Cheuk Wing-hing: Hong Kong Science Park and Cyberport have raised over HK$ 150 million for elderly technology enterprises in the past three years.

On October 16, the Deputy Secretary of Home Affairs of Hong Kong, Hon. Jack Chan, attended the 2025 Greater Bay Area Summit and stated that the development of the silver economy involves the overall economic transformation of Hong Kong. It has a significant impact on consumption, catering, elderly products, technology products, and even financial products, creating economic and social benefits. Currently, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park Corporation and Cyberport have gathered over 120 elderly technology companies, raising over HK$150 million in funds in the past three fiscal years alone. Hon. Jack Chan pointed out that one of the tasks of the Silver Economy Task Group is to develop the "Silver Industry." This work includes promoting the research and development, marketization, and industrialization of elderly products. Promoting elderly technology cannot rely solely on the work of research and development companies, but it is more important to connect the needs and preferences of elderly users, so that products can be aligned with the market, creating economic and social benefits. The Hong Kong Science and Technology Park Corporation, through promoting collaboration between park companies and the elderly care industry, hospitals, clinics, educational institutions, and social welfare organizations, assists elderly technology companies in developing elderly products and introducing different elderly technology solutions to the market. Furthermore, the Hong Kong Productivity Council has recently launched free technology consultation services for elderly technology technology suppliers, elderly service providers, chambers of commerce, and social organizations, covering various applications, testing, and standard compliance of various technologies. Different research centers are also actively promoting the application of innovative technology. In order to strengthen elderly care services, the Applied Science and Technology Research Institute of Hong Kong signed a memorandum of understanding with Pok Oi Hospital in June this year for collaboration on different research and development projects, covering advanced artificial intelligence platforms for patient health analysis, smart personal care, robotic systems, drug distribution, and artificial intelligence companion systems, among others. The two institutions will collaborate to research and introduce diverse innovative applications for the Pok Oi Hospital Tuen Mun Lam Tai Elderly Care and Nursing Home Project, slated for completion in 2027, with the aim of developing the project into the largest smart nursing home in Hong Kong. In addition, the Logistics and Supply Chain Multi-Technology R&D Center is collaborating with a local property management company to provide smart robotic services for residents, including the elderly, living in public housing estates. Hon. Jack Chan also emphasized that financial support is crucial in promoting the application of elderly products. The Elderly and Rehabilitation Technology Fund, managed by the Social Welfare Department, provides funding for eligible elderly and rehabilitation service units to purchase, rent, or trial technology products, including sensor systems that monitor weak elderly leaving their beds to supervise and intervene in cases of falls or accidents, wearable sensors for measuring heart rate and blood pressure, a body composition analyzer for measuring health parameters, and smart wandering prevention systems that are compatible with indoor positioning. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, the government allocated HK$1 billion to the Elderly and Rehabilitation Technology Fund, and since March of this year, the scope has been expanded to include elderly technology products suitable for home use. Eligible service units can purchase suitable technology products for the elderly and caregivers to take home and use, expanding the use of elderly products from nursing homes to elderly households and increasing the audience for these products.