About the Award

The National Science and Technology Forum’s (NSTF’s) theme for 2026 is Healthy Ageing. The United Nations (UN) declared 2021–2030 the “Decade of Healthy Ageing” with a focus on improving the lives of older people, their families, and communities. The World Health Organisation (WHO) aims to change the attitudes of society towards ageing, through multi-pronged foci, including changing thinking about ageing; creating age-friendly environments; delivering integrated and person-centred health care, and access to long-term care for those who need it (https://www.decadeofhealthyageing.org).

Everyone can contribute to their own healthy ageing by maintaining good physical, mental and social health and well-being as they grow older. Science, engineering and technology (SET) also contribute to healthy aging, especially by targeting cellular processes, developing personalised treatments, and promoting evidence-based lifestyle choices leading to advancements in biogerontology and genomics (https://www.nia.nih.gov).

Engineering is important to predicting, identifying, understanding, and addressing many biological processes and health risks associated with ageing through nano-biotech-engineering, in collaboration with clinicians, biologists and industry, to further advance research into ageing.

Technology is increasingly important for providing an ageing population with the tools necessary to monitor vital signs and activity levels, promoting active and healthy lifestyles (https://thesenioralliance.org), especially through technologies that empower older adults to maintain autonomy, choose the lifestyle they want and promote dignity. (https://www.weforum.org)

This year the NSTF wishes to recognise the research and innovations of all those who have contributed to improving the health and wellbeing of our aging population by dedicating the 2026 Special Annual Theme Award to an outstanding contributor to “Healthy Ageing”.