Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Civil Affairs of China have jointly issued a notice to initiate pilot projects for intelligent elderly care service robots from 2025 to 2027, aiming to enhance the quality of life for the elderly and alleviate the pressure on family caregiving [1][2]. Group 1: Pilot Project Implementation - The pilot will focus on three main areas: collaborative research, scenario application verification, and the establishment of standards and evaluation systems [1][2]. - The collaborative research will target home, community, and institutional elderly care services, addressing issues such as care for the disabled and elderly, emotional support, health promotion, and daily living assistance [1][2]. Group 2: Application Verification - The application verification process will require a minimum of 200 home applications and at least 20 community or institutional applications, with a verification period of no less than six months [2]. - The goal is to iteratively upgrade products based on real-world application feedback [2]. Group 3: Standards and Evaluation - The notice encourages the development of standards for intelligent elderly care service robots, focusing on safety, reliability, and suitability for the elderly [2][3]. - The standards will be based on the physiological and psychological characteristics of the elderly, guiding the design and development of these robots [3]. Group 4: Collaborative Applications - Companies, universities, research institutions, and third-party elderly care service organizations are encouraged to form consortia to apply for the pilot projects [3]. - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Civil Affairs will evaluate and select pilot projects based on their ability to address key challenges in elderly care [3]. Group 5: Global Context - The World Health Organization projects that by 2050, the global population aged 60 and above will reach 2.1 billion, highlighting the growing demand for elderly care solutions [3]. - An international standard for elderly care robots has been established, which will guide the design, manufacturing, testing, and certification of these products globally [3].