TWELVE startups have begun operations at the Shenzhen No-Barrier Incubation Space, a 1,600-square-meter innovation center that was renovated from an old factory house, in Shenhua Science and Technology Park in Futian District. The inaugural day was Sunday, the 30th National Day to Aid Disabled Persons.

The innovation center can house 15 entrepreneurial teams and is the city’s first innovation incubation center for the barrier-free industry. It mainly engages in designing auxiliary devices for the rehabilitation of disabled persons, innovation projects for barrier-free services and provides solutions to help disabled persons to integrate into society.

Of the 12 projects, nine of them were projects in which the Shenzhen Federation for Disabled Persons had invested 5 million yuan (US$704,000).

The exhibition hall at the center displays products like robotics that help low limb rehabilitation, and the lightest and smallest hand-held positioning devices and portable binoculars wearable for young people with vision difficulty.

Shenzhen Gengyun Information and Technology Co. Ltd. showed its cognitive training auxiliary system, a project sponsored by the Shenzhen Federation for Disabled Persons, at the inauguration ceremony for the center.

This training system provides training to mentally challenged children or children with cognitive difficulty. Based on the data, tools and courses, the rehabilitation trainer can provide effective rehabilitation training to autistic children or children with language difficulties. The company hopes the system can be used in households and rehabilitation centers.

By putting the research teams of barrier-free products together in one place, the teams have the ability to share resources, match their research projects and expand the market.

The center is free to the teams and guides them to use the latest technologies like AI, IoT, big data, new materials and biopharmacy in developing their products.

As an additional way to mark the 30th National Day to Aid Disabled Persons, an online recruitment week was launched to provide job opportunities for people with disabilities.

Shenzhen Comprehensive Service Center for Disabled Persons will continue this annual event through its online platform, www.sz.cdpee.org.cn. Businesses and jobseekers can register online. So far, more than 40 enterprises have registered and jobseekers can search the vacancies by filling in types of disabilities and regions. This online job fair is primarily offered to persons with disabilities in the country.

(Han Ximin)