TSMA Yearbook 2018

97 Taiwan Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association The Potential Silver Industry at the Ageing Societies Ching Pin Fu, Deputy Program Director of Industrial Technology and Research Institute IEK Preface According to the UN report, World Population Ageing (2013), it indicates that the global population over 60 years old grows extremely fast. In 2013, the number is 841 million around the globe which is 11.68% of the global population. Without any doubt, the number, as expected, will climb up to 1.96 billion in 2050, that is, 20.83% of the global population. Due to the increasing of economic development and living standard, and the improvement of modern medical treatment, people live longer and their retirement prolongs as well. Besides, the birth rate drops dramatically, and countries around the world are facing the ageing phenomenon. As foreseen, aged societies is an unavoidable trend. The United Nations Population Fund also clearly points out that one of the significant trends in the 21st century is ageing population. Whether developed or developing countries, even under development countries will face the ageing-society problem. Its importance and impacts influent every aspect of the society where we live. Generally speaking, the global population has become ageing. The change of demographic structure is certain to affect the industrial structure in the future, and to impose diverse impacts upon the economic development of a nation. Taiwan’s ageing speed is much faster than many other countries in the world. Additionally, due to the influences of the negative population growth, industrial economic structure and social farewell system are facing adjustment and transformation. Thus, the approach of transforming the