From 16–18 June 2026, SHINE 2Europe participated in the 3rd World Congress of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (3WCAFCC), held in Donostia / San Sebastián, Spain. The congress brought together participants from over 60 countries and served as a global platform to discuss the future of active and healthy ageing. The event was organised by the Instituto de Mayores y Servicios Sociales (Imserso), sponsored by the World Health Organization, and co-organised by the Basque Government and regional and local authorities, enabling meaningful exchange between policymakers, researchers and practitioners.
SHINE2Europe presented a FITT-NESS project poster entitled “Advancing the Twin Transition in the Furniture Sector: Age-Friendly Policy Recommendations.” The poster showcased ongoing work on policy recommendations led by SHINE, linking the digital and green transitions with the aim of fostering more inclusive and age-friendly living environments through the furniture sector.
As the FITT-NESS project focuses on four regional innovation ecosystems—Lombardia (Italy), Murcia (Spain), North of Portugal and Sicily (Italy)—the work also reflects findings across these regions and at European level.
Key insights from desk research and regional gap analysis highlight that furniture remains largely overlooked in policies addressing age-friendly built environments. While European initiatives increasingly focus on accessibility, smart homes, energy efficiency and circularity, furniture and interior design are still not sufficiently recognised as essential components of ageing in place. This gap limits the overall effectiveness of otherwise well-developed policy frameworks.
The poster also identified persistent challenges in translating policy ambitions into practice, particularly within the furniture sector. These include limited integration of smart furniture solutions, insufficient support for SMEs, and the absence of clear Design for All criteria in furniture design. Together, these factors continue to hinder the development of truly inclusive environments.
To advance this work, the next step involves co-creation sessions in each region to validate findings from stakeholder surveys involving actors in age-friendly environments, Design for All, and green buildings. The results will contribute to refining and finalising the policy recommendations.