The Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)

 A major multi-national research databank on population ageing is the first ever research infrastructure project to enjoy the new European legal status that will make it easier and simpler to run, the European Commission decided on 17 March 2011.

The Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) is the first European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC). This will give it many of the same advantages and tax exemptions enjoyed by major international organisations.

SHARE is hosted by Tilburg University in the Netherlands and aims to help researchers understand the impact of population ageing on European societies and thus to help policy makers make decisions on health, social and economic policy.

Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany and the Netherlands are the founding members of SHARE. Denmark, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal are expected to join soon, with Switzerland to have observer status. Other EU countries may sign up later.

• Press release
• SHARE website
• Commission Decision of 17 March 2011 setting up the SHARE-ERIC