On 3 October 2026, the Intergenerational Gerontech Innovation Academy (IGIA) held its first university online lecture, titled "Smart Ageing from a Higher Education Perspective". The lecture was conducted in Cantonese by Dr Chloe Siu of Lingnan University. It is the first of six academic lectures and part of IGIA's year-round programme.
Dr Siu introduced Lingnan University's commitment to gerontechnology and related programmes. She explained, in plain terms, concepts such as service education, service-learning and gerontology in higher education, and how to frame gerontology as a field of study.
The lecture also discussed the risks and opportunities of an ageing society. Dr Siu noted that this is an issue society must face together and positively. The silver economy goes beyond care needs; it also includes more targeted services that fit the different needs of older people, such as tours for seniors. Dr Siu encouraged students to consider the silver industry in their future careers.
The IGIA's Inaugural University Online Lecture achieved remarkable results, with pre- and post-event survey data (on a 5-point scale) reflecting marked improvements in participants' knowledge and confidence. In terms of understanding the concept of the "silver economy" and its market trends, the proportion of participants reporting an "in-depth understanding" (a rating of 4 to 5) surged from a mere 5.8% before the event to 82.3% afterwards—the most significant increase among all indicators. Likewise, understanding of "how higher education drives innovation in gerontechnology" rose from a relatively low baseline of 42.8% prior to the event to 88.3% afterwards. As for confidence in identifying the "genuine needs and pain points" of an ageing society, as many as 94.1% expressed a positive rating (4 to 5). All three core learning indicators recorded substantial growth, fully demonstrating the effectiveness of the webinar as a learning experience.
IGIA is a year-round youth gerontech platform operated by BNET-TECH in Hong Kong, with Kokoromachi Co., Ltd. of Japan as its strategic partner. It matches young people's hands-on skills in AI and technology with the experience and networks of older people, so that gerontechnology stays close to real life and young people find something worth building. Activities include two-way teaching, design-thinking training, prototyping and testing, and turning student work into sustainable gerontech outcomes.
Founded in Hong Kong in 2016 and based at Hong Kong Science Park, BNET-TECH is a social enterprise focused on gerontechnology. Its products include the STICKu smart walking stick and the FADELiSY fall detection system, and it integrates gerontechnology into STEAM classes. The IGIA model, which combines STEAM inquiry-based learning with intergenerational care, has also been selected as a 2026 EDU-Port support project of Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
IGIA will go on to hold workshops, a hackathon and discussions with investors, as well as competitions in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore. The platform allows competition winners to join, and serves as a high-level exchange platform. Schools interested in IGIA activities this year can also receive one free lecture or workshop experience.
Richard Leung, co-founder of BNET-TECH, describes the belief behind IGIA as: "You're never wrong to do the right thing."
Media enquiries: BNET-TECH Company Limited info@bnet-tech.com +852 3916 7407 (Richard Leung)
