While high rates of aging have been a common trend in developed countries for the past several decades, it has recently gained momentum in OIC countries; rapid aging has significant social, economic, and cultural impacts on countries that require immediate and well-formulated policy responses. Since 2010, population aging in OIC countries has accelerated, and by 2030, the share of the older population is estimated to reach 9.6% of the total population. According to projections, by 2050 in a significant number of OIC countries, the number of elderly people will supersede that of young people. The increasing aging trends in OIC will ultimately lead to an increased old-age dependency ratio meaning that more people will require support and care for a longer period.

Faced with mounting societal challenges and acknowledging the limitations of traditional Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policies, such as weak directionality, lack of holistic co-ordination and fragmentation of the policy mix, a number of countries have started experimenting with various types of systemic interventions, commonly labeled as “Mission-oriented innovation policies” (MOIPs). MOIPs are defined as a coordinated package of policy and regulatory measures tailored specifically to mobilize STI to address well-defined objectives related to a societal challenge in a defined timeframe. These measures possibly span different stages of the innovation cycle from research to demonstration and market deployment, mix supply-push and demand-pull instruments, and cut across various policy fields, sectors, and disciplines.

Mustafa^(pbuh) Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF) believes if OIC Member States work together to address the elderly challenge, they can effectively manage it with lower costs and greater efficiency. Hence, MSTF and COMSTECH aim to jointly organize a summit (10^th STEP) to bring together stakeholders from various sectors, including government, academia, technology development, and more, from Islamic countries.

As the initial phase of implementing MOIP to address the grand challenge of elderly in Islamic countries, the summit can serve as a pivotal moment for engaging stakeholders.

Schedule of the event will be uploaded soon