Aging is a global trend. With the aging population grows, the demand for assistive devices also increases. The mobility limitation as well as body function deterioration of the seniors has turn assistive products into the star industry of the 21st century. To respond the demand from the industry, the government is actively promoting relevant policies and measures, integrating resources, and providing services for the seniors and the disabled. The central authorities collect barrier-free design standards from other countries every year, setting up the national barrier-free standards and encouraging manufacturers to provide products that conform to national standards. The Bureau of Standards, Metrology & Inspection (BSMI) has been conducting projects related to assistive technology since 2010. Besides setting up and amending the national standards, BSMI also constructs the inspection and certification energy for assistive devices. It is hoped to attract more local companies to have their products meet the domestic and international requirement, and thus to increase the product quality and competitiveness. In order to promote the development of assistive product industry in Taiwan, the "International Seminar on Applications & Certifications of Common Assistive Devices for Seniors and the Disabled" was organized at the Taipei World Trade Center on June 18th, 2015. The seminar invited the executive director Yasuyuki Hoshikawa from the Accessible Design Foundation of Japan, together with the executive director Youichi Togo from the Consumer Product Safety Association of Japan, to share Japan's experience of assistive technology development. The topic included the assistive product industry structure in Japan, the development of accessible product designs, the SG-Mark and the civil product insurance, as well as the welfare instrument mark in combination with national social welfare insurance. The seminar aims to help the manufacturers to get the latest development in assistive technology. It is hoped to promote the development of the domestic assistive product industry, and to incorporate assistive devices into the mark management system. The issue of caring products for seniors is originated from Japan and has spread to every scope in Japanese society. The trend of accessible service has even extended to Korea, China and Taiwan. Local enterprises produce the products with the concept of creating accessible facilities and tools for everyone, regardless of the race, the physique, the gender, the age or disability. A total of 82 domestic manufacturers, medical welfare institutions, inspection and research institutions, groups for disabled people and schools participated in this seminar. The event has got a great success, showing Taiwan's anticipation towards assistive product industry. Agency in charge: Inspection Techniques Division (the 6th Division) Contact person: Jason Hsieh Telephone: 02-2343-1888 
Deputy director-general Wang, Cong-Lin from the Bureau of Standards, Metrology & Inspection, M.O.E.A. delivering the opening speech 
Lecturer Yasuyuki Hoshikawa, the executive director from the Accessible Design Foundation of Japan 
Lecturer Youichi Togo, the executive director from the Consumer Product Safety Association of Japan 
Participants at the seminar