Global Women's Invention Expo kicks off with innovative ideas and products

A global invention expo for women has kicked off in South Korea to shine a light on female inventors with bright ideas.Visitors can find products that are not only unique but also benefit the wider community.Yoon Jung-min reports.To support female inventors from around the world, the Korea International Women's Invention Exposition opened on Thursday. This year, some 180 female inventors and entrepreneurs from 30 countries including China, India and Canada are expected to gather at the KINTEX convention center in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do-Province.The inventions at the expo fall under six different themes, all of which benefit the community. One theme is 'making an inclusive society'. Kim Ji-hee invented an IoT robot that provides social care to the elderly. The robot has sensors on its body, and can speak when people pat it. It also reminds the elderly of their meal times, or when it's time to take medicine. Kim expects this AI robot doll to be a great help to the elderly who live alone."I made this robot look like a 6 or 7 year-old child because I wanted to make the elderly feel more comfortable. Seniors who live alone usually feel depressed and isolated, but with this robot doll, they say they feel less lonely."Another theme is 'making an eco-friendly society'. These stainless steel straws have gained much attention at the expo. They can help reduce the use of plastic straws because they can be divided in half so that people can wash and reuse them.Other inventions combined tradition and modernity. Under the theme of 'tradition, crafts and future', speaker equipment is decorated with Korean traditional patterns made using mother-of-pearl."We promote women inventors who have ideas that improve our daily life. We run classes and host competitions. The winners will be given the chance to commercialize their ideas and their products are displayed here at this expo. All these efforts create economic self-reliance and help the inventors become entrepreneurs.""The 12th Women's Invention Expo runs until this Sunday. During the four day event, the expo aims to help promote women inventors, not just in Korea, but worldwide.Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News."