PolyU Joins Hands with Industry Partners and Start-ups to Advance Medical Technology

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) staged an impressive presence at BIOHK2024, one of Asia’s largest international events in the biotechnology sector, with a strategic collaboration agreement signing ceremony, an eye-opening panel discussion, as well as an engaging research and start-up exhibition.

Organised by Hong Kong Biotechnology Organization, BIOHK was held from 11 to 14 September at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. It brings together stakeholders from across the globe, fostering collaboration between policymakers, industry, academia, researchers, investors and end users to drive biotechnological development for the benefit of all. Under the theme "Kaleidoscope", which represents the infinite possibilities of biotechnology and perfectly matches the vibrant and diverse innovation technology scene in Hong Kong, BIOHK2024 has attracted hundreds of exhibitors, 55 roadshow participating companies, over 200 speakers, and visitors from 200 countries.

Riding on this successful event, PolyU held a strategic collaboration agreement signing ceremony with Suzhou Kowloon Hospital, a subsidiary of the Hong Kong Kowloon Group. Under the collaboration, the two partners will jointly establish the “Suzhou Kowloon Hospital – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Innovation Incubation Platform”, leveraging their respective strengths and resources to promote the translation and application of medical technology research outcomes.

Witnessed by Dr Lawrence LI, Deputy Council Chairman of PolyU and Mr SUN Hei, Chairman of Hong Kong Kowloon Group, the collaboration agreement was signed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, and Mr CHEN Qiang, President of Hong Kong Kowloon Group. This collaboration marks a new milestone in PolyU’s scientific research and entrepreneurship development, as it will drive innovation and clinical application research in the field and enhance the development and quality of the healthcare industry, enabling patients to enjoy better treatment and service.

After the ceremony, PolyU continued to engage the audience with a panel discussion on “Building Collaborative Ecosystems: How Universities, Hospitals, and the Healthcare Industry Can Collaborate to Spur Innovation”.

Moderated by Prof. Christopher CHAO, the session was joined by Prof. CAI Jing, Associate Dean of PolyU’s Faculty of Health and Social Sciences; Prof. Simon LEE, Chair Professor of PolyU’s Department of Food Science and Nutrition; Prof. LIU Feng, Honorary Dean of Suzhou Kowloon Hospital; and Mr Ivan FU, JP, Chairman of the Board of Directors of PanMediso Holdings (Shenzhen) Limited.

The panellists thoroughly explored the challenges faced by the healthcare industry and how to drive industry development by strengthening inter-institutional collaboration, sharing their experiences and insights from their respective perspectives and areas of expertise. Their discussion sparked enthusiastic conversations and exchanges, deeply inspiring the audience.

Meanwhile, PolyU’s exhibition at BIOHK highlighted the University’s remarkable achievements in research, particularly showcasing five novel drug candidates developed in Hong Kong that received USFDA IND approvals. These drug candidates were either developed by PolyU or had received substantial support from the University. Other research projects presented included non-invasive ultrasound stimulation, novel antibiotic candidates, and a DNA-encoded magnetic nanobeads enabled droplet microfluidic platform for single circulating tumor cells RNA sequencing.

In addition to showcasing its research prowess, PolyU also highlighted its knowledge transfer and entrepreneurial initiatives. Alongside the strategic collaborations with Suzhou Kowloon Hospital and PanMediso, PolyU’s booth featured nine promising PolyU start-ups dedicated to biotechnology, as well as medical and healthcare innovation. These start-ups covered a wide range of technologies, including biomedical rehabilitation robots, high-resolution tumor imaging technology, big data and artificial intelligence applications, point-of-care testing for virus detection, testing platforms for food and cosmetic products, as well as advanced antimicrobial materials and coatings.

The featured start-ups included Advantage Data Vision, Ecolar Technology Limited, Fleming MedLab Limited, Grand Rise Technology Limited, Immune Materials Limited, InsightRT Limited, Me & Dr Biotechnology Limited, PocNAT Limited, and Vitalogy Limited.These innovative companies have the potential to revolutionise the healthcare industry and make significant contributions to improving human health and well-being. Their dedication to innovation and commitment to developing cutting-edge solutions address some of the most pressing challenges in healthcare today.

Through its participation in BIOHK2024, PolyU has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to advancing biotechnology and healthcare research, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and nurturing start-ups with transformative potential. By leveraging its expertise and resources, PolyU continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare and improving the lives of people around the world.