With Taiwan set to enter a super-aged society in less than six months, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is responding to the government's "Healthy Taiwan" policy by participating in the inaugural Healthy Ageing Tech Show. Held at the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Industrial Technology Department pavilion, ITRI showcases innovative solutions for the aging population.
ITRI President Liu Wen Hsiung emphasized that Taiwan's challenge with an aging population requires industries to focus on successful aging. The needs of a super-aged society extend beyond medical technology, encompassing three major life scenarios for the elderly: "Detection and Prevention," "Diagnosis and Treatment," and "Rehabilitation and Care." ITRI has developed 15 innovative silver economy technologies using AI, sensors, virtual reality (VR), and ICT, aiming to lead the industry forward and create a comprehensive health industry ecosystem.
Liu pointed out that the aging population brings significant healthcare costs and a decline in the labor force. The government's silver economy policies have shifted from focusing solely on "treatment" to emphasizing "prevention." ITRI is dedicated to helping the elderly reduce unhealthy years and ensure they experience happiness, dignity, and fulfillment throughout their health journey, from wellness to sickness and eventually passing. In ITRI's 2035 technology strategy and roadmap, "Healthy and Happy Living" is a crucial element. In 2020, ITRI established the "Smart Long-Term Care Alliance" (later renamed "Healthy and Happy Living and Smart Healthcare Alliance"). In 2022, ITRI collaborated with the National Health Research Institutes to target precision health for the elderly and long-term care. ITRI approaches holistic health by categorizing the elderly into "healthy," "sick," and "sub-healthy" groups, designing technology solutions that address detection and prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and rehabilitation and care to better meet user needs.
At the show, ITRI will exhibit 15 innovative silver economy technologies. In the "Detection and Prevention" area, key factors for promoting health include brain cognition and reaction, as well as muscle strength and balance. For instance, the "Smart Cognitive Exercise" uses image recognition technology to capture elderly individuals' exercise postures and cognitive behaviors, analyzing them with AI algorithms to adjust training content in real time, thereby gradually improving cognitive abilities and enhancing daily life quality. Loneliness is also a major challenge for elderly health. ITRI has integrated traditional musical instruments with technology to create the "Music Sync Interactive Training System: Smart Jingle," featuring a pressure-sensing module that distinguishes different musical notes and rhythms. AI analyzes the performer's actions and cognitive changes, providing AI-based music recommendations to enhance cognition, memory, and hand-eye coordination, offering new health solutions for the elderly.
In the "Diagnosis and Treatment" area, ITRI's "SmartDoc," a medical assistant for the Chinese-speaking community powered by generative AI, can generate diagnostic and treatment suggestions using just voice or image data, including initial reports, medical examination reports, meeting records, and nursing records, supporting 96 languages including Mandarin, Taiwanese, and Thai. In the "Rehabilitation and Care" area, ITRI targets elderly individuals living alone and care institutions with the "High-Privacy AI Caregiver." This innovative AI thermal imaging technology provides comprehensive care information, including respiration, heart rate, body temperature, blood oxygen, and blood pressure trends, using non-contact thermal imaging to offer anonymized high-privacy images. It accurately detects abnormal behaviors, such as getting out of bed, falling, and prolonged lying, providing timely alerts. Notably, ITRI's "Wound Care Machine" and "Wound Care App," designed to ease caregiving for family members and reduce the burden on medical staff, have been shortlisted for the "Top 10 Elder-Friendly Products of the Year" at the Healthy Ageing Tech Show. ITRI aims to collaborate with partners across industry, government, research, and healthcare to drive continuous innovation in the health industry ecosystem through cross-industry and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs' Industrial Technology Department stated that the ministry continues to develop innovative research and development outcomes through technological projects, targeting critical areas such as the silver economy. These efforts aim to drive the transformation of Taiwan's biotech, medical, textile, and food industries, capturing domestic and international business opportunities. This year, the department has integrated ITRI, Metal Industries Research & Development Centre, Taiwan Textile Research Institute, and Food Industry Research and Development Institute to exhibit 33 innovative technologies at the Healthy Ageing Tech Show, hoping to connect upstream, midstream, and downstream industries to build a silver economy ecosystem.
In line with President Lai Ching-te's "Healthy Taiwan" policy, the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Industrial Technology Department has brought together ITRI, the Metal Industries Research & Development Centre, the Food Industry Research and Development Institute, and the Taiwan Textile Research Institute at the Healthy Ageing Tech Show, held from August 2 to 4 at the Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1. The public is invited to visit. ITRI continues to focus on new market values and demands, formulating the "2035 Technology Strategy and Roadmap" as a research and development direction. In the "Healthy and Happy Living" field, ITRI aims to develop solutions driven by market needs, create new markets, enhance human welfare, and lead the industry towards a better future.
Resource (mandarin): 工研院以 AI 驅動銀髮產業跨域創新 產研共創成功老化願景
