To start a new city-research institute platform for promoting welfare industries by matching the clinical needs and technological seeds in Kawasaki City.
In 2021, Weltech was built in a city-managed building as a satellite laboratory of IST and AIST. We widely accepted inquiries from companies, welfare facilities, and rehabilitation centers. Kawasaki City played a role in providing grants to develop the products, and awarded the original certification ‘Kawasaki Innovation Standard (KIS-certification)’ to the outstanding products. IST and AIST were responsible for proposing experimental designs and conducting the research to evaluate the products’ effectiveness.
From April 2021 to September 2024, over 100 consultations were received, and 30 prototype products were evaluated in Weltech. For example, to evaluate the effectiveness of the millimeter wave sensing system for elderly safety monitoring, we collaborated with the special care home and monitored some elderly who agreed to participate the product test. Also, one therapist in a rehabilitation center noticed that wheelchair users had difficulty going out on rainy days. Based on her opinion and the voices of wheelchair users including the staff from Kawasaki City Hall, a new concept of rainwear for wheelchair users was developed.
With this network, caregivers and therapists felt free to discuss both major to minor issues they observed in clinical settings, which made it easier for the companies to identify new needs. Moreover, with Weltech's assistance, barriers were lowered for some companies to enter the welfare industry. Since welfare devices have wide variety and specific features, quantitative evaluation for some devices remains difficult. For future solutions, we need to organize and update evaluation knowledge.
Collaborating with the local governments and the research institute such as universities would be the best way to advance welfare industries. Moreover, promoting the welfare industry not only contributes to economic growth but also has the potential to solve daily life challenges and enhance the well-being of residents. In this collaboration network, therapists could play a role in matching the clinical needs and technology seeds, since they have the ability to recognize the difficulties of people with handicaps and propose noble ideas for those solutions.
welfare technology
collaboration network
