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What is gerontech and
why is it important?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), creating
an age-enabling city requires nine core ingredients, one of
which includes “Technology and Innovation”, and by extension,
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
gerontechnology (WHO, 2015). Gerontech is a fast-growing
industry with significant potential to improve the lives of elderly and
persons with disabilities (PwD). It is therefore an important tool to
help the city to overcome challenges related to population ageing.

This is particularly significant for Hong Kong, as we not only
have a rapidly growing ageing population, but also the longest
average life expectancy in the world—82.9 years for males and
88.0 years for females as of 2020 (C&SD, 2021, September
10). Some of the challenges that the city faces in relation to
population ageing include the high institutionalisation rate of
elderly and PwD, weak primary care in relation to chronic disease
prevention and management, severe manpower shortages
resulting in increased caregiver burden, and inadequate medical-
social collaboration to meet the health and welfare needs of
elders and PwD (OHKF, 2018).

All of these challenges represent areas where gerontech could
positively contribute. Yet, whether a widespread adoption of
gerontech can succeed depends on our commitment to build on
the successes and momentum within the industry today, as well as
to identify key areas where more can be done to further grow and
mature the gerontech ecosystem. This is the focus of this report.

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