Challenges

Longer life expectancy with a declining younger population leads to an aging society where the older population might consume all resources (Fried, Wong and Dzau, 2022). Longevity with ill health worsens an already dire situation to the point where it is economically unsustainable. On the other hand, healthy longevity can contribute to economic growth through longer occupation (Scott, 2021). Therefore, it is necessary and urgent to promote healthy longevity (HL), that is, the compression of years lived with a disability while also winning healthy years.

Objectives

The identified clusters of HL organizations and initiatives will provide a global overview of the HL landscape (RQ1). The identified business model patterns can be used to systematically assess HL organizations (RQ2). Finally, the business model patterns (RQ2) combined with the scalability maturity model (RQ3) will inform a first version of a business model framework for HL services. This framework will be validated and revised by Wasu in years 2-4 of his Ph.D. with a specific geographic focus: Switzerland, Austria, and Germany.

Research questions

RQ1: What are emerging clusters of healthy longevity organizations?

RQ2: Which business model patterns do healthy longevity organizations implement?

RQ3: How scalable are the healthy longevity offerings?

A research field is still emerging in the area of Business Model Innovation (BMI). The studies are rooted primarily in the theoretical backgrounds of resource-based theories, knowledge and learning-based theories, behavioral theories, and organizational theories (Gassmann et al., 2016). The expansion of our research will consider the determinants of innovation pressures (antecedents), environment (moderators), and performance impact (outcomes).

Business model analysis at the University of St. Gallen (Recombination school): Our research starting point is to understand the current practice in the private market and observe competitive imitation and network theory. To examine their business models, we use a theoretical framework suggested by Gassmann, Frankenberger, and Csik (2014) to effectively investigate four dimensions of a business model, namely the customer, the value proposition, the value chain, and the revenue model.

• Lecture on Emerging Business Models in Digital Health by Prof. Dr. Tobias Kowatsch, University of St.Gallen

Mekniran, W., Kowatsch, T., Scalable Business Models in Digital Healthy Longevity: Lessons from Top-Funded Digital Health Companies in 2022, In Proceedings of the 16th International Joint Conference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies – Scale-IT-up, 16 – 16-18 February 2023, Lisbon, Portugal, ISBN 978-989-758-631-6; ISSN 2184-4305, 609-15. 10.5220/0011778400003414. [PDF]

1. Scale IT Up Workshop at 16th International Joint Conference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies (BIOSTEC 2023), 16-18 February 2023, Lisbon, Portugal.
2. The 118th Congress Public Policy Positions by the National Council on Ageing (NCOA), 15 March 2023, Virginia, USA.
3. Quantum Healthy Longevity: Healthy People, Planet and Growth Summit 2023 by The UK’s National Innovation Centre for Ageing, 29 March 2023, UK
4. Swiss MedTech Day 2023 by Schweizer Medizintechnikverband, 13 June 2023, Bern, Switzerland
5. Age+Action Conference 2023 by the National Council on Ageing (NCOA), 20-21 June 2023, Virginia, USA.
6. The 16th Global Conference on Ageing by International Federation on Ageing (IFA), 27-30 June 2023, Bangkok, Thailand
7. The Healthy Longevity Talent Incubator by NUHS Centre for Healthy Longevity and NUS School of Medicine, 3-13 July 2023, Singapore
8. Longevity Investors Conference by Longevity Investors Ltd. and Maximon, 27-29 September 2023, Gstaad, Switzerland

Feel free to propose a topic by emailing Wasu Mekniran: wmekniran@ethz.ch

By examining the question, “how can we make digital precision preventive care models a success?” our team aims to research and develop a business model framework for the longevity economy to make disease prevention measurable, actionable, and accountable.

Wasu Mekniran M.Sc. MBA
Prof. Dr. Elgar Fleisch
Prof. Dr. Tobias Kowatsch

Contributing Members
Céline Cathomas
Severin Jordi
Wilma Diethelm
Victoire Stalder
Sandra Winkelmann

November 2022 – October 2026