Mission statement

The Road map aimed to reflect the following priorities:

• High quality scientific research

• Building on existing state-of-the-art research and priority setting in both Europe and the rest of the world. Of particular importance are the various European co-ordination actions of recent years.

• A life course emphasis to reflect the fact that ageing is life-long and the scope for prevention.

• Multi and inter-disciplinarity: research on ageing should reflect its multi-dimensional nature.

• In both macro and micro terms the importance of activity / participation to well-being.

• Addressing the inequalities in ageing and later life both within and between European countries (eg Eastern and Western Europe).

• The need for greater co-ordination of ageing research activity in Europe and the most appropriate ways to achieve this.

• Other infrastructure issues such as training.

• The need to engage closely with service users, including older people.

• The need to close the gap between Science and Society in this field by more effective communication and knowledge transfer.

• Raising the profile of ageing research.

• Utilising an interactive bottom-up approach to engage widely with key stakeholders.

• Keeping into account not only current but also future socio-demographic trends.