China plans to launch a program that will allow companies to provide robotic nursing products on trial basis to homes, communities and nursing facilities for the elderly from 2025 to 2027, according to a notice from two central departments released on Monday.

根据中央两个部门于6月9日发布的通知，中国计划启动一项方案，允许企业自2025年至2027年期间，向老年家庭、社区和养老机构试点提供机器人护理产品。

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Civil Affairs said the program aims to improve the quality of life for elderly residents, ease family caregiving burdens and inject additional staffing capabilities to nursing homes.

工业和信息化部与民政部表示，该方案旨在提升老年人的生活质量，减轻家庭照护负担，并为养老机构补充护理人力。

Companies and research institutes will be able to apply to the program, which requires trial periods of at least six months in families, communities or nursing homes. For family-based tests, at least 200 robots must be provided to 200 families. Trials in residential communities or nursing homes must include at least 20 robots in 20 sites.

企业和研究机构均可申请参与该方案。方案要求产品必须在家庭、社区或养老院进行至少六个月的试用。针对家庭的测试，需向至少200户家庭提供不少于200台机器人。在居民社区或养老院进行的测试，则需在至少20个场所部署不少于20台机器人。

The notice encourages companies, research institutes and volunteering families, communities and nursing homes to jointly develop evaluation standards for robotic nursing services. These standards will be based on safety, adaptability, efficiency and cost analysis.

通知鼓励企业、研究机构以及志愿参与的家庭、社区和养老院共同制定机器人护理服务的评估标准。这些标准将基于安全性、适用性、效率和成本分析来制定。

Nursing homes that have no record of incidents of safety or legal violations in the past three years are eligible to apply. Companies must have mature solutions targeting elderly care, mass production capabilities for robots and assistive devices, and a strong talent and technology base.

近三年无安全责任事故和违法违规记录的养老机构具备申请资格。企业需拥有成熟的智慧养老解决方案，具备机器人及助老辅具的规模化生产能力，并拥有坚实的人才和技术基础。

Companies and research institutes must ensure their products are tested and certified. They also must have the capacity to manage risks and respond to emergencies. Maintenance staff members must be stationed at the trial sites and are required to be trained regularly.

企业和研究机构必须确保其产品经过检测认证。同时，他们必须具备风险管理和应急处置能力。维护人员需驻守试点场地，并需接受定期培训。

Products must feature advanced technology and have no intellectual property disputes.

产品技术必须先进，且不存在知识产权纠纷。

Robot makers, assistive device companies, universities, research institutes and nursing homes are encouraged to form alliances to participate. Local authorities are required to recommend and report suitable applicants to the two ministries before July 10. The ministries will then announce the final list after a strict review and evaluation process.

鼓励机器人厂商、辅具企业、高校、科研院所与养老机构组建联合体参与申报。

各地主管部门需在7月10日前，向两部委推荐并报送符合条件的申请者。两部委将经过严格评审遴选后公布最终名单。

After qualification is confirmed, companies and voluntary trial sites will have two years to complete the program. Officials from the two ministries will evaluate the results.

资质确认后，企业与志愿试点单位需在两年内完成试点任务。试点成果将由两部委官员进行评估。

Local authorities are encouraged to provide supportive policies and offer financial and resource incentives to participants. Qualifications will be revoked if safety risks, accidents or legal violations occur, the notice said.

鼓励地方政府为参与单位提供配套支持政策及资金、资源激励。通知明确指出，若试点期间发生安全风险、事故或违法违规行为，将取消参与资格。

By the end of last year, China's population aged 60 and above surpassed 300 million, accounting for 21 percent of the total population, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. Over 220 million of them were aged 65 and older, representing more than 15 percent of the overall population.

国家统计局数据显示，截至去年末，全国60周岁及以上老年人口已超3亿，占总人口的21%；其中65周岁及以上人口超2.2亿，占比超过15%。

The National Health Commission estimates that by around 2035, China's senior population will exceed 400 million, constituting over 30 percent of the total population.

据国家卫健委预测，到2035年左右，我国60岁及以上老年人口将突破4亿，在总人口中的占比将超过30%。

nursing homes

养老院；疗养院

ease

/iːz/

v. 缓解;减轻;缓和

senior population

老年人口

elderly care

老年照护，老年护理

The National Health Commission

国家卫生健康委员会

trial sites

试点中心