Université Côte d’Azur launches the 2IP Ageing and Well-being

On 22 April 2026, Université Côte d’Azur officially launched the Institute for Innovation and Partnerships (2IP) Ageing and Well-being, in Nice, France. The event marked the creation of a fully-fledged institute dedicated to addressing the societal challenges of ageing and well-being through a transdisciplinary approach. The launch brought together researchers, institutional partners, and public and private stakeholders.

Originally inaugurated in March 2023, the Ulysseus Innovation Hub Ageing and Well-being has evolved into the 2IP Ageing and Well-being Institute, now integrated within Université Côte d’Azur’s structure. By placing health, well-being and ageing at the heart of its strategic priorities, the university conducts cutting-edge research and fosters the emergence of innovative solutions, while providing academic and industrial partners with a privileged environment conducive to innovative collaborations.

“With the creation of the 2IP Ageing and Well-being Institute, Université Côte d’Azur reinforces its commitment to placing science, innovation and societal responsibility at the core of its mission. Ageing is one of the major transitions of our time, and universities have a key role to play in shaping sustainable and inclusive responses,” Jeanick Brisswalter, President of Université Côte d’Azur, in his opening remarks.

Stéphane Ngo Mai, Vice-President of Ulysseus at Université Côte d’Azur, also highlighted the strategic importance of this initiative: “The transformation of the Ulysseus Innovation Hub into the 2IP Institute reflects the strength of our European alliance in turning collaboration into concrete impact. It demonstrates how universities can jointly build solutions that respond to the societal challenges of ageing across Europe.”

Driving innovation and accelerating impact across the Silver Economy

The mission of the newly created Institute is to mobilise scientific, academic and industrial resources to address the complex challenges of demographic transition. The Côte d’Azur region provides a particularly relevant living laboratory, where more than 30% of the population is aged 60 or over, offering a unique environment for experimentation.

The 2IP Ageing and Well-being Institute aims to stimulate scientific and industrial innovation across the Silver Economy, extending far beyond the medical field. As Prof. Paula Pousinha, Director of the Institute, stated: “We aim to drive a dynamic of scientific and industrial innovation across the Silver Economy as a whole, beyond healthcare, to address demographic transition through a transdisciplinary lens and therefore contribute to positive and engaged life trajectories.”

To support this mission, the 2IP Institute relies on a set of complementary initiatives designed to accompany, test and accelerate innovation. These include the ALIVE start-up programme dedicated to longevity innovation, a Living Lab enabling real-world experimentation of solutions, training schemes to upskill professionals and stakeholders, and a data centre dedicated to the collection and analysis of health data to identify trends and risk behaviours. These mechanisms are reinforced by strong scientific expertise across disciplines.

A high-level event bringing together key stakeholders

The launch event featured a rich programme under the theme “Ageing is living: universities at the heart of demographic transition”. It included an inaugural lecture on neuroscience and ageism, followed by a roundtable discussion with experts from academia and the Silver Economy to explore whether universities are ready to address the real challenges of demographic change.

Through its transdisciplinary approach and strong ecosystem of partners, the Institute positions itself as a key driver of innovation for ageing and well-being, contributing to addressing societal challenges in a rapidly evolving world.