ROBOTICS CLUSTER

• Increased Expectations: With the certainty of aging comes the equal certainty of eventual
disability. Older adults, who have higher expectations than previous generations and will not
age in the same way, will increasingly choose to continue to live at home rather than be in assisted
living facilities or in nursing homes. They will demand that advances in technology be leveraged to
overcome the disabilities associated with aging.
• Money and Political Power: According to the insurance industry’s MetLife Mature Market
Institute, when the last baby boomer turns 65 in 2029, the generation will control more than 40%
of the nation’s disposable income. In addition, the huge number of baby boomers will guarantee
A wealthy, politically connected
elderly population will drive the
market for technology that increases
independence and enhances their
lifestyle in old age.
that their political voice will be heard. The result will be that boomers, which represent a population
that has historically been disinclined to compromise on lifestyle issues, unwilling to age gracefully,
and backed by large amounts of disposable income, will demand greater independence than their
parents and grandparents.
More Insight: Healthcare robotics share many areas of technical commonality with electrically powered medical
devices. Because they both serve the healthcare industry, they hold in commonality issues relating to funding,
investment, testing, and approval, not to mention the mutual goals of improving patient care, and the social and
business requirements to create new and innovative product offerings. Healthcare robotics business development
and commercialization activities will be more successful when examined in light of the well-understood,
mature (and highly profitable) medical devices industry.
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THE MASSACHUSETTS ROBOTICS CLUSTER
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