Shanghai unveils plan for technological innovation in elderly care

[Photo/thepaper.cn]
Shanghai has launched a comprehensive action plan that is set to revolutionize elderly care services and tackle the challenges posed by its rapidly aging population.
By 2027, Shanghai aspires to emerge as a global leader in technological innovation and industrial advancement in the realm of elderly care. The plan, set to harness cutting-edge technology to enhance the quality of life for seniors in the city, encompasses the establishment of an elderly care technology industrial park, state-of-the-art incubators, enterprise innovation hubs, and research platforms. Central to the initiative is the nurturing of leading enterprises, the creation of demonstration sites for elderly care technology products, and the application of these innovations to cater to diverse needs.
According to Chen Hongming, deputy director of the Minhang District Science and Technology Commission, this elderly care technology industrial park will be located in the district, and will sprawl across approximately 1.3 square kilometers of space. It will also feature an innovation research and development zone alongside an industrial support zone.
The plan places a strong emphasis on key technological domains such as intelligent sensing technology, information and communication technology, and artificial intelligence. These strategic efforts are geared towards enhancing the functionality of wearable devices, optimizing wireless communication efficiency, bolstering data processing capabilities, and enabling real-time monitoring.
Diverse product categories are slated for development, including life assistance tools, health service products, rehabilitation aids, safety monitoring devices, care services, and emotional comfort products. By leveraging state-of-the-art technologies like edge computing, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, and wireless communication, these innovations will offer advanced features that are tailored to the specific needs of elderly individuals.
To promote and drive the application of these innovative products, the plan outlines initiatives to expedite the adoption of smart aging solutions, encourage the utilization of intelligent elderly care products in care facilities, and establish demonstration centers for elderly care technology products. Additionally, support will be offered to enterprise that are independently developing elderly care technology products and those who are exploring insurance coverage options for these cutting-edge solutions.
The plan also underscores the significance of fostering a conducive environment for industry growth by backing enterprise innovation, establishing high-caliber incubators, fostering industry clusters, and fortifying standard operation systems to ensure seamless integration and interoperability of elderly care technology products.
Source: shanghai.gov.cn