Gerontech and Innovation Expo cum Summit 2022
4-Day Expo with Free Admission
Develop Smart Healthy Living through Innovation and Technology
【Press release on 2 November 2022】The sixth Gerontech and Innovation Expo cum Summit (GIES) co-hosted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS), and co-organised by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), starts today and continues through 5 November at Hall 1A-C of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre with free admission.
The Expo showcases gerontechnology products, services and solutions around the world, and is complemented by a forum and series of special activities to enhance the public's understanding of gerontechnology. Visitors will experience how smart living shaped by innovation and technology can be implemented for ageing in place and home rehabilitation, promoting the health and well-being of the elderly, persons with disabilities and carers. By serving as a platform, GIES connects various stakeholders to seize the opportunities brought by population ageing and jointly promote the sustainable development of society.
Mr Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare, HKSAR, Mr Kennedy Liu, Vice-Chairperson of HKCSS, Dr Sunny Chai, Chairman of HKSTP, and Mr Feng Boming, Executive Vice President of China Merchants Group Limited and Director of China Merchants Foundation, officiated at the Opening Ceremony of the GIES Expo.
Mr Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare, said at the opening ceremony “Hong Kong enjoys one of the longest life expectancies in the world. Estimates by the Census and Statistics Department forecast that come 2040, there would be over half a million population aged 85 or above. While taking pride in how quality healthcare services have contributed to our longevity, we have to cope with the challenges of our rapidly ageing population. As our population ages, the demand for medical and care services will inevitably increase. We must harness gerontechnology as a solution to improve the quality of life and self-care capabilities of the older generations”
Mr Kennedy Liu, Vice-Chairperson of HKCSS, said, “The pandemic brought critical challenges to the social welfare sector. Within a very short period, social welfare organizations have to respond to the epidemic and tried their best to maintain services and to meet the changes in service needs. The epidemic has indeed been catalytic to the broader application of technology in the social welfare sector to support the elders, people with disability and other disadvantaged groups. In this year’s Expo, we have the ‘Smart City Smart Service’ pavilion showcasing various technology products and solutions supporting care services during the epidemic.” He added, the Gerontechnology Platform led by HKCSS could effectively connect with the sector and I&T enterprises to co-create a vibrant gerontech ecosystem.
Dr Sunny Chai, Chairman of HKSTP, said, “As the city’s largest I&T ecosystem, HKSTP continues to provide support across the translational journey of gerontech for companies at different development stages. At our Hub of Gerontech at GIES, we connect stakeholders from government, industry, academic and research sectors to bring life-changing and high-touch innovations to improve elderly wellbeing and the healthcare system. Hong Kong has a unique opportunity with our growing aging population and vibrant I&T ecosystem to showcase new ways to tackle critical issues and improve the quality of life for elderly and caregivers with innovative technologies beyond borders.”
This year, the Expo covers a record high of 9,500-square-metre exhibition space and features more than 180 exhibitors showcasing over 700 local and overseas gerontech products and solutions. Product categories include aids for daily living, fall detection, anti-wandering, health monitoring, telehealth system, communication aids and rehabilitation aids, which can be applied to our daily lives including healthcare, dining, living, transport and working. Five thematic pavilions, namely “TECH@home”, “Mobility Aids Experience Zone”, “Smart City Smart Service”, “Care Food Pavilion” and “Art x Tech”, were set up to let the public and the sector understand how innovative technology can improve the quality of life of the elderly and people with disabilities, as well as ease the burden of carers and improve practitioners’ work efficiency.
Besides, there will be a number of special booths including “Gerontech & Innovation Corner”, “Online Support Services”, “Para Sports Experience Zone” and “Japan Pavilion”. In addition, a Forum on “Tech-enhanced Social Care – the Way Ahead after the Pandemic” will be held on 4 November in hybrid mode. Distinguished experts from different sectors will come together to discuss the application and support of gerontechnology in face of severe epidemic, and explore the post-pandemic development under the “new normal”.
The Gerontech and Innovation Expo cum Summit 2022 (Free Admission)
| Venue: Hall 1A-C, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai | |
|---|---|
| Date and Time: | |
| 2 November (Wednesday) | 11am - 6pm |
| 3-5 November (Thursday to Saturday) | 10am - 6pm |
*Last admission time is 30 minutes before the daily closing time.
*Visitors are required to follow the precautionary rules and regulations.
Website: https://gies.hk
Forum on “Tech-enhanced Social Care – the Way Ahead after the Pandemic”
| 4 November (Friday) | 10am - 11:30am |
Venue: Meeting Room N101, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai (Hybrid mode)
Thematic Pavilions
| Thematic Pavilions | Brief Information |
|---|---|
TECH@home (C405) |
Simulate “A Day at Home” to show how technologies from health monitoring, remote communication, telemedicine, remote training and telerehabilitation can be integrated into daily lives and address different home care needs. The pavilion also introduces an upcoming pilot scheme on tele-practice in social service. |
Mobility Aids Experience Zone (C722) |
Converted into the streets of the city to let visitors try out special- function equipment such as wheelchairs and rollators to simulate daily mobility; showcase new mobility aids and introduce key factors of choosing the right one. An interactive exhibition also introduces CMF eRent – Gerontech Rental System and the Jockey Club “age at home” Gerontech Education and Rental Service. |
Smart City Smart Service (A419) |
Under the theme of Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong 2.0, introduce the achievement of the Gerontechnology Platform, Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care, and Tech-enabled Solutions Against Pandemic. Visitors can provide suggestions on the design of various products which are still in the R&D stage. |
Care Food Pavilion (B319) |
Care Food Experience and Education Zone is set up with a museum's design in mind. Professionals from different sectors are invited to deliver presentations and visitors can learn about care food and dysphagia from assessment and diagnosis, cooking, testing, caring and rehabilitation. A special area is designated to demonstrate care food cooking techniques. |
Art x Tech (A105) |
Allow visitors to experience the freedom of creation, and their works will be presented on a large screen to interact with the virtual environment and other works. The pavilion shows bamboo-themed artwork using e-ink wash painting software and explore the alternative therapeutic effects brought by the combination of art and technology and the infinite possibilities in them. |
Featured Booths
| Featured Booths | Brief Information |
|---|---|
Gerontech & Innovation Corner (C419) |
Encourage service units to set up “Gerontech & Innovation Corners” in the community to promote the adoption of Gerontech and start a Smart & Healthy lifestyle with tech solutions. |
Online Support Services (B101) |
Gather different NGOs to showcase various types of online services for the elders, the people with disabilities and carers. |
Para Sports Experience Zone (C225) |
Have fun playing lawn bowls to learn about sports for people with disabilities in Hong Kong. |
Japan Pavilion (C103) |
The Hong Kong Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry and its members debut to showcase products, technologies, services and forward-looking ideas on coping with an ageing society, under the theme of “The Symbiosis of People and Technology - Next-generation Care Delivery Supporting Personal Way of Life”. |
HKCSS would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) and China Merchants Foundation for their sponsorships to make GIES a success.
Download Expo Photos and Fact Sheet
About Gerontech and Innovation Expo cum Summit (GIES)
Jointly hosted by the HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, and co-organised with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, the Gerontech and Innovation Expo cum Summit (GIES), is the largest gerontechnology public education event in Hong Kong. Since GIES was launched in 2017, it has solicited support and aroused attention from different parties. Not only the general public can explore and learn about various gerontechnology and solutions in GIES, but the elderly and rehabilitation service sector is also mobilized and has become more willing to adopt gerontech. It also facilitates the development of several pilot services and projects. Besides, GIES provides a platform drawing together stakeholders to engage in dialogue and collaboration for the broader adoption of gerontech. It further helps to drive policy changes as well as societal and economic developments in Hong Kong for meeting the challenges brought about by an ageing population and the needs of people with disabilities.（https://gies.hk）
Media Enquiries
Corporate Communications, HKCSS
Tel／WhatsApp：9102 6291
Ms Connie Tam
Project Manager (Innovation and Technology for Ageing)
Tel: 3992 1727
Email: [email protected]
