We are living longer than ever, and this demographic shift is profoundly changing the economy, society, and the world of work. By 2030, there will be 1.4 billion people over the age of 60, and by 2050, one in six people will be over 65. Longevity is an extraordinary achievement, but it brings real challenges in talent management, market sustainability, and how we structure our careers. At the same time, it opens unique opportunities to innovate and create value at every age.
In the workplace, the impact is clear. The shortage of skilled professionals coincides with an aging workforce. By 2030, workers over 55 will make up more than a quarter of the workforce in developed countries. Failing to embrace this reality risks losing knowledge, execution capacity, and competitiveness. Future leadership therefore requires intergenerational employability policies, flexible career paths, and continuous learning. Multigenerational teams combine the digital fluency of younger employees with the strategic experience of senior staff, serving as a key driver of innovation and resilience.
It is in this context that the Universidade Católica Portuguesa has launched the Center on Longevity Leadership, a pioneering hub dedicated to preparing leaders and organizations to thrive in the longevity era. The center’s mission rests on three core activities: research on longevity dynamics, development of lifelong learning programs for leaders and professionals, and connection with the wider ecosystem—including companies, policymakers, academics, and society—to accelerate practical solutions. The goal is clear: help leaders and organizations anticipate change and turn longevity into a competitive and social advantage.
The center is also inspired by and engages with international work already conducted at the Stanford Center on Longevity, one of the global references in this field. This collaboration strengthens the Center on Longevity Leadership’s commitment to scientific excellence, international cooperation, and the sharing of best practices, ensuring that Portugal participates in and contributes to the global conversation on longevity.
With three pillars of action: Talent, Market, and Society. The Center on Longevity Leadership works in an integrated way: promoting strategies for managing people across generations, generating knowledge about the longevity economy, and encouraging innovation for senior consumers, while raising awareness in society of the opportunities and challenges presented by a population that lives longer.
The longevity era is already our present. Preparing leaders and companies for this new cycle is essential to ensure sustainable economic growth, social cohesion, and the full value of human talent at all stages of life. The Center on Longevity Leadership was created with this ambition: to turn a demographic challenge into a collective opportunity.
Céline Abecassis-Moedas, Professor and Pro-Rector for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Amélia Rita Monteiro, Professor and Researcher at CATÓLICA-LISBON