A leading global voice on ageing and innovation takes the stage at MUSA..
The first day of “MUSA – Pathways to Sustainable Innovation” (3 December) will conclude with a public outreach session designed not only for the scientific community of the ecosystem but also for a broader audience: citizens, businesses, professionals, students, and anyone interested in understanding how research can generate real impact on society.
Opening this session at 5:00 pm will be one of the most authoritative and original voices in the international debate on innovation, demographics, and the future of humanity: Nicola Palmarini, Director of the UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA).
Who is Nicola Palmarini
A sociologist of technology, researcher, and science communicator, Palmarini currently leads the most important European center dedicated to innovation for longevity. NICA, established by the UK government, is a hub connecting research, industry, design, public policy, and communities to transform ageing into a driver of innovation, economic development, and collective well-being.
His vision is clear: longevity is not a challenge but an extraordinary opportunity. This paradigm shift stems from an international career that spans technology, ethics, and social impact.
From AI research to the “longevity economy”
Before joining NICA, Palmarini worked in some of the world’s most advanced environments for artificial intelligence and applied research.
He served as:
- Global Manager for AI for Healthy Ageing at IBM Research,
- AI Ethics Lead and Research Manager at the MIT–IBM Watson AI Lab,
- Director of the Human Centric Innovation Center at IBM Paris.
A career trajectory that weaves together diverse disciplines — technology, social sciences, service design, communication — and has inspired many of his reflections, often captured in books exploring how innovation can improve people’s lives.
A vision: ageing as a value
A key element of Palmarini’s work is the City of Longevity project (2023), a global initiative launched by the National Innovation Centre for Ageing. It is the first international programme designed to rethink urban environments through the lens of longevity: more inclusive, accessible, and equitable cities that support the well-being of older adults while enabling younger generations to live better as they age.
City of Longevity promotes a systemic approach involving public authorities, businesses, communities, and the research world, with the aim of creating urban conditions that foster health, autonomy, participation, and quality of life across the entire lifespan. A concrete example of how innovation can become social infrastructure — and a theme perfectly aligned with the challenges and ambitions of MUSA.
Save the date: 3 December, 5:00 pm – Aula Magna, University of Milano-Bicocca
Participation is free of charge, but registration is required.
