Gerontech Symposium highlighted trends and opportunities in ageing care

Lingnan University and Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) co-organized the “Gerontechnology Half-day Symposium-Better Elderly Living with Gerontech: Trends & Opportunities in Institutional Care & Ageing-in-Place" on 26 April, 2023. The symposium aimed to promote cross-sector ideas exchange on the development and value creation of integrated gerontech solutions for a better elderly living (institutional care & ageing-in-place).

Speakers from cross-industry shared the latest gerontechnology development, best practices of gerontech adoptions, and ideas on policy advocacy and ecosystem development. Over 300 participants across different industries and regions joined this hybrid mode event (Online – Zoom and On-site – Charles K. Kao Auditorium, Hong Kong Science Park).

The LU also arranged the master programme students joined the gerontechnology ambassadors to be the volunteers and supported the event. It also provided the opportunity for the master students to access the latest trends of gerontech products as well as gain first-hand experiences of communicating with the professionals and broaden their knowledge and view of health management.

Miss Kexin ZHENG, a student from the Master of Science in Smart Ageing and Gerontology, found that tech companies need more talents and support, and “Theory is only the foundation, but we should learn to innovate gerontech products based on the theory that we learned. Starting a business, the support and policy from the local government are so important. Without sufficient support (including publicity, marketing, and promotions), the older adults in the community do not have the awareness, and it would be very hard to promote the gerontech adoption and development.”

LU’s Service-Learning students interviewed two gerontech ambassadors to understand their thoughts on using gerontechnology. The students also produced a video with ambassadors' sharing for this symposium, so as to encourage the industry to understand the needs of older adults and encourage the application of technology to achieve the vision of aging-in-place. For the video, please visit: https://youtu.be/ZjKLL_MPJVA