UK National Innovation Centre Ageing Launches "Longevity Republic" as Stan Shih Appointed Minister of Meaningful and Joyful Technologies

Launched for the first time globally by the UK National Innovation Centre Ageing (NICA) in response to the challenges of an ageing society, the "Longevity Republic" envisions the creation of a people-centered ideal society. As part of this initiative, Stan Shih has been appointed Minister of the Ministry of Meaningful and Joyful Technologies, leveraging the power of AI and advanced technologies to address one of the most pressing societal challenges of our time.

The Longevity Republic represents an innovative reimagining of an ideal society, seeking to move beyond the conventional view of ageing as merely a medical issue or an individual burden. In the face of a historic demographic shift—marked by the emergence of five-generation families for the first time in human history—the initiative calls for a departure from short-term "life hacks" or purely commercial product-driven approaches. Instead, it advocates a more equitable, holistic, and life-course-oriented perspective, rethinking how people can live fuller and fairer lives across all stages of ageing.

In response to receiving this honor, Minister Shih remarked: "Humanity has always possessed wisdom. While artificial intelligence (AI) holds vast knowledge and continues to evolve, human intelligence ultimately remains superior. There is therefore no need to fear AI, embrace it and use it with confidence."

The core mission of the Longevity Republic is to ensure that longevity is no longer something that merely happens to people (to do), but rather a future that people can actively participate in and collectively shape (to shape).

Core Concept and the Six Ministries

The Longevity Republic reimagines the foundations of society through a set of conceptual ministries, reframing mental wellbeing, rest, nutrition, movement, technology, and collective wellbeing as fundamental rights and shared public assets.

Originally, the Longevity Republic was structured around five core ministries:

1. Ministry of Purpose – Treats mental health and a sense of meaning in life as everyday necessities.

2. Ministry of Sleep Equality – Declares rest and quality sleep a fundamental human right.

3. Ministry of Food Democracy – Establishes nutrition as a constitutional right accessible to all.

4. Ministry of Physical Freedom – Challenges age-based stereotypes and embraces freedom of movement for bodies of all ages and abilities.

5. Ministry of Togetherness – Positions social connection as critical public infrastructure, equal in importance to roads and electricity.

Nic Palmarini, Director of the Centre, stated that in order to realise the vision of technology genuinely helping people live happier and more meaningful lives, the Longevity Republic has established the Ministry of Meaningful and Joyful Technologies. The Ministry's mission is to ensure that technological development moves beyond a narrow focus on "silver-tech gadgets" or short-term commercial trends.

The Ministry of Meaningful and Joyful Technologies emphasises that innovation should enable people to actively participate in design processes, creating technologies that truly enhance quality of life and social connection, rather than merely addressing physical decline. As a global technology hub, Taiwan's greatest strength lies in its technology industry, which has the potential to become a powerful enabler of healthy, fulfilling, and joyful lives.

After retirement, Stan Shih has continued to uphold his commitment to Personal Social Responsibility (PSR). In response to the challenges of an ageing society in Taiwan, he brought together like-minded entrepreneurs in 2024 to establish the Taiwan Innovation Centre for Ageing (TICA), serving as its Chairman to promote international innovation in longevity and ageing.

TICA's Articles of Incorporation are founded on the principles of social enterprise. Its development vision is to ensure long-term corporate sustainability while delivering tangible benefits to society, creating positive social impact, and continuously fulfilling corporate social responsibility and shared value. TICA has invited the NICA to serve as a strategic advisor, enabling Taiwan to face a future super-aged society and contribute meaningfully alongside the global community.

Nic Palmarini, Director of NICA, noted that the Longevity Republic is not merely an idealised vision of society, but rather both a mirror and a megaphone—inviting collective participation to co-create a better, fairer future of longevity.

[Notes]: The Republic's Core Charter: A Summary of the 10 Civic Principles

The 10 Civic Principles proposed by the Longevity Republic form the moral core and value foundation of the Republic. They assert that longevity should be recognised as a public asset and a fundamental right for all. These principles call on governments, urban planners, and citizens to shift their focus from superficial "age-friendly" slogans toward a systemic approach to civic design, with particular emphasis on the following:
• Time is the only public resource distributed equally to everyone, yet its quality and lived experience are shaped by collective social and political structures.
• Longevity is an ecosystem, dependent on the interconnection of society, cities, and care networks, rather than individual isolation.
• Intergenerational collaboration must move beyond age-based stereotypes.
• Demographic structural challenges demand urgent attention and bold, systemic government action.