HKPC Fully Supports SIE Fund to Launch "Gerontechnology Platform" Harnessing Innovative Technologies to Foster Development & Cross-Sector Synergy

(Hong Kong, 6 January 2021) The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) welcomes the launch of “Gerontechnology Platform” under the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund).  As one of the collaborative partners of the designated platform, HKPC is committed to rendering full support to Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) and in collaboration with other eight collaborative partners to promote development and adoption of gerontechnology in Hong Kong, also contributing to the advancement of gerontech ecosystem.

Over the past years, HKPC has been capitalising on its top-notch R&D technologies and strong industry network to promote local gerontech development, with a vision to scale up living standard of the elderly. In 2019, HKPC spearheaded the establishment of Hong Kong’s first gerontech cluster, ‘GLink’, for fostering information exchanges between gerontech users and service providers, plus accelerating R&D of innovative gerontech products and services. More than 100 organisations and enterprises have already joined the cluster. With regard to R&D initiatives, HKPC’s Automotive Platforms and Application Systems R&D Centre successfully introduced the Wheelchair Rooftopper System in 2019. This aside, HKPC last year helped a gerontech startup develop an IoT system connecting to blood pressure monitor, thermometer and in-house GPS system for the elderly homes. HKPC also developed an intelligent, IoT-enabled meal delivery cart, using big data to analyse diet of the elderly. These systems have commenced trial run in different elderly homes.

As a collaborative partner of the “Gerontechnology Platform”, HKPC will proactively provide multi-pronged services, ranging from gerontech product design and commercialisation, support of relevant testing and certification, enhancing user experience of elderly, to other gerontech related consultation services. HKPC’s expert teams will also throw full weight behind the gerontech companies, providing them with testing grounds and complementary facilities for gerontech product tests so as to streamline product performance and improve user experience. Besides, HKPC will join hands with HKCSS to co-organise gerontech annual summit, diving deep into the development and adoption of gerontech technologies. Study tours will also be organised to enable substantial understanding on gerontech adoption in local elderly homes. The “Gerontechnology Platform”, with HKCSS as an intermediary, will comprise four basic functionalities, namely knowledge hub; network and capacity building; consultancy, localisation and testing support; and impact assessment.

Looking ahead, HKPC will continue to work closely with the “Gerontechnology Platform”, other collaborative partners and stakeholders to further build industry capacity and strengthen synergy, joining forces to drive development of the gerontech sector and generate more social benefits. 

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