Call for Applications for the 5th Asia Healthy Aging Innovation Award

The Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE) and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) have officially announced the launch of applications for the 5th Asia Healthy Aging Innovation Award (HAPI). This prestigious international award recognizes innovative initiatives aimed at promoting healthy aging from various Asian countries experiencing rapid demographic shifts.

Award Objective

The Asia Healthy Aging Innovation Award is designed to collect and evaluate innovative programs, services, products, and policies that address the challenges arising from an aging society. By showcasing these initiatives, the award aims to facilitate knowledge sharing within the Asian region and promote the practical application of effective solutions in tackling the shared issue of rapid aging. In the previous rounds, over 300 submissions were received from 14 Asian countries and territories, with awards presented to 35 organizations across 10 nations.

As the 5th award cycle begins, we encourage outstanding examples and ambitious projects from Japan that align with the goal of fostering collaboration among Asian countries to apply.

Categories for Submission

The following categories are open for applications:

1. Care and Wellbeing: Initiatives that enhance the physical and mental health of older adults while supporting caregivers and service providers in health and welfare.
2. Social Participation: Efforts that promote continuous community engagement and intergenerational connections among older adults.
3. Living Environment: Projects that create living spaces, communities, and transportation systems that allow seniors to live safely and comfortably.

Eligible Countries and Regions

Applicants from the following countries and regions are invited to submit their innovations: Japan, South Korea, China (including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan), and ASEAN member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor, and Vietnam).

Application Details

For more information regarding eligibility criteria, selection standards, and submission methods, please visit the official award website:

Application Deadline: May 15, 2026 (Friday)

Background of the Award

Japan is a pioneer in achieving longevity within the Asian context, now standing as one of the most aged societies globally. Concurrently, other Asian nations are rapidly experiencing this demographic transition, emphasizing the necessity for early societal and policy adjustments to ensure that everyone can enjoy a healthy and active older age. This shared challenge has garnered the attention of the United Nations, which has dedicated the last decade towards promoting healthy aging through the 'UN Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021-2030'.

Recognizing these developments, JCIE and ERIA launched the Asia Healthy Aging Innovation Award in 2020 as part of Japan's initiative for universal health in Asia (AHWIN). This award aims to spotlight and honor projects that contribute to healthy aging and improved elder care across ASEAN, South Korea, China, and Japan, promoting valuable insights and practical applications regionally.

Additionally, the award's mission has been emphasized by the collaborative vision and action plan adopted during the 50th Anniversary Summit of Japan-ASEAN Friendship and Cooperation held in December 2023, which highlights the strategy for strengthening cooperation towards achieving a healthy and sustainable aging society.

For further details, please reach out to:

Japan Center for International Exchange

JCIE serves as a non-profit organization that advocates for policy dialogue and international cooperation at the private level. It believes that fostering mutual understanding and collaboration across borders is integral to achieving stable and thriving international societies. Through its projects, JCIE addresses multifaceted issues including foreign policy and security, democracy, global health, migration, and empowering women, contributing to solving various global and national challenges while promoting international exchanges and policy dialogues.