The aim of the Silver Economy -project is to provide SMEs information about Silver Economy, 50plus and age-friendly services and to provide SMEs skills and expertise in Silver Economy to focus their services with the needs of Silver Economy customers.

Silver Economy – Turning The Silver Tsunami Into A Silver Lining

According the idea of Silver Economy, population aging is seen as an economical opportunity. Growth of Silver Economy will open new opportunities for product and service development in many industries. According to the EU programs, the target group of Silver Economy will cover citizen over the age of 50. Many existing services and products do not in themselves serve the needs of ageing population. Better suitable services and products will support and strengthen older consumer’s functional ability and quality of life. Supporting older citizens´ functional ability is significant to whole society.

The aim of the Silver Economy development in North Karelia, Finland is based on assumption that the growth in the silver economy will open up new opportunities for business and service development in various industries. The aim of the project is to provide SMEs information about Silver Economy, 50plus and age-friendly services and to provide SMEs skills and expertise in Silver Economy (service and business development, and marketing, ageing) to focus their services with the needs of Silver Economy customers. The aim is also to create regional Silver Economy network and to provide SMEs opportunity for joint development. 

ACTIONS The implementation of the Silver Economy ESF- project is divided into five work packages:
WP 1. Increasing SME´s competences in Age-Friendly and Silver Economy Business. By trainings, enhance SMEs skills (aligning, product and service development, marketing, competence of ageing) to align and develop their services for the needs of Silver Economy customers. 

WP 2. Enabling co-operation and joint development and creating a regional network of enterprises and other operators offering services and products for people over 50.

WP 3. Developing new models for joint marketing and co-operation. Testing and implementing channels for Silver Economy marketing, possibility to use existing channel

WP 4. 50+ Pilots, Planning new events for ageing consumers

WP 5. International co-operation: The aim of the international co-operation will be to transfer international practices and to enable joint development and learning with international partners. The partners will be focusing the age-friendly business or silver economy. Arranging local enterprises opportunity to benchmark international Silver Economy and 55+ services. Improve developer organisations expertise in Silver Economy.