Donga University Holds “1st Gerontech Forum”

Exploring a Busan-Style Response Model for a Super-Aged Society
Discussion on Cooperation in Technology, Industry, and Policy

Donga University (President Lee Haewoo) announced on December 22 that the Department of Management Information Systems’ BK21 “Gerontech Service Development Professional Training Team” recently held the “1st Gerontech Forum” at the Bumin Campus.

Donga University is holding the "1st Gerontech Forum" and taking a commemorative photo. Provided by Donga University

This forum, under the theme “Busan-Style Super-Aged Society Response Model: Directions for the Development of Gerontech Services and the Industrial Ecosystem,” was organized to discuss technology-based solutions and strategies for cooperation among industry, academia, research, and government to proactively address the challenges of a super-aged society.

“Gerontech” is a concept that combines gerontology and technology, utilizing ICT, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and smart city technologies to enhance the quality of life for the elderly and support their independence and social participation.

In particular, as Busan is on the verge of entering a super-aged society, Gerontech is emerging as a key agenda item in connection with the city’s ongoing smart city and digital innovation strategies.

The Donga University “Gerontech Service Development Professional Training Team” has been conducting education and research by dividing Gerontech into three areas: healthcare services, financial services, and policy/social inclusion. This forum focused on concretizing the Busan-style super-aged society response model based on these research achievements and exploring directions for the development of Gerontech services and the industrial ecosystem.

The keynote speeches included: △ “Understanding Aging and Business Opportunities” by Lee Ehoon, Professor Emeritus at KAIST; △ “Investment Opening Busan’s Future: The Challenge Toward a Global AgeTech City” by Kim Taeyeol, President of the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency; and △ “AgeTech Strategies for Busan’s Super-Aged Society” by Park Mikyung, Team Leader of the Biohealth Division at Busan Metropolitan City.

The panel discussion, moderated by Professor Kim Sangjin of the Department of Management Information Systems at Donga University, was held under the theme “Busan-Style Super-Aged Society Response Model.” Experts from industry, academia, research, and government-including Choi Moonseok, Team Leader of the Senior Welfare Division at Busan Metropolitan City; Kang Jonggwan, Professor at the Donga University Biohealth Convergence Research Institute; Kim Durae, Director at the Busan Research Institute; and Cho Yongbok, Professor at Donga University-shared their views on technology validation, commercialization, and strategies for building cooperation models.

Ryu Minho, Professor and Head of the Donga University Gerontech Service Development Professional Training Team, stated, “We have proposed practical measures to ensure that the elderly can lead healthier, safer, and more independent lives in connection with the AgeTech projects that Busan will fully implement starting next year. We hope this forum will serve as the starting point for building a Busan-style Gerontech model.”

The Donga University Gerontech Service Development Professional Training Team plans to hold regular Gerontech forums annually, using this event as a stepping stone to continuously contribute to the creation of a technology and industrial ecosystem in response to Busan’s super-aged society.