21社论丨坚持需求导向，让科技更好赋能银发经济

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent policy measures introduced by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and eight other departments to foster the development of the elderly care service industry, emphasizing technological innovation as a key driver for upgrading service models and addressing the needs of the aging population [1][2]. Group 1: Policy Measures and Objectives - The new measures focus on nurturing innovative business entities in the elderly care sector, shifting from previous policies that primarily emphasized infrastructure and operational subsidies to a model driven by technological advancements [1]. - By 2035, the elderly population aged 60 and above in China is expected to exceed 400 million, accounting for over 30% of the total population, indicating a significant market potential for the silver economy [1]. Group 2: Technological Empowerment in Elderly Care - The policy supports the development of smart elderly care devices and rehabilitation robots, encouraging collaboration between technology developers and care service providers to enhance product applicability for the elderly [3]. - The initiative aims to create smart elderly care communities and integrated home care platforms, leveraging big data, cloud computing, and AI to improve the digitalization and intelligence of elderly care services [3]. Group 3: Economic Implications - The integration of technology in elderly care is seen as a dual opportunity: addressing the challenges of an aging population while also driving high-quality economic growth through the creation of new business models and expanding domestic consumption [2]. - The silver economy is expected to stimulate various industries, including new materials and manufacturing, while also creating new job roles in the service sector, such as remote health managers and digital care planners [4]. Group 4: Challenges and Solutions - Despite the promising outlook for the silver economy, challenges remain, such as the limited diversity of products and the need for improved service experiences [4]. - Addressing the issue of technology adaptation for the elderly is crucial, as many existing smart products do not meet the specific needs of older users, necessitating the development of accessible and user-friendly technology [5].