Though SmartAge was founded just two years ago, it was honored this year with the 2025 INCLUSIVE Employer Award by Dialogue in the Dark (Hong Kong) Foundation. Isaac Chan , a person with disabilities, has leveraged his keen observational skills to excel at work. Over time, his personality has transformed from introverted to outgoing, making him an indispensable member of the team: “I used to be afraid of calling people outside the company. But they encouraged me to try new things — working in HR, interacting with more people, and managing social media. Now I feel much more confident speaking up.”
Mainland master’s student Sanway Tam, who studies computer science, brought a fusion of engineering and business thinking to the team. She helped expand SmartAge’s services into the Chinese market, representing Jason — who jokes that his Mandarin is “very average” — at exhibitions and speaking engagements in China. Jason often shares ideas and encourages teammates to evaluate their feasibility. His open-minded management style reflects exceptional talent in team building. He firmly believes: “As Sun Tzu said, there is no one in this world who is useless — only people who don’t know how to use others.”
A Vision for Academia-Industry Collaboration
During their time at CUHK’s InnoPort, Jason gained access to funding opportunities, exhibitions, and media interviews. He boldly applied to the PI Program, advanced to Hong Kong Cyberport, and — with the tireless dedication of a young team working through the night — secured support from the Social Innovation Fund, propelling SmartAge’s rapid growth. Though some questioned whether a tech professional could truly understand social innovation, Jason believes: “Sometimes the timing isn’t right, and you are not yet in the position you aim for. But if you don’t persist, when the time does come, you will miss it.”
From the international high-tech world to discovering his dream at CUHK, Jason is grateful to be part of Hong Kong’s eldercare innovation landscape. “SmartAge is truly fortunate. Technically and intellectually, CUHK offers abundant resources — from startup incubators to open-minded professors. I am especially thankful to Professor CHAN Yue Lai, Helen from the Nethersole School of Nursing and Professor REN Hongliang from the Department of Electronic Engineering.”
Jason emphasizes that beyond partnering with elderly housing estates to offer free SmartAge installations, the company will also collaborate with academia to conduct rigorous evaluations and publish evidence-based reports. This will help build public confidence in the system’s safety and effectiveness. Such academia-industry collaboration not only enhances technical credibility but also drives real-world innovation, ensuring technology truly responds to societal needs.
Yet the most powerful takeaway from Jason’s entrepreneurial story goes beyond technological breakthroughs. With empathy at its core, he deeply understands the challenges faced by the elderly and marginalized communities. By combining care with creativity, he transforms innovation into a warm and empowering force — one that shines light into every corner where help is needed. True innovation is not just about advancement; it is about responding to human needs, improving lives, and bringing hope and dignity to society.
