Robotronics Land Awarded Government Grants
5 Companies Awarded Grants Under Silver Community Test-Bed Programme
MCYS has announced the first group of five companies to be awarded grants worth up to $0.5m in total under the Silver Community Test-Bed Programme. The launch of the Test-Bed Programme in January 2008 attracted an exciting range of product proposals for the ageing population. 5 innovative product prototypes have been selected for testing in 26 HDB flats after the first call for proposals.
2 “The high level of interest shown by companies in this programme is very encouraging. It is an indication that the private sector believes in the strong business potential in the silver industry. Such age-friendly innovations will not only enhance the living environment for older people, they will also help our seniors stay cared for and connected”, said Ms Chong Siak Ching, Chairperson of the Silver Community Test-Bed Programme Evaluation Panel, and President & CEO, Ascendas.
3 The prospects for the silver industry in Asia are promising. By 2050, the United Nations projects that 1.2 billion people in Asia will be above 60. This is four times the number of people above 60 in Europe and U.S. combined[1]. As Asia prospers, the emergence of more financially secure “active agers” will set the stage for an expanding silver market. MasterCard has projected that the silver spending power of Asia[2] will almost triple to US$616 billion in 2015.
4 “Leveraging on our infrastructure and capabilities, Singapore can be a 'Living Lab' for companies to test-bed and develop solutions that can be exported to the global market. We are happy to partner EDB and HDB to test-bed and develop new products and solutions for the silver market,” said Ms Charlotte Beck, Director, Elderly, Disability and Gambling Safeguards, Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.
5 ”We believe that the Silver Community Test-Bed Programme provides a good platform for companies to develop new solutions and products to meet the future needs of Singapore and Asia's ageing population. This is in line with EDB's Future•Singapore initiative which leverages Singapore's character as a microcosm of the new urban, affluent and ageing Asia, to develop innovative solutions for the future," added Ms Evon Phua, Deputy Director, Consumer Businesses & Healthcare, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
6 “We want our seniors to have more lifestyle options and to live independently. We want them to be ‘active agers’. A more vibrant silver industry will also make such products and services more accessible and affordable to seniors.” said Mr Gerard Ee, Chairman for Council for Third Age (C3A).
7 16 proposals were received in total. The majority came from local institutes and companies. Proposals mainly focused on home and health monitoring, lifestyle enhancement and assisted living. The awarded companies included MNCs, a US-based company, local polytechnic and SMEs. The companies and products are:
- Philips Applied Technologies (InnoHub) – InTouch platform
- Corventis Inc – Remote Patient Management System
- Robotronics Land Pte Ltd – Multi-purpose Elderly Care Robot Functions
- >60 Design Centre at Temasek Polytechnic and Eubiq Pte Ltd - 3-in-1 product that combines the night light, motion sensor and communicator on Eubiq’s track system
- ADT Security Services – ADT Care Alert
8 A second call for proposals will be initiated later this year. The focus of this new call will be on assisted living, which includes products and/or services which are affordable, user-friendly and are able to meet the day-to-day needs of the elderly in their homes. Age-friendly household products and fixtures can go along way to help elderly live independently. An example of such a product is a height adjustable sink or kitchen cabinet.
9 The Silver Community Test-Bed Programme was launched by Minister for Community Development Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan during the Silver Industry Conference and Exhibition (SICEX) in Jan 2008. The aim of the programme is to provide a platform for companies and research institutes to test-bed technologies that improve ageing-in-place and independent living in HDB flats. The Test-Bed Programme is supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), Housing Development Board (HDB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), SPRING Singapore and the Council for Third Age (C3A).
Source: http://www.news.gov.sg/public/sgpc/en/media_releases/agencies/mcys/press_release/P-20080807-1.print.html