Robots for Elder Care: Pilot Program Launches in China

CNBC AI News – In a move signaling increased investment in elder care technology, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Civil Affairs have jointly announced a pilot program focusing on smart elderly care service robots. The initiative aims to accelerate the integration of robotics into the care of the aging population.

The program, spanning from 2025 to 2027, outlines key areas for development and application:

The program will focus on three primary areas of elder care: home-based care, community-based care, and institutional care. Key applications will include assistance for those with cognitive and physical disabilities, emotional companionship, health promotion, smart environment integration, and aids for daily living. Companies are encouraged to address the shortfalls of existing products and solutions through collaborative research and development efforts, to enhance the safety, reliability, usability, and overall service capabilities of these robots.

The pilot will also involve rigorous field testing across various settings, including private homes, community centers, and care facilities. During a product’s application process, it must complete an iterative upgrade with a minimum application verification cycle period of 6 months.

Specifically, home-based care robots will need to undergo validation in at least 200 households, with a deployment of no less than 200 units. Community and institutional care robots must be deployed in at least 20 community centers or 20 care facilities, with a minimum deployment of 20 units.

Furthermore, the program emphasizes the development of standardized frameworks and evaluation systems. Participating manufacturers and application providers are encouraged to collaborate on creating service standards specific to the needs of different situations with regards to safety, reliability, user-friendliness, and its costs.

In terms of results and broader promotion, the ministries stated that the program outcomes will be showcased via official websites and through dedicated platforms for supply-demand matching and the promotion of robotics within the elder care sector. Subsequent supply-demand matching events will highlight and promote the pilot projects.

This initiative, viewed in light of ongoing developments within the smart robotics industry and the demographic shifts in the nation, signals a potential future where the “70s, 80s, and 90s” generations, if their financial situations are healthy by retirement age, could be beneficiaries of robotic elder care solutions.