UniCredit presented the LongevityTech Report, produced in collaboration with the National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA), at an online press event. Nic Palmarini, director of NICA, argued on the webinar that longevity—longer and healthier lifespans—is not only a health or pension issue but one of the century’s largest economic transformations, with implications for finance, technology and labour markets.
Why it matters now
Palmarini stressed that longevity is already shaping economies rather than being a distant problem: by 2050 roughly 2 billion people worldwide could be aged 60 or older. That demographic shift turns longevity into a strategic concern for companies because it touches housing, energy, mobility, infrastructure, manufacturing, retail and digital services.
In Europe average life expectancy is currently around 80 years, compared with roughly 50 years in the early 20th century. Significant inequalities remain: within a single city like London, differences in life expectancy can exceed ten years, underscoring the economic and social impact of such disparities.
Which technologies will matter?
The LongevityTech Report highlights four enabling technologies likely to shape the economy of longer lives:
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Artificial intelligence (AI): the report describes AI as the “cognitive infrastructure” of the longevity economy. In banking, AI can appear in customer service, fraud prevention, risk management and long‑term financial planning. A key issue is that many people underestimate their own life expectancy and thus are underprepared financially for extra years. AI can assist with personalised forecasts, life‑course based advice and early warnings.
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Robotics: beyond factories and logistics, robotics has growing potential in home assistance, rehabilitation systems and eldercare technologies. These solutions can alleviate labour shortages, reduce physical burdens and support independent living.
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Quantum technologies: quantum approaches may enable faster decision support, more secure data handling and accelerated innovation, which are valuable for complex, data‑intensive services within longevity ecosystems.
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Next‑generation human–machine interfaces: voice control, gesture recognition, wearable devices, haptics and brain–computer interfaces can create user experiences accessible across ages and physical abilities, directly supporting accessibility and customer retention.
The report emphasizes backend systems: solutions that make services safer, more reliable, personalised and sustainable over time.
Implications for business models and finance
According to the report, companies that plan for longer life cycles, durable customer relationships, reliable technological infrastructure and an ageing workforce will gain advantage. Banks have a central role because financial security, long‑term planning and trust heavily influence how people experience extended lifespans.
The transformation also opens commercial opportunities: financial products, insurance, pension solutions and technological and service innovations can address new market segments if they are aligned with the needs of prolonged, healthy life trajectories.
Conclusion
The LongevityTech Report concludes that longer, healthier lives are not merely a demographic reality but a broad economic megatrend shaped by technology and financial innovation. Organisations that integrate the demands of extended life cycles into their products, services and infrastructure now will be better positioned for the coming decades.
