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To foster intellectual exchange among life sciences entrepreneurs and advance technological innovation and investment, Hong Kong Life Sciences Society (HKLSS) and Swiss Biotech Association co-organized the “Life Sciences Entrepreneurship Conference: Perspectives from Hong Kong and Switzerland” with sponsorship from Invest Hong Kong. Today’s conference successfully convened leading experts, entrepreneurs, and investors from Hong Kong and Switzerland to share insights and practical experiences in life sciences entrepreneurship and investment. Speakers engaged in in-depth discussions regarding the current state and future trends of life sciences entrepreneurship and its ecosystem, thereby exploring potential investment opportunities and collaborations to drive sustainable industry growth.
Ms Lillian CHEONG, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, HKSAR, in a pre-recorded speech extended her sincere gratitude to the Hong Kong Life Sciences Society and the Swiss Biotech Association for facilitating this invaluable opportunity for professionals from both regions to connect, share and collaborate. She said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attaches great importance to promoting innovation and technology (I&T) development. The Government adopted an industry-oriented approach and identified technology industries with an edge and of strategic importance to Hong Kong, such as life and health technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, advanced manufacturing and new energy technology. To put Hong Kong’s advantages in scientific research in good use, a HKD 6 billion has been allocated to support local universities in setting up life and health technology research institutes and foster cross university/institutional and multi-disciplinary collaboration in life and health sciences research. The Government will continue to support entrepreneurs, researchers, and science organizations to make Hong Kong a life sciences innovation hub. As part of the Greater Bay Area and a gateway to Mainland China and APEC, Hong Kong offers unique research and business opportunities.
Mr Daniel FREIHOFER, Consul General of Switzerland in Hong Kong, stated, “Bringing together brilliant minds from Hong Kong and Switzerland to exchange ideas, share experiences and spark new collaborations is exactly the kind of initiative that strengthens our already strong ties. Switzerland is home to more than 1,000 biotech and life sciences companies, covering everything from pharmaceuticals and medical technology to next-generation therapies. There is already strong Swiss engagement in Hong Kong’s biotech sector. More Swiss start-ups and investors are looking to this region as an exciting place for expansion and collaboration. Collaboration has always been a driving force behind breakthrough innovation and I have no doubt that the connections made here will help shape the future of biotech in both regions.”
Mr Antony LEUNG, Vice Chairperson of HKLSS; Chairman of Nan Fung Group and Chairman and Co-founder, New Frontier Group, said, “The life sciences sector is at the forefront of addressing critical global challenges in a rapidly evolving world. Translational research, particularly in biomedical sciences, demands highly trained talent, interdisciplinary collaborations, a mature capital market, and access to a large consumer market. This conference is the first key event of HKLSS this year, where counterparts from Switzerland, Hong Kong and Mainland China gather to explore the current and future trends in life sciences entrepreneurship and investment. This exemplifies our two visions: first, to foster international and interdisciplinary collaborations; and second, to help position Hong Kong as a life sciences hub for talent, research, and investment. We hope to build a vibrant life sciences ecosystem for Hong Kong and the region.
Dr Bettina ERNST, Vice-President, Swiss Biotech Association and Chief Executive Officer, BERNINA BioInvest, who possesses over 10 years of experience in healthcare ventures, shared, “Today’s event is a reminder of the power of partnerships—whether it’s between start-ups and investors, or researchers and entrepreneurs. By building bridges between Switzerland and Hong Kong, we are not only creating opportunities for growth but also shaping the future of life sciences together. The exchange of ideas between academia, government, and industry leaders demonstrated the collaborative spirit required to drive this sector forward. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of our speakers, panelists, moderators, and participants for making this event a resounding success.”
Insightful Sharing from Experts, Accompanied by Start-ups Showcases
Dr Qiusong TANG, Head of Roche Accelerator, shared insights in the plenary session on “Catalyzing Biotech Innovation in Hong Kong: Bridging Swiss Excellence to China’s Ecosystem”. He emphasized Roche's commitment to advancing biotech innovation through strategic partnerships and investments. By strengthening industry partnerships, harnessing China’s innovative capabilities, and leveraging the diverse R&D strengths among Hong Kong, China's Mainland, and Switzerland, the synergy can unlock potential and accelerate growth, ultimately contributing to global life sciences breakthroughs.
Dr Eric ADAM, Chief Operations Officer, HAYA Therapeutics SA, shared the company’s focus on RNA therapeutics for cellular reprogramming to treat rare and chronic diseases. He introduced its lead program and vision for heart failure treatment, which aim to enter phase 1a clinical trials next year.
One of the conference highlights was the outstanding start-ups that showcase their technologies and products to counterparts. Speakers from Swiss start-ups include Mr Erik van den BERG, Chief Executive Officer, Memo-Therapeutics AG; Dr Christian LEISNER, Chief Executive Officer and Director, CDR-Life AG; and Dr Andrea CHICCA, Chief Executive Officer, Synendos Therapeutics AG. They introduced their corporate philosophies and unique edges via live streaming. This session was moderated by Ms Tinnie CHAU, Principal, Private Equity, Ally Bridge Group.
On the Hong Kong side, Dr Lydia LEUNG, Chief Executive Officer, Belun Technology; Prof Zongli ZHENG, Co-Founder and Chairman, GenEditBio; and Dr Eddy WU, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Arctic Vision, presented to onsite and online audience. This session was moderated by Dr Chuen Yan LEUNG, Partner (Healthcare Investment), Value Partners Group and Co-founder, Silver Dart Capital.
Bilateral Knowledge Exchange: Unveiling New Investment and Collaboration Opportunities
The conference also explored the potential in investing and enhancing biotech ecosystems. Dr Igor FISCH, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, NewBiologix; and President, FONGIT, presented via live streaming on start-up incubation. He introduced FONGIT, a non-profit foundation based in Geneva, which supports over 220 biotech start-ups by offering coaching, financing, space and labs, among other resources. The platform has resulted in over 250 patents and new products.
Mr Emmanuel HUI, Member of the Advisory Board of HKLSS and Chief Executive Officer, Tiger Jade Pebble Accelerator, brought a wealth of knowledge in start-up acceleration anchored in Hong Kong. As founder of an early-stage biomedical accelerator, he outlined that healthy start-up development relies on regulatory clarity, market-driven KPIs, an effective business model, and good marketing. Compared with Switzerland, he believes Hong Kong has a comparable population, quality of academia, and a free economy, but it will take time for Hong Kong to build on its heritage of translational science. He looks forward to the day that Hong Kong will have as many homegrown pharmaceutical giants as Switzerland does.
In a fireside discussion moderated by Dr Bettina ERNST, panelists Dr Eric ADAM; Mr Emmanuel HUI; Dr Grace SN LAU, Head of Life and Health Technology, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation; Prof Anderson SHUM, President, The Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences; and Mr Andy WONG, Head of Innovation and Technology, Invest Hong Kong, provided valuable insights into fostering the robust growth of Hong Kong's life sciences ecosystem. They conducted a comparative analysis of the ecosystem development in both regions, highlighting similarities and differences. It is a shared objective for the organizers, supporting organizations and participants to foster mutual learning and the adoption of best practices, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel investment prospects and collaborative opportunities.