Kawasaki City Begins Applications for 'Kawasaki KIS' Welfare Product Certification on Wednesday, June 10

Kawasaki City has begun accepting applications for 'Kawasaki KIS' certified welfare products starting Wednesday, June 10, as part of its 'Care Innovation' initiative to solve welfare challenges through industrial power.

'Kawasaki KIS' is a unique standard established by Kawasaki City that defines excellent welfare products, composed of eight principles centered on supporting the independence of the elderly, people with disabilities, and caregivers. As of fiscal year 2025, a total of 308 products have met these standards and been certified.

In the certification process, products are first evaluated for safety and performance at the 'Kawasaki Welfare Technology Lab (Weltech),' a welfare product development support facility operated jointly by Kawasaki City, the Institute of Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Institute of Technology/Tokyo Medical and Dental University), and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). Next, monitor evaluations are conducted in actual usage settings, such as nursing care facilities or home environments, to confirm usability and effectiveness.

Based on these two stages of evaluation, the city certifies products that demonstrate high utility and alignment with the Kawasaki KIS principles, supporting their wider adoption.

Eligible Products Assistive devices covered by long-term care insurance, prosthetic equipment based on the Services and Supports for Persons with Disabilities Act, daily living aids, universal design products, self-help tools, nursing/care assistance devices, and related associated services.

Eligible Companies Domestic companies that manufacture or sell welfare products conforming to the Kawasaki KIS principles and meet one of the following criteria: - Companies with an office or base in Kawasaki City that develop or manufacture the products. - Companies with a base in Kawasaki City that sell the products. - Companies outside Kawasaki City that are actively considering establishing a base in the city. - Companies outside Kawasaki City that jointly developed the product with a company based in Kawasaki City.

Schedule (Tentative) (1) Application Period: June 10 (Wed) to July 24 (Fri), 2026 (2) First Screening: Mid-August to early September 2026 (3) Second Screening: Early October 2026 to early February 2027 (4) Announcement of Certified Products: Mid-February 2027 (5) Certification Ceremony: Scheduled for March 18 (Thu), 2027

Post-Certification Process (1) Announcement: Certified products will be awarded a certificate at the 'Kawasaki KIS Certification Ceremony,' publicized, and listed on the city's website. (2) Support: The city will include certified products in its promotional brochures and provide marketing support, such as opportunities to exhibit at city-sponsored welfare product exhibitions and trial events, to enhance product awareness and sales.