Cutting-edge assistive tech to shine at Care & Rehabilitation Expo in Beijing

Cutting-edge assistive technologies, including brain-computer interfaces, AI-powered rehabilitation robots and smart exoskeletons, will take center stage at the Care & Rehabilitation Expo China 2026, scheduled for Sept 3-5 at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, organizers said on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference, Guo Shaohua, deputy director of the rehabilitation department at the China Disabled Persons' Federation, said the expo will cover 28,000 square meters and showcase over 10,000 assistive products tailored to the daily needs of the elderly and people with disabilities.

For the first time, the expo will feature a dedicated brain-computer interface zone, where around 20 exhibitors will display innovations for motor function restoration, neural rehabilitation training and human-machine information interaction.

"We will also hold a series of launch events to boost real-world application of assistive and rehabilitation technologies," Guo said.

More than 500 global enterprises and institutions, including companies from Germany, Russia and France, are expected to participate, setting a record for the highest number of exhibitors in the event's history. Organizers expect 50,000 on-site visitors.

Kong Deming, director of the China Assistive Devices and Technology Center for Persons with Disabilities, said that alongside mainstream mass-produced products, over 100 high-end innovative devices will make their debut.

Highlights include manned embodied elderly care robots, 3D-printed wheelchairs, and rehabilitation exoskeletons driven by brain-computer interface technologies, he said.

Guo Yuhe contributed to this story.