New health devices and tools to promote exercise among older folks are in the works, with a new facility set up to put these products out into the market.

The Health Promotion Board (HPB) and Republic Polytechnic (RP) have started an Innovation Lab in Physical Activity which will rope in local small and medium enterprises to devise ways to make these medical devices affordable.

The new facility housed at RP will be headed by HPB staff and consists of a core team of about eight researchers from both institutions.

Students in the school's three-year Healthcare Management and Promotion diploma course will chip in with projects. At least 12 internships will also be available annually for these students. Besides coming up with new products, the team will collect local data to develop new standards and guidelines in physical activity.