevity Economy," participants highlighted that AI-enabled care robots, along with health risk prediction and timely intervention powered by sensors and large models, are promising areas for near-term breakthroughs. Technologies such as brain-computer interfaces and rehabilitation robots can help reduce time spent bedridden or dependent on care, extending healthy life spans. Technology should be driven by users' genuine needs, serving as a connector between older adults and their daily lives rather than replacing roles or functions. Intelligent care and human services should complement each other. Participants emphasized the need to address challenges like the digital divide, digital traps, and over-reliance on AI in the AI era. Ensuring data and system security and privacy is critical, as is involving older adults in product and service design. As payment systems and market understanding mature, products can first accumulate clinical data and reputation in institutional settings like hospitals before gradually entering homes.
Meeting Outcomes
This session featured 3 keynote presentations and 4 panel discussions, attracting over 150 registered attendees. Experts and participants from policy research, higher education, financial services, elderly care, and technology innovation gathered at Qiantan to exchange insights on the policy direction of the longevity economy, payment mechanisms, and technological implementation, generating enthusiastic responses.
The answer to the Longevity Era requires policy, academia, industry, and capital working together. Dr. Liu Chang, Founder and CEO of Ai She Kang Asia, concluded, "The goal of technology is not dazzling specifications, but the smiles on seniors' faces." We look forward to all parties using this meeting as a starting point to deepen industrial collaboration, strengthen resource alignment, and jointly drive high-quality development in smart aging and the longevity economy—making the Longevity Era warmer and more dignified.
The conclusion of this conference is not an endpoint, but a new beginning for cross-industry co-creation. Whether you are a technology practitioner dedicated to smart aging, an industry pioneer exploring new business models in the longevity economy, or a media partner eager to amplify our message together, iSheKang sincerely looks forward to collaborating with you to unlock endless possibilities!
