HKTDC kicks off third International Healthcare Week

HONG KONG, May 16, 2024 - (ACN Newswire) - The third International Healthcare Week (IHW), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened yesterday, featuring two flagship events.

Themed Innovation. Inclusion. Impact, the fourth Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH) takes place today and tomorrow, facilitating exchange and collaboration among industry players from around the world.

The 15th edition of the Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair (Medical Fair) runs from today to 18 May. Featuring some 300 exhibitors, the Fair showcases a wide range of innovative medical products and solutions and promotes global industry collaboration to position Hong Kong as a hub for medical innovation.

Opening the Summit, HKTDC Chairman Dr Peter K N Lam said: “Asia is growing in importance in the global health ecosystem. With Hong Kong being an international finance and business centre and on its way to becoming a health and medical innovation hub, it is fitting for the HKTDC to organise International Healthcare Week, with the Asia Summit on Global Health and Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair as flagship events, to bring together major industry players from Asia and beyond in our city to foster collaboration and accelerate the development of Asia’s medical and healthcare industry.”

In his opening speech, Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John Lee said, "Technology is a policy priority of the Hong Kong SAR Government. Thanks to the strong support of the National 14th Five-Year Plan and other national strategies, Hong Kong is rapidly emerging as an international innovation and technology hub,” Mr Lee said. “Collaboration and partnerships fast-track innovation. And that, I’m confident, can begin right here, over these two days of forums, plenaries, dialogues and networking sessions. A wealth of medical research and development intelligence and insights, together with the latest I&T, and the experts driving them: all here for you, at this year’s Asia Summit on Global Health.”

During his special remarks, Prof Cao Xuetao, Vice-Minister of the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, pointed out: "Hong Kong as an international financial, maritime trade and innovation hub is leveraging its unique position to connect Mainland China with the world. In recent years, Hong Kong has made significant advancements in the medical and healthcare sectors. These developments, amid the complex and evolving international landscape, have profound implications on global health security, socioeconomic progress and well-being. This underscores the importance of strengthening collaboration to seize new opportunities and address emerging challenges in healthcare.”

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), also delivered remarks at the opening session via video link.

Industry elites discuss forward-looking issues at ASGH

In the first plenary session today, Prof Lo Chung-mau, Secretary for Health of the HKSAR, highlighted the preparatory work for the establishment of the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation and the progress made in promoting Hong Kong as a health innovation hub. He Yaqiong, Director General of the Consumer Goods Industry Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China, shared the country's experience in advancing high-quality development of the healthcare industry. He also discussed how Chinese pharmaceutical companies can effectively use the Hong Kong platform to tap into international markets.

At the second plenary, Prof Roger Kornberg, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry in 2006 and Professor of Structural Biology at the Stanford University School of Medicine, spoke about the latest developments in biotechnology.

ASGH gathers more than 80 global leaders in healthcare, including business executives, investors, international research and medical experts and health officials, to discuss diverse industry issues, such as medical and healthcare innovations, healthcare development in China and healthcare investment prospects.

These include Andy Ho, Chief Region Leader of Philips Greater China, Antony Leung, Group Chairman of Nan Fung Group, Prof Tony Mok Shu Kam, Chairman of Department of Clinical Oncology of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Prof Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Given the rise of AI in healthcare, the summit held a dedicated session with representatives from Medtronic plc, HeartFlow, Inc. and other organisations discussing AI opportunities and practical applications in the healthcare sector, such as diagnosing cardiovascular diseases.

Day two of ASGH features diverse thematic sessions. With Chinese medicine gaining more attention, the complementary use of Chinese and Western medicine has become a rising trend. Representatives from the Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Hospital explore Chinese medicine in modern healthcare, while a session organised with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University discusses the development of innovative drugs with specialists from Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd, AstraZeneca, and Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Limited.

Facilitating connections and opportunities

The exhibition area and InnoHealth Showcase feature projects and services from around the world, including pharmaceutical and therapeutics, AI and digital health, medical device and diagnostics, community health and wellness, from more than 150 innovative technology companies related to healthcare.

Among them, more than 70 start-ups and projects are being showcased with the support of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited and six local universities. Many of these exhibitors were recognised at the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions earlier this year.

Aside from the continued participation of The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and HKSAR Innovation and Technology Commission , Australia’s Investment NSW and the Sichuan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine bring innovative healthcare start-ups and institutions to Hong Kong for the first time to help them connect with potential partners and investors.

A core element of the Summit, ASGH deal-making connects project owners and investors from across the globe to discuss collaboration opportunities. Participating investors represent a diverse range of backgrounds, including angel investors, venture capitalists and corporate venture capital, private equity firms, family offices and more.

At the new Investor Workshop, guest speakers, including Dr Charles Hu, Founder and CEO of Ryoden Medical Holdings Ltd., explore investments in healthcare companies and start-ups and share insights into the investment landscape.

AI and robotics - Innovations Boosting Smart Health Experience 

The Medical Fair, organised by the HKTDC and co-organised by the Hong Kong Medical and Healthcare Device Industries Association (HKMHDIA), showcases cutting-edge medical and healthcare equipment and solutions, including robotics and medical and healthcare products. Themed Innovations Boosting Smart Health Experience, the Fair also features products catered to the silver market.

Covering biotechnology, hospital equipment, rehabilitation, laboratory equipment and more, the Fair’s various zones feature some 300 exhibitors comprising leading research and academic institutions, including six local universities, HKSTP and enterprises led by HKMHDIA. Highlights of exhibits include notable AI and robotics medical technologies as well as cold chain logistics solutions.

Exhibitor Yuanhua Robotics, Perception & AI Technologies (HK) Limited  presents the first orthopaedic surgical robot made in Hong Kong, with a robotic arm that can expertly assist with hip and knee replacement operations.

Another Hong Kong exhibitor Sramek Insight Limited  presents a wearable smart cardiovascular analyser, which delivers continuous hemodynamic data through remote monitoring, and provides customised medical advice based on real-time data.

Hungary exhibitor Uscom Ltd. showcases an ultrasonic spirometer to assess pulmonary function, which can be used to screen chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and monitor asthma and other chronic pulmonary diseases.

One of the many Medical Fair events, the HKMHDIA Medical Fair Forum this morning featured specialists in innovative medical equipment discussing market trends and future strategies. Tomorrow’s seminar, co-organised with HKSTP, discusses the application of mixed reality and AI in medical technology and explores trends in medical technology worldwide, including the market potential of medical equipment in Mainland China.

Leveraging the HKTDC EXHIBITION+ hybrid model, the physical Medical Fair is complemented by Click2Match smart business matching to extend the sourcing journey from 9 to 25 May.

Photo Download: https://bit.ly/3K5z7Y8

Websites
International Healthcare Week: https://internationalhealthcareweek.hktdc.com/en
Asia Summit On Global Health: https://www.asiasummitglobalhealth.com/conference/asgh/en
Programme: https://www.asiasummitglobalhealth.com/conference/asgh/en/programme
Speakers: https://www.asiasummitglobalhealth.com/conference/asgh/en/speaker
Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkmedicalfair/en
List of products: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkmedicalfair/en/product
Activity schedule: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkmedicalfair/en/intelligence-hub

Media enquiries

For enquiries, please contact Hill & Knowlton:

HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:

Asia Summit on Global Health

Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair

Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn