Bao'an, HKU join forces to explore 'tech + elderly care'

The Bao’an District Social Welfare Center on July 17 signed a cooperation agreement with the School of Future Media of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) to conduct systematic collaborative research and exploration in the field of smart elderly care.

At the signing ceremony of the Cooperation Agreement on Smart Elderly Care Application Scenario Research at the Bao’an District Nursing Home, Professor Ruby Yang, dean of the School of Future Media at HKU, said that artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping all sectors of society, adding that research and data collection in real-world scenarios are critical foundations for the practical implementation of technology.

She hoped that the partnership with Bao’an would deepen academic research and media practice in smart elderly care, providing solid academic support for the responsible application of intelligent companion devices in eldercare facilities.

A representative from the Bao’an District Civil Affairs Bureau said that, through the partnership with HKU, Bao’an will continue to deepen cross-border cooperation with Hong Kong universities and scientific research institutions. The goal is to accelerate the transformation and application of cutting-edge technologies, such as AI and emotional interaction, in elderly care settings, thereby speeding up the construction of a smart elderly care service system that deeply integrates “technology + elderly care.”

Under the agreement, both parties will conduct joint research on the application of smart elderly care products within the Bao’an District Nursing Home. The partnership is expected to provide a new model for introducing high-quality academic resources from Hong Kong universities and promoting the integrated development of elderly care services in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as bridging academic research with industrial practice. 

By systematically assessing the current application status, actual effectiveness, and existing challenges of intelligent companion devices in elderly care scenarios, the initiative will provide crucial data to support government decision-making and enterprise product iterations.

The Bao’an District Social Welfare Center has a strong track record in the application and R&D of elderly care service robots. The center has pioneered the application and demonstration of more than 160 types of intelligent equipment, including intelligent nursing robots and rehabilitation assistive robots.