Combining HKUST’s research competence and HOHCS’ expertise and experience in healthcare and elderly services, the collaboration seeks to address the challenges brought by Hong Kong’s ageing population, and promote the city’s innovation and technological development, through application of gerontechnology. The collaboration also serves to address some major challenges of the local gerontechnology sector, such as lack of collaboration among academia, government and non-government organizations, as well as a lack of test beds for gerontechnology products.
Under the partnership, HKUST will aim to develop tailor-made solutions or products to meet the needs of HOHCS’ service users, while HOHCS will offer a testing platform.
Seven projects are now under discussion: a study on the genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease in the Chinese population for future development of diagnostics and therapeutics; a real-time 3D facial landmark recognition technology for early detection of mental and physical diseases; a virtual therapist that not only keeps the elderly company but also enables examination and monitoring of their emotional and stress levels; a study to quantify the therapeutic effects of garden spaces on the elderly; tap water disinfection by micro-PEF (pulsed-electric field) for prevention of water and droplet-borne diseases; a system that helps optimize HOHCS’ operations such as meal delivery services; and auto-guided wheelchairs and vehicles for logistic transportation.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Nancy IP, Vice-President for Research and Development of HKUST, and Dr. LAM Ching-choi, Chief Executive Officer of HOHCS, with witnesses including Prof. Wei SHYY, HKUST President; Dr. CHENG Hon-kwan, Honorary Court Member of HKUST and Honorary Chairman of Board of Directors of HOHCS; Prof. Joseph KWAN, Director of Health, Safety and Environment of HKUST and Chairman of Board of Directors of HOHCS and Dr. NG Sze-fuk, Chairman of Sai Kung District Council who helped facilitate this collaboration. Other HKUST faculty members, HOHCS management staff and community representatives also attended the signing ceremony held on the HKUST campus today.
