NRF to Conduct National Research Challenge towards Cost-Effective Elderly Access Solutions for Older HDB Estates with Shortage of Direct Lift Access

59 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for National Development with accessibility challenges faced by senior residents in older HDB blocks which lack direct lift access, and the cost of currently available solutions, whether the Ministry will seek the assistance from the National Research Foundation (NRF) to conduct a national research challenge dedicated to developing innovative and cost-effective solutions to address this infrastructure gap.

Mr Chee Hong Tat: Since the introduction of the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) in 2001, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has implemented LUP at over 5,000 HDB blocks that were built without direct lift access to every floor. Today, around 99% of all blocks have direct lift access on every floor.

Over the years, HDB has piloted and adopted different design approaches and innovative solutions to bring direct lift access to more blocks through LUP. Some examples that have been successfully implemented include machine room-less lifts and bubble lifts.

HDB continues to explore new ways to bring direct lift access to the remaining blocks, such as working with research institutes to test out new lift technologies. HDB will also be calling for proposals under the upcoming HDB Cool Ideas Enterprise in the first half of 2026. This is a platform that provides enterprises with funding support, mentorship and access to testbed facilities to co-develop solutions that improve the HDB living environment and residents' quality of life.