aging

Manulife and UpLink announced the winners of the “Innovating for Asia’s Demographic Future Challenge”, the second in a longevity-focused series. Ten ventures addressing financial resilience, healthy aging, and lifelong fulfillment in Asia’s changing demographic landscape were selected from over 85 submissions. Winners gain access to networking, partnerships, and visibility, with three top innovators receiving a share of CAD $200,000. The challenge highlights the urgent need for innovation to support Asia’s aging population, projected to be one in four over 60 by 2050.

At the 78th Cannes Film Festival, 61-year-old director Yin Likuan and Suli Min, a Chinese grandmother who reclaimed independence by driving a Volkswagen Polo across 200,000 kilometers of China over five years, captivated global audiences. Min’s journey, chronicled in her “Wanderlust Diary” blog (10m+ views) and adapted into a domestically successful $15m film, challenges norms in aging, gender roles, and post-40 life choices. Her story mirrors shifting trends in Asia’s entertainment and travel markets, highlighting underrepresented narratives driving indie film growth as well as rising personal spending among 45-60-year-old Chinese women.