On November 15, the "Technology Illuminating the Future of Rehabilitation" Forum on Assistive Technology, part of the 2024 World Young Scientist Summit, was held at the Chashan Campus of Wenzhou Medical University. The event was hosted by the School of Rehabilitation Medicine of Wenzhou Medical University, along with the Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, and supported by the Wenzhou Disabled Persons' Federation. Distinguished domestic and international academicians, experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs in the field of rehabilitation gathered in Wenzhou to explore the applications and innovations of smart technology in rehabilitation and assistive services.
Mr. Zhou Changkui, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Chairman of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, attended the forum and delivered a speech. Mr. Zhang Jiabo, Deputy Secretary of the Wenzhou Municipal Party Committee, Mr. Chen Peijie, President of the Sports and Health Sciences Branch of the China Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics, and Mr. Jin Huanmin, Secretary of the Party Committee of Wenzhou Medical University, delivered opening addresses.
The three-day forum brought together over 110 renowned academicians, experts, and scholars in the field of rehabilitation. It featured one main venue and 14 parallel sessions, covering cutting-edge topics such as smart assistive technology, autism rehabilitation, sports rehabilitation, integration of sports and medicine, and clinical applications of isokinetic technology. Under the theme "Technology Illuminating the Future of Rehabilitation," participants engaged in in-depth discussions on innovative developments in assistive technology.
During the keynote speech session, presentations were delivered by Academician Li Xiaokun, President of Wenzhou Medical University and Vice Chairman (concurrently) of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation; Academician Dong Erdan, President of the University of Rehabilitation; and Academician Liu Zhen, Foreign Member of the Japanese Academy of Engineering.
Academician Li Xiaokun presented on "The Construction of China’s Rehabilitation Service System," emphasizing the importance and urgency of rehabilitation medicine based on his personal experiences. He called for recognizing rehabilitation medicine as a primary medical discipline and advocated for the integration of education, sports, medicine, rehabilitation, and wellness to build a comprehensive health ecosystem. He urged collaborative efforts from all sectors of society to not only enhance national health standards but also to elevate the global profile and influence of Chinese rehabilitation medicine.
Academician Dong Erdan addressed "Exploring and Practicing the Construction of a New Research-Oriented University in the Field of Life and Health: Focusing on Interdisciplinary Innovation and Rehabilitation Characteristics." He analyzed the current state of China’s rehabilitation industry, noting its relatively small scale and underdeveloped status, as well as the lack of world-leading enterprises. He emphasized that the establishment of the University of Rehabilitation should be coupled with efforts to promote industrial development in the field.
Academician Chen Peijie presented "Reflections on the Evolution of Sports Science in China Driven by New Quality Productivity: Forms, Values, and Pathways." From the perspective of sports rehabilitation, he discussed innovative integrations of sports science and rehabilitation in Chinese universities, exploring alternative pathways to advance the rehabilitation industry.
Academician Liu Zhen delivered a speech titled "Research and Prospects of Rehabilitation Robots," reviewing the history of robotic development, classifying types of robots and their characteristics, and highlighting advancements in rehabilitation robots, particularly wearable exoskeleton lower-limb rehabilitation robots. He also outlined future trends and prospects in rehabilitation robotics.
The forum served as a valuable platform for academic exchange and a bridge for university-enterprise collaboration and regional synergistic development, creating opportunities to advance new productive forces in the rehabilitation sector. During the opening ceremony, the "Wenzhou Initiative on Assistive Technology: Technology Illuminating the Future of Rehabilitation" was unveiled, advocating for the establishment of a "Rehabilitation Technology Innovation Community," a "Rehabilitation Industry Development Collaboration Network," and a "Rehabilitation Talent Support Alliance" to drive the development of new quality productivity in disability rehabilitation.
The forum also featured a special documentary on assistive technology, awarded outstanding papers in sports health and recognized innovative achievements in rehabilitation technology and entrepreneurship. Additionally, a ceremony was held to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the rehabilitation program at Wenzhou Medical University.
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