New Frontier Roadmap for Hong Kong: The role Gerontechnology can play
At the GCMA, we recognise that ageing, while a shared experience in many aspects, is deeply intertwined with the context of our living environments.
Enter Hong Kong — a vivid illustration underscoring the importance and necessity of adopting a comprehensive, collaborative approach, in the formulation of a Gerontechnology Platform.
Hong Kong, as a nation, has embarked on a multi-year, integrated response to address complex challenges and promising opportunities.
What is Gerontechnology?
The term describes a rapidly expanding category of tech-enabled products, services and solutions, specifically tailored to the needs and aspirations of older adults. Spanning many need domains, from health and housing to communication and leisure, gerontechnology can aid in the activities of daily living, supporting older people to lead dignified, independent lives, enriched by comfort and social connection.
The successful ageing well solutions of the future will stem from a close collaboration between the supply side and the demand side to ensure end-users receive fit-for-purpose offerings that enhance well-being through adoption.
What’s involved?
In 2020, the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund appointed a collaborative coalition of nine organisations with The Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) as an Intermediary, to build an inclusive platform to facilitate the development of the gerontechnology ecosystem in Hong Kong.
The Global Centre for Modern Ageing (GCMA) joined this Consortium, as one of the Collaborative Partners, working together with local stakeholders, preparing the Blueprint Strategy Report which depicted the directions and roadmap of setting up a Gerontechnology Living Lab in Hong Kong - with literature review, ecosystem mapping research, values assessment research, protocol testing and recommendations.
Importantly, for the demand - and supply - sides, the Report highlighted the potential of the city’s living lab innovation ecosystem to spur adoption of fit-for-purpose gerontech, transforming the experience of ageing and rehabilitation through technology. The GCMA has been working closely with the collaborative partners and the HKCSS to build the Gerontechnology Platform in a continuous manner.
