International context

NVG-KNOWS is a member of the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG) and is, in that context, also part of the European Region of the IAGG (IAGG-ER). The IAGG-ER is an international collaboration of scientific societies for gerontology and geriatrics in Europe. Every four years, the IAGG-ER organises the European Congress of Gerontology. At the global level, the IAGG-ER collaborates with other continental organisations of the iAGG, which joins over 80 national organisations. Every four years, the IAGG organises the World Congress. The IAGG informs her members through newsletters which can be found at the IAGG website. In 2025, the 23rd world conference  will be held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. That conference will be organised jointly by NVG-KNOWS and the Netherlands Society for Clinical Geriatrics (NVKG), the Netherlands Society for Ageing Research (NVVVO/DuSRA), the The Geriatrics and Gerontology department of the professional organisation for Nurses and Carers Netherlands (V&VN Geriatrie & Gerontologie) and the Netherlands Society for Physiotherapy in Geriatrics (NVFG). In addition, the IAGG office will be located in the Netherlands from 2025 to 2029 and during that period, the Netherlands will fulfil the role of President of the IAGG

Members of NVG-KNOWS are well represented at international conferences such as the annual conferences of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and the International Federation on Ageing (IFA). Members also have connections worldwide with individuals, groups and initiatives in the area of ageing research and policy. Exchanging knowledge and experience at an international level is important for the international synchronisation and advancement of the quality of research and policy. Several examples are:

  • In the recent past, Prof. Dr. Dorly Deeg, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, was president of the Behavioural and Social Science and Research Section of the IAGG-ER. She also served as the chair of NVG-KNOWS from 2005 to 2012.
  • Age-friendly Environments – NVG-KNOWS member Laura Christ is a member of the Older Women’s Network Netherlands (OVN-NL), which is connected to AGE Platform Europe. In collaboration with AGE Platform Europe and four partner countries (Austria, Germany, Italy and Lithuania), OVN-NL takes part in European projects such as the Mobility Scouts project, an Erasmus+ project to promote active citizenship of older adults, aimed at creating an accessible and welcoming environment (2016-2018).
  • Global Brain Health Institute – As a Senior Altantic fellow for equity in brain health, NVG-KNOWS member Geeske Peeters is connected to the growing network of Global Brain Health Institute, a collaboration between University of California, University of San Francisco and Trinity College Dublin. The institute aims to reduce the scale and impact of dementia around the world by training and supporting a new generation of leaders to translate research evidence into effective policy and practice.
  • SUSTAIN-project – NVG-KNOWS member Simone de Bruin is project manager of the SUSTAIN-project. In this project, 13 organisations from 9 European countries work together to improve the quality and organisation of care for older adults in Europe. SUSTAIN specifically focuses on older adults with varying needs in health and wellbeing. SUSTAIN is funded under Horizon 2020 – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) from the European Union (project number 634144).
  • INTERDEM – NVG-KNOWS member Carolien Smits is a member of this pan-European research network focused on research and dissemination of psychosocial interventions for people living with dementia.