- Initiative aims to turn Ipoh, Malaysia, into a real-world testbed for reimagining
ageing, integration and community-based care models.
Tanjung Malim, Malaysia, 23 April 2025 – In a first-of-its-kind regional initiative, Ipoh, Malaysia will become a Living Lab for Integrated Ageing and Care, transforming into a real-world testbed for how ASEAN cities can support ageing communities.
The bold initiative is the result of a tripartite partnership between the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), and Institut Darul Ridzuan (IDR). Bringing together expertise in applied research, community development, and public policy, the three institutions will jointly develop and test holistic, scalable care models that blend healthcare, social support and everyday life.
Unlike conventional pilot programmes confined to isolated settings, the Living Lab will embed innovation directly into Ipoh’s social fabric. From interoperable care frameworks and inclusive tech platforms to intergenerational engagement and grassroots participation, the initiative will prototype integrated systems in a real-world environment, shaping the city into a blueprint for age-inclusive urban living in ASEAN.
As the capital of Perak – the Malaysian state with the highest proportion of residents aged 60 and above – Ipoh’s urban-rural mix, socioeconomic variation, and lived experiences of ageing make it an ideal setting for piloting solutions that can be adapted across ASEAN.
MOU Signing
The tripartite partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the key representatives of the collaborating institutions:
- Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI)
Professor Dato’ Dr. Md Amin bin Md Taff,
Vice-Chancellor - Institut Darul Ridzuan (IDR)
Dr. Maisarah binti Ahmad
Chief Executive Officer - Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)
Professor Tan Tai Yong
President
Also present at the MOU signing ceremony were:
- His Royal Highness Paduka Seri Sultan Perak Darul Ridzuan, Sultan Nazrin
Muizzuddin Shah - Her Royal Highness Raja Permaisuri Perak Darul Ridzuan, Tuanku Zara Salim
- Chief Minister of Perak, Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Seri Saarani bin Mohamad,
Menteri Besar of Perak Darul Ridzuan
This signing marks the beginning of a transformative journey that will reshape integrated care models, blending research with real-world implementation for tangible societal impact.
“Ageing is no longer just a health issue – it’s a systems challenge,” said Professor Tan Tai Yong, President of SUSS. “By turning an entire city into a living lab, we’re breaking out of silos and showing how integration can work at the ground level, for real people. This is what applied research should look like – bold, rooted in reality, and transformative.”
The initiative will unfold in three phases:
- Phase 1: Baseline Research and Systems Mapping – A city-wide needs
analysis to identify care gaps and opportunities. - Phase 2: Co-Designed Pilot Implementations – Development of communityled, tech-enabled care prototypes.
- Phase 3 and Beyond: Scaling and Institutionalisation – Integration of
successful models into city systems and policies, positioning Ipoh as a regional
hub for training and knowledge exchange.
Who Will Benefit from the MOU?
The collaborative initiative is designed to deliver tangible benefits to a wide range of stakeholders:
- The residents of Ipoh, particularly older adults, who will experience more
coordinated, community-based care systems that support ageing in place. - Local service providers, who will gain access to new frameworks, capacitybuilding opportunities, and digital tools for integrated care.
- Policymakers and planners in Perak, who will receive data-driven
recommendations and tested solutions to guide social and health policies. - Academics and students from UPSI and SUSS, who will benefit from joint
research, training, and applied learning opportunities. - The ASEAN region, through the eventual scaling of tested models for other
mid-sized cities facing similar demographic shifts.
This city-scale collaboration will engage a diverse network of stakeholders, including healthcare providers, policymakers, grassroots organisations, technology partners, and residents, to actively co-create and implement innovations such as shared care frameworks, interoperable digital ecosystems, intergenerational initiatives, and inclusive support networks. Policymakers and practitioners will have the opportunity to actively engage with and shape integrated ageing systems at scale, refining these models, which are poised to transform care systems across the region.
Through this innovative partnership, the Ipoh Living Lab will enhance local health and social outcomes while generating valuable insights that will help reimagine how communities across ASEAN approach integrated care for ageing populations.
The Ipoh Living Lab builds on SUSS’ broader commitment to advancing applied research that directly impacts real-world challenges. It complements existing efforts like the Age+ Living Lab in Singapore and the Intercontinental Alliance for Integrated Care (IAIC), of which SUSS is a founding member.
About Singapore University of Social Sciences
At SUSS, we have a singular vision to be a university that inspires learning for life and impacts lives, regardless of age, background or life path. Our university is a vibrant tapestry of ages and experiences. From recent JC and polytechnic graduates to seasoned professionals, parents seeking new horizons and individuals redefining their careers in their golden years—our diverse community comes together for one common goal: to empower themselves with an education that impacts lives and society.
We offer more than 110 undergraduate and graduate programmes, available in full- and part-time study modes which are flexible, modular and interdisciplinary, catering to both fresh school leavers and adult learners. SUSS also offers a broad range of continuing education and training modular courses for the professional skills upgrading of Singapore’s workforce.
Our programmes and courses are offered by our six schools:
- S R Nathan School of Human Development
- School of Business
- School of Humanities & Behavioural Sciences
- School of Law
- School of Science & Technology
- School of Social Work & Social Development (to be officially launched in Q3 2025)
Since becoming an Autonomous University in 2017, about 22,000 graduates have experienced our unique brand of education. More than 17,300 students are currently pursuing their full- and part-time studies with us.
The Institute for Adult Learning (IAL), as part of SUSS, leads in the field of research on adult and workplace learning and training of adult educators to build capabilities of the training and adult education sector in Singapore and beyond. For more information about SUSS, please visit www.suss.edu.sg.
