Hong Kong unveils HK$69m in tech grants for elderly care, plans HK$10m promotion scheme
Hong Kong's innovation bureau says over HK$69m in grants have gone to elderly-care tech. A HK$10m 'Ageing Tech Promotion Scheme' will launch in first half of 2027 to help firms match products with real-world settings.
Hong Kong's Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau said on 5 November that more than HK$69 million (US$8.8 million) from the Innovation and Technology Fund has been allocated to elderly-care technology projects. The bureau was responding to a legislative motion on building an age-friendly community through technology.
Deputy Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, speaking in Cantonese during the LegCo debate, outlined the government's strategy following the national 15th Five-Year Plan, which calls for active responses to population ageing and expanded 'smart ageing' initiatives. The city's own first five-year plan promotes deep integration of industry, academia and research to speed up commercialisation of technologies including those for senior care.
Science Park and Cyberport now host about 140 companies working on rehabilitation, cognitive aids and assistive devices. Examples include an AI-powered rehabilitation robot for chronic stroke patients, developed by a Science Park firm and a local university, which is now used in top-tier hospitals in mainland China and Hong Kong. Another firm has created a smart voice system that reminds elderly users to take medication and confirms activity attendance.
A remote rehabilitation training platform developed by the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre has been deployed in 17 community service centres. The government also supports cross-sector platforms such as the Gerontechnology Expo and Summit, and business-matching events that connect tech firms with social welfare organisations.
To accelerate the adoption of elderly-care technology in homes, Science Park is working with the Hong Kong Housing Authority on a 'Live Smart Living Lab' project. It matches tech solutions with real-world settings and collects feedback from elderly users early in the design process. A new 'Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Application Scenario Promotion Centre' is also planned, featuring an online platform and a physical hub to match demand with solutions from the three innovation parks and five research institutes.
This year's Policy Address announced a HK$10 million (US$1.3 million) 'Ageing Tech Promotion Scheme' to help local tech firms connect with application scenarios and refine their products. The Innovation and Technology Fund is preparing the scheme, expected to launch in the first half of 2027. Separately, the Digital Policy Office runs a 'Smart, Wise, Knowledgeable' digital inclusion programme that offers community digital service points and self-learning platforms to help seniors use technology and improve their quality of life.