HKPC's Geneva Gold Medal with Congratulations of JuryAward Winner "kNOw Touch Contactless Elevator Control Panel" signing Technology Licensing Agreements with Roborn and Jardine Schindler to Promote Wider Adoption

(Hong Kong, 30 March 2021) The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), with the strong support from both the Innovation and Technology Bureau (ITB) and the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of the HKSAR Government, successfully developed “kNOw Touch – Contactless Elevator Control Panel” solution in mid-2020.Since its invention, it has strived to seek collaborative opportunities with different parties to expand its application. Today, it proudly signed two technology licensing agreements with Roborn DT Limited (Roborn) and Schindler Lifts (Hong Kong) Limited (Jardine Schindler) respectively to promote the solution not only in Hong Kong but also to Mainland, One Belt One Road Countries and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region, a testament to HKPC’s efforts to help the world to combat the COVID-19 epidemic and its proactiveness and professional competence in R&D and technology development application.

As one of the approved projects under ITC’s Public Sector Trial Scheme to combat the COVID-19 epidemic, the “kNOw Touch – Contactless Elevator Control Panel” solution, with the support from both ITB and ITC, has already found its presencein many locations across Hong Kong such as government departments, office buildings of public organisations, Hong Kong International Airport, shopping centres, municipal buildings, places of worship, private housing estates and private organisations etc.The technology has also been patented locally and in several other regions.

On top of being awarded the “Pandemic Innovative Digital Solution Awards 2020 – Outstanding Healthcare Award” by the Hong Kong Computer Society in 2020, “kNOw Touch – Contactless Elevator Control Panel”has recently won the highest accolade of Gold Medal with Congratulations of Jury at the prestigious “2021 Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions”, a laurel to R&D achievements that contribute towards the community’s anti-epidemic efforts. 

Easy and simple to install, the “kNOw Touch – Contactless Elevator Control Panel” can be applied conveniently in different models and types of elevators without the need to change the original elevator button system or perform vast mechanical alterations, thereby ensuring swift retrofitting. By fitting a set of infrared distance sensors near the control panel and calibrating according to the distance and layout of the elevator buttons, the users can just select the corresponding floor by pointing their fingers at close range without touching the panel, an effective means to minimise the risk of virus transmission through touching the elevator buttons.  

Mr Mohamed Butt, Executive Director of HKPC, said, “HKPC is committed to serving Hong Kong with innovative applied R&D. Developed and launched at the start of the epidemic, the cost-effective ‘kNOw Touch – Contactless Elevator Control Panel’ solution leverages novel technology to solve the pressing public demand in combating the epidemic. The 14th Five-Year Plan supports the development of Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub. As one of the key R&D institutions in Hong Kong, HKPC will continue to give full play to its R&D strength, steering the development and adoption of innovative technologies. The collaboration with Roborn and Jardine Schindler is a successful example of the commercialisation of our R&D achievements. We hope kNOw Touch will extend its reach beyond Hong Kong and tap into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area market, riding on the dual circulation opportunity and enable the technology to flourish further, create value for the community and promote the development of smart city.”

Roborn and Jardine Schindler will actively promote the adoption of “kNOw Touch – Contactless Elevator Control Panel” solution in the elevator facilities of different building types and in other non-elevator scenarios in Hong Kong as well as other regions including Mainland China, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India and Southeast Asia. They will also provide aftercare services such as installation and maintenance.

Professor Larry Poon, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Roborn DT Limited, said, “As a Hong Kong Tech developer and participant, Roborn has been working closely with partners in Hong Kong and across the globe. Being the expert in EMI (Electronics, Mechanics and Information) engineering in movement, we are keen on building Hong Kong a prosperous international hub for innovative technology. We are proud to collaborate with HKPC and other world-class professional parties to commercialize the “kNOw Touch” solution. We firmly believe the cooperation is an important demonstration for all parties to jointly build the brand of Hong Kong Tech. We look forward to this great opportunity for unleashing Hong Kong Tech potential internationally.

Mr Elton Chan, Chief Executive Officer of Jardine Schindler Group said, “We are excited to be partnering with HKPC, and proud to have the opportunity to promote this local original innovation to the Southeast Asian markets.“

For more details about the technology, please click the following link:https://www.hkpc.org/en/our-services/smart-mobility/latest-information/touchless-lift-panel

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Mr Mohamed Butt, Executive Director of HKPC (left) and Professor Larry Poon, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Roborn DT Limited, sign the technology licensing agreement to promote the wider application of “kNOw Touch – Contactless Elevator Control Panel” solution

Mr Mohamed Butt, Executive Director of HKPC (right) and Mr Noky Wong, Managing Director of Schindler Lifts (Hong Kong) Limited, sign the technology licensing agreement to promote the wider application of “kNOw Touch - Contactless Elevator Control Panel” solution

“kNOw Touch – Contactless Elevator Control Panel” solution won the highest accolade of Gold Medal with Congratulations of Jury at “2021 Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions”, showcasing HKPC’s R&D achievements that contribute towards the community’s anti-epidemic efforts.