Knowledge Sharing and Social Influence: The HINCare Programme
In the face of an ageing population, Hong Kong is navigating significant challenges in caregiving and support services. By 2037, one-third of the population will be aged 65 or older, necessitating innovative approaches to community support.
Prof. Reynold Cheng
The HINCare initiative, led by Prof. Reynold Cheng, who is the Division Head and Professor of AI & Data Science at HKU's School of Computing and Data Science, also serves on the steering committee of the HKU Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science. Prof. Cheng and his team are recognised as pioneers in this field.
HINCare is Hong Kong's first intelligent cloud-based timebanking system designed to foster a mutual-help community. It addresses the limitations faced by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) through technology, effectively enhancing their operational efficiencies. The platform facilitates connections between volunteers and elders, creating a robust support network that emphasises knowledge exchange and resource sharing.
At the core of HINCare is the Heterogeneous Information Network (HIN), which intelligently matches volunteers with elders in need of assistance. This strategic approach transcends traditional methods of connecting services. By leveraging a cross-platform app, the initiative streamlines volunteer engagement, ensuring help is relevant and timely. For instance, the matching time for medical escort services has dramatically decreased from up to 1.5 hours to less than 10 minutes, showcasing the system's effectiveness in promoting speedy responses.
A salient feature of HINCare is its digital timebanking function. Volunteers earn credits for services provided, which they can redeem for future requests or community activities. This creates a reciprocal relationship that not only incentivises volunteerism but also fosters a continuous knowledge exchange. Through this system, users can share their skills and expertise while gaining new competencies, thereby enhancing their engagement and sense of belonging.
The social impact of HINCare is profound. Since its inception in 2020, the initiative has grown from supporting just two NGOs and 800 users to over 20 NGOs and 20,000 users across all 18 districts of Hong Kong. It has generated approximately 10.5 million minutes of time credits, equating to a staggering HK$7.37 million in social capital. This growth reflects not just the platform's popularity but also its ability to engender trust and long-term relationships among participants.
Beyond policy, the study demonstrates measurable social benefits. Improved access to mainland care strengthens retirement mobility and mental and chronic‑care wellbeing — a one‑point increase in satisfaction with cross‑border healthcare corresponds to a 12% rise in willingness to consider cross‑border retirement. Media coverage and engagements with policymakers have already amplified public dialogue and catalysed practical follow‑ups across the GBA. While currently focused on Hong Kong, HINCare’s framework holds transformative potential for cross-border elderly care in the GBA.
This research sits within a broader HKU ecosystem that fosters knowledge translation and innovation. In the past 6 years, the project was awarded a total of 8 times, including Hong Kong ICT Awards, Asia Smart App Awards, Social Capital Builder Awards, and HKU Engineering Knowledge Exchange Award. More recently, in the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (March 2026), HINCare project was awarded a Silver medal. This recognition highlights how community‑facing digital innovations can combine technical rigour with tangible social impact: improving NGO operations, expanding volunteer networks, and building social capital across Hong Kong’s districts.
Taken together, these efforts illustrate HKU’s commitment to knowledge exchange that not only advances scholarly understanding but also delivers real‑world benefits — from shaping cross‑border health policy in the GBA to empowering community care solutions like HINCare. Continued collaboration among researchers, practitioners and policymakers will be crucial to scale these impacts and help create a more connected, inclusive and resilient region.