Abstract
This paper will provide an overview of the MOPACT project. Specifically it will outline the mission and objectives of the project and the strategies it developed to link scientific research to real world policy questions and, then, to ensure that the research findings were as policy relevant as possible. It will explain too why the active ageing concept was central to the project. This overview will be followed by a summary of the key findings not covered by other papers in the symposium. The main topics covered are national variations in the achievement of active ageing, the projected increase in the numbers of people aged 80+ living alone, measures required to improve pension system sustainability, the potential of biogerontology to increase healthy life expectancy, the barriers to take-up of ICT products, the need to transform long term care and the political gerontocracy question.