Chinese Security Gains Momentum from Government Mandates

China's 12th and most recent five-year plan involves significant investment in security. Several local experts discuss the government's mandates on R&D, health care and green practices.

The latest five-year plan for China is heralded as a turning point for security. “China has become an emerging market with rapid economic development , ” said Hu Jintao, President of China, in a prepared statement. “Security has played a pivotal role in maintaining order in society and continues to be a pressing need . ”Chinesese curity will benefit from continued government funding.

With the previous five-year plan focusing on Safe City efforts, technologies such as HD, mobile devices, intelligent video and networking have mushroomed within the industry. Video verification integrating video surveillance and intrusion alarms have become standard for Chinese police forces. Traditional law enforcement approaches are integrated or combined for better management and response. The five-year plan is expected to be the catalyst for continued growth in traditional security devices and a boom for newer technical advances.

Safe City programs will marry physical security and law enforcement agencies for deeper cooperation. Cities will combine more services in different verticals, such as health care, environmental awareness, education, traffic and communities. These synergies will give birth to a wave of security newcomers.

Intelligent surveillance will improve from previous on-site analysis to wide-area coverage, which will take place in the next five to 10 years. Virtualization and network developments are underway, as cloud storage and computing will affect how city surveillance operates. Efficiency will be enhanced far beyond what traditional security systems can deliver.

METAMORPHOSIS
The next five years will turn over a new leaf for technology. Traditional security players will have to collaborate with multiple suppliers from other fields. Companies in telecommunications, information technology and city management will play a greater role in security. The five-year plan specifically states it will promote the integration of IT and industrialization. This will accelerate partnerships between city authorities, IT suppliers and industrial vendors. It is time for enterprises to plan strategically for the future.

UNDERSTANDING MARKET POTENTIAL FOR RESIDENTIAL ALARMS IN SENIOR HEALTH
The Chinese intrusion alarm market has experienced growth for the past 20 years. It is estimated that 2,600 alarm suppliers were operating at the end of 2010 and 1 million users current deploy alarm monitoring services. The largest users of alarm services are government agencies and enterprises. Retail is witnessing the highest growth, while the residential market needs more time for education and further development. Chinese society is facing more uncertainties, resulting in greater risks and more opportunities for security. Video verification integrates video and alarms in a practical fashion, saving manpower and resources.

BOON FOR SENIOR CARE
China's population is aging rapidly, with the number of individuals older than 60 years old expected to reach 216 million by 2015, representing 16.7 percent of the population. Caretakers will need to be prepared for the aging population, with government funds allocated specifically for senior health care in the 12th five-year plan.

Remote health care solutions for senior citizens at home are becoming more common. Caretakers can interact with patients and monitor their activities remotely through e-mail alerts. If patients forget to take prescribed medications or experience drastic changes in their vital signs, caretakers can communicate with them for more timely and interactive health care.

The potential market in elder care is enormous, providing new opportunities for security makers. Designing application-specific solutions such as home health or nursing home monitoring is the first step.