Active and healthy ageing is a major societal challenge common to all European countries. It represents an area with a great potential for Europe to lead the world in the provision of innovative responses to this challenge. It was against this backdrop that the European Commission launched the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP AHA), bringing together the efforts of governments, business and research centres working on the promotion of active and healthy ageing.

The University of Deusto is an active member of the EIP AHA since its creation in 2011. It is also an active player of the Basque Country Reference Site, which has been awarded the highest EIP AHA recognition: EIP AHA 2016 Reference Site 4 Stars. The Reference Site status is granted to organisations who have demonstrated excellence in the development, adoption and scaling up of innovative practices for active and healthy ageing, in line with the strategic objectives of the EIP AHA and, in particular, the European Scaling Up Strategy for Innovation in Active and Healthy Ageing.

In April 2016, the University of Deusto together with the Biscay Provincial Council submitted a new commitment to renew its participation in the EIP AHA. The commitment B4All: Biscay, a Territory for All includes the declaration of intention to keep working together in the context of the following EIP AHA Action Groups:

• A2: Falls Prevention
• A3: Lifespan Health Promotion & Prevention of Age Related Frailty and Disease
• D4: Age Friendly Environments

The University of Deusto is also member of the Covenant of Demographic Change, built on the outcomes of the AFE-INNOVNET Thematic Network, which aims at mobilising the European community of local and regional authorities and other stakeholders to support the scaling-up of innovative solutions for age-friendly environments.