Hong Kong Life Sciences Society (HKLSS) has put immense efforts in nurturing life sciences talent, which is crucial to fulfilling Hong Kong’s biotech ambition. Riding on its previous success by bridging the gap between academic study and career development, the Scheme received hundreds of applications last year. Applications for HKLSS Mentorship Scheme 2023 will soon open on 10 October. Offering Career Development Insights by Individual Mentoring and Coaching To enhance learning beyond the classroom and nurture career success, the Mentorship Scheme has fostered connections between industry practitioners and life sciences students. Lasting for one full year, the Scheme is a structured, one-on-one partnership between a mentor and a mentee, enabling both parties to have a close and engaging relationship. Moreover, the Scheme facilitates mentees to make relevant connections, develop workplace knowledge and soft skills, and gain insights about biotech developments in preparation for a thriving life science career in Hong Kong and mainland China. Empowering Mentorship Experience with Extensive Support from Industry Experts The scheme is introduced for undergraduate and postgraduate life sciences students. Graduates with a non-life sciences background will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All mentors are industry experts, young entrepreneurs and senior executives from a wide range of professions in the life sciences industry in Hong Kong and mainland China, including but not limited to consulting, data analysis, healthcare, investment and finance, law and compliance, NGO, research and development, and start-up. Moving into its fourth year, HKLSS Mentorship Scheme has successfully established a network of over 100 mentee alumni and over 50 mentors. Our industry experts from leading companies include Mr Antony Leung, Group Chairman of Nan Fung Group, Ms Irene Chu, Partner, Head of New Economy and Life Sciences of KPMG China, Mr Tony Yung, Chief Executive Officer of Take2 Health Ltd, Dr Lydia Leung, CEO of Belun Technology, Prof Tom Cheung, Associate Professor of Division of Life Science at HKUST, etc. Student-Industry Partnership Sparks Mutual Benefits Mr Vincent Cheung, Founder and Chairman of HKLSS, said, “HKLSS is dedicated to supporting life sciences talent in identifying academic and career opportunities. Through the student-industry partnership initiated by the Mentorship Scheme, mentors will be able to give mentees invaluable advice and insights to their personal growth and professional development while getting fresh perspectives and inspirations from the mentees. The spark is invaluable in driving the life sciences industry forward.” Noreen Chui, a year 2 student studying MBBS at HKU and Tammy Pham, a year 3 student studying Applied Biology with Biotechnology at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, are the mentees of Dr Wolf Cheung, Senior Scientist of Bio-Cancer Treatment International this year. Noreen said, “HKLSS Mentorship Scheme gave me a unique opportunity to get to know scientists working in the industry. It was eye-opening for me to learn how a local company invented a biological drug in Hong Kong and is now proceeding to stage III clinical trial internationally for cancer treatment. Through my mentor, I managed to have a glimpse into this company, learn about how they became a successful company and the challenges they have faced in the last decade.” Tammy said, “I’m so grateful to be a part of the Scheme for two consecutive years. Joining this program is such a meaningful experience to get more insights into the outcomes of the pre-clinical research at the industry level. Our mentor offered a company visit where I learned a lot about the operation pipeline and the systematic organisation of any clinical trials before launching a drug into a market.” Applications for HKLSS Mentorship Scheme 2023 will soon open on 10 October. Interested individuals are welcome to submit their application online.  For more details about the Mentorship Scheme, please refer to this link.

Hong Kong Life Sciences Society (HKLSS or the Society) is happy to announce the establishment of Hong Kong Life Sciences Scholarship Awards, which are set to encourage outstanding undergraduate students to pursue a life sciences or biomedical science program in a UGC-funded institution. HKLSS is offering HKD$1 million in the first year of the scholarship awards. Hong Kong Life Sciences Scholarship Awards are open to Bachelor of Science (BSc) students from the six local universities: The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, City University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Baptist University, who are completing their first year of study in 2021-2022 academic year, with a CGPA of 3.5 and above; and having selected a life sciences or biomedical science major in their second-year study. Each of the awardees will receive a scholarship of HKD50,000 in the second- or third-year undergraduate study with other complimentary entitlements, including the access to the Society’s Mentorship Scheme for equipping with workplace knowledge and soft skills, and priority in enrolling onto the Society’s Summer Internship Program. Since its establishment in 2018, the Society has put in a lot of efforts to attract, nurture and retain talent in Hong Kong’s life sciences sector. The Hong Kong Life Sciences Scholarship Awards are uniquely comprehensive that they provide more than just financial support to awardees, but also the benefits of our mentorship and summer internship, addressing students’ expressed concern over life sciences career prospects. Mr Vincent Cheung, Founder and Chairman of Hong Kong Life Sciences Society said, “With a surge of global attention to biomedical innovations, nurturing life sciences talent is critical to cope with the rapid industry growth. The Society is happy to unveil Hong Kong Life Sciences Scholarship Awards to encourage outstanding students in advancing life sciences or biomedical science studies, by offering financial support, alongside work and networking opportunities. We hope that the scheme can benefit life sciences talent aspiring to contribute to the society, in fields of life sciences and biomedical science. This would help achieve our long-term objective to build a pipeline of life sciences talent in Hong Kong, and in turn catalyzing a vibrant life sciences ecosystem.” Nominations can be submitted by relevant Faculty Deans or by self-nomination. All nominees will need to submit a CV and 300-word statement outlining their academic and career aspirations. The nomination deadline of the Scholarship Awards is 29 July 2022. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to attend an interview in August / September, and the results will be notified in October 2022. For more details about Hong Kong Life Sciences Scholarship Awards, please refer to this link. Prof Ken Wong, Executive Director of Hong Kong Life Sciences Society said, “According to the Hong Kong Annual Digest of Statistics, there were around 2,300 graduates from life sciences and biomedical science programs in local universities in 2020; while the number of biology and medicine research output by local universities is subsequently decreasing. In fact, the rapid development of biotechnology in Hong Kong has provided ample opportunities; through the establishment of the Scholarship Awards, the Society hopes to attract more students to enroll into life sciences-related programs, and to devote to the industry to cater for the booming market development.” Summer Internship Program 2022 Received Record-high Applications HKLSS is also committed to advancing opportunities for the study and practice of life sciences, and thus offering a 6-week Life Sciences Summer Internship Program through collaborations with renowned biotechnology companies in Hong Kong and mainland China. The program offers a unique life sciences/ biotech internship opportunity to university students and recent graduates to explore cutting-edge research, technology and the future of life sciences, enabling them to get out of the laboratory and acquire knowledge from various types of companies within the biotech sector. Over four years since its debut, the program has been highly regarded and supported by university students and the business community. This year, the program received record-high 300 applications, with remarkable participation of top-tier undergraduate and postgraduate from more than 30 institutions in Hong Kong, United Kingdom and United States. Aligning the candidates’ academic profile with the needs of the participating companies, HKLSS plays an important role to offer the best internship match between employers and interns. After rounds of interviews and evaluation, 35 interns were selected for 20 renowned life sciences companies and local start-ups, including Nan Fung Life Sciences, Novus Life Sciences, Take2 Health, Belun Technology and Opharmic Technology (HK). Through this six-week internship program starting from July, interns will work with experienced researchers and practitioners, participate in weekend activities and network with C-level executives to acquire practical knowledge, soft skills and latest industry trends. The opening ceremony of the Summer Internship Program 2022 took place on 28 June at The Mills Fabrica. A panel discussion was held to spark ideas on how the GBA creates opportunities for Hong Kong young talent pursuing a life sciences career. Interns had also taken the opportunity to join the guided tour at The Mills to learn about the integration between innovative technology, business development and the local community. Opening Ceremony of the Summer Internship Program 2022 For more details about the Summer Internship Program, please refer to this link.

The 2022-23 Hong Kong Budget reinforces a number of policies to promote life and health scientific research, fostering the development of innovation and technology. Hong Kong Life Sciences Society (HKLSS or the Society) is dedicated to building a dynamic life sciences ecosystem in Hong Kong. To cater industry booms, HKLSS has put in a lot of efforts in nurturing life sciences talent over the past few years, including the implementation of the summer internship program and mentorship scheme. HKLSS announces the survey results of “Nurturing Life Sciences Talent” today.  The survey “Nurturing Life Sciences Talent” collected 201 responses between early-December 2021 and mid-February 2022. The results were compared with our relevant survey conducted between early-December 2018 and mid-February 2019, with 337 responses. Respondents of both surveys are undergraduate, postgraduate and recent graduate pursuing life sciences-related studies. Almost 60% of respondents are females. Nearly 60% of 2022 survey respondents come from local universities, including the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, etc. The survey mainly investigates the opinions of life sciences students about internship opportunities in Hong Kong and mainland China, including their preference on the destination, type of company and scope of work when undertaking an internship, as well as their insights into future career prospects. This helps the Society better understand key needs of emerging talent in the field of life sciences, optimize talent cultivation activities and provide timely support to cope with the rapid industry growth. More Life Sciences Talent Hold a Positive Outlook of the Industry The two surveys explore students’ career aspirations in life sciences. A surge of optimism is showcased regarding the outlook of the industry. The number of students being “Extremely Optimistic” and “Very Optimistic” about the industry prospects has risen from 25% in 2019 to 54% in 2022. There is also a sharp increase for the number of students being “Extremely Determined” and “Very Determined” in staying in the industry after graduation, from 30% in 2019 to 69% in 2022. Internship Opportunities in Great Anticipation to Advance Future Career Development  The 2022 survey indicates that 84% of students consider life sciences internship opportunities in Hong Kong to be “Extremely Attractive” and “Very Attractive”, with an average rating of 4.26 (out of 5). For the internship opportunities taken place in mainland China, 46% of students consider it to be “Extremely Attractive” and “Very Attractive”, with an average rating of 3.45. 83% of students reflect that “To Advance Future Career Development” will be the biggest motivation to apply for a life sciences internship program. Hong Kong Ranked as the Most Preferred City to Undertake Internship Pharmaceutical Companies and Biotech Start-ups Top the Priority The 2022 survey indicates Hong Kong to be the most preferred mainland China city to undertake internship, followed by Shanghai and Shenzhen. 41% of students opt for “Working at a Multinational Company”, with “Pharmaceutical Companies” (30%) and “Biotech Start-ups” (31%) as popular choices. 82% of respondents are most interested in “Research and Development”. Other selections are “Business Development” (54%), “Lab-based Research” (49%) and “Communications and Government Affairs” (42%). Professors and Industry Mentors Offer Study and Career Guidance 48% of students find the on-campus career services only “Fairly Useful” in helping with post-graduation or career plans in life sciences. Majority of respondents choose to “Research on Their Own” (76%) or “Turn to Professors for Advice” (73%). The results also witness an increase in “Seeking Advice from Industry Mentors”, from 48% in 2019 to 71% in 2022. HKLSS Continues Scaling Talent Cultivation Activities to Expand the Talent Pool “Global Internship Program” is considered to be most helpful (84%) if organized by the Society. There is also a significant increase of students favoring the “Mentorship Scheme” (2022: 81%; 2019: 49%) and “Cross-disciplinary Activities” (2022: 76%; 2019: 59%), followed by “Networking with Researchers and Entrepreneurs” (67%) and “Scholarship for Students Majoring Life Sciences / Biomedical Science” (64%). Prof Ken Wong, Executive Director of Hong Kong Life Sciences Society made the following conclusions and recommendations at the survey results announcement press conference: 1. There is a surge of confidence in life sciences prospects and stronger determination to stay in the industry 2. Students in both surveys are very career oriented 3. Professors and industry mentors help career development 4. HKLSS will work more closely with career centers and relevant academic departments of local universities in career preparation 5. Establish scholarship awards to support outstanding students to pursue a life sciences or biomedical science major, and build a sustainable talent pipeline in Hong Kong’s life sciences sector 6. Explore to expand internships in Hong Kong and mainland China into a global internship program, covering research centers in Europe and the US 7. Continue bridging the gap of relevant local subsidized internship programs, e.g. to complement the STEM Subsidized Internship Scheme by the Innovation and Technology Commission. The Society’s summer internship program attracts more Hong Kong students pursuing life sciences / biomedical science overseas to come back and work in Hong Kong / mainland China 8. Collaborate with the private sectors and universities to create more “wet-lab” R&D opportunities / job diversity (interdisciplinary: investment, public health, AI or machine learning) 9. Join forces with local pharma companies to create more short-term job / internship opportunities 10. HKLSS supports the HKSAR government to attract more multinational companies and biotech start-ups to have their regional headquarters in Hong Kong, and promote Hong Kong as a biotech R&D and investment hub For detailed survey results, please refer to this link. (Only available in Traditional Chinese)

Science and innovation play a pivotal role in responding to the pandemic. Over the past few years, Hong Kong Life Sciences Society (HKLSS or the Society) has put in a lot of efforts in nurturing life sciences talent. Further to the tremendous success in the previous years, HKLSS will launch its fourth Summer Internship Program in July 2022, covering Hong Kong and Shanghai. The online application is now open. Golden Internship Opportunity to Open Eyes and Advance Practice in Life Sciences This six-week internship program continues to offer a unique opportunity for university students to explore cutting-edge research, technology, and the future of life sciences. Successful candidates will be assigned to different biotech companies, covering start-up companies, venture capital firms, NGOs, healthcare and pharmaceutical companies. Through this program, interns will work with experienced researchers and practitioners in one of the following corporate functions, including R&D, business development, investment, policy research, regulatory, and marketing. They will also have the chance to participate in weekend activities and networking with C-level executives, acquiring practical knowledge, soft skills and latest industry trends. Life Sciences Summer Internship Program 2022 is now accepting online applications opening to senior-year undergraduate and postgraduate students. The deadline for the first-round application will be 14 March 2022. HKLSS closely monitors the COVID-19 pandemic situation and will determine the program’s start date and location. Addressing the Key Needs of Emerging Talent in the Field Marco Fang, master’s student majoring in Chemistry from Imperial College London, joined the internship program last year working in Take2 Health, a fast-growing healthcare company in Hong Kong. Marco mentioned that the program facilitated him to develop business acumen and grasped his interests working in commercial roles within the life sciences sector. In addition to his day-to-day duties, guest talks, exchanges and workshops during the program offered him valuable opportunities to connect with industry professionals, as well as broadening his horizons on the latest developments in the life sciences and biotechnology industry. Promising Industry Prospects with Great Opportunities for our Future Young Leaders  The 2021 Policy Address indicated a number of favourable policies for the development of the life sciences industry in Hong Kong. For example, the government has accepted the proposals from the University of Hong Kong and The Chinese University of Hong Kong for granting the land for research use to reinforce the leading international position in academic and research development. In order to leverage the promotion on research development in Greater Bay Area, the government also proposes the setting up of an InnoLife Healthtech Hub in the HSITP in the Loop, with the 16 life and health-related laboratories in the InnoHK research clusters and the 8 State Key Laboratories in life and health disciplines as the basis. Prof Ken Wong, Executive Director of Hong Kong Life Sciences Society said: “Engaging life sciences talent is mission-critical for fuelling industry growth. Over the past years, we are happy to see that our Summer Internship Program has received enthusiastic responses from both university students and the business community. The program enables life science students to get out of the laboratory and acquire knowledge of all walks of life. We look forward to participation from more employers and students.” He continued, “The promotion of science, research and innovation is important to Hong Kong’s development into a health technology hub. HKLSS will continue to implement new initiatives to advance opportunities for the study and practice of life sciences and scale a talent powerhouse to fuel industry growth.” 

Committed to building a dynamic life sciences ecosystem in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Life Sciences Society (HKLSS) brings its Mentorship Scheme to light for the third consecutive year, riding on the success of the two previous Mentorship Schemes. Application for HKLSS Mentorship Scheme 2022 was closed on 19 November, receiving an overwhelming response from 200 applicants. The selection stage is now in progress, followed by the inauguration ceremony to be held on 19 January 2022. Empowering Mentorship Experience with Extensive Support from Industry Experts The one-year Mentorship Scheme has always been one of the featured programs of HKLSS, yielding positive response with a YoY increase on the number of mentors and students. For the third year of the Mentorship Scheme, the Society is establishing a network of over 50 professional mentors and 80 mentees. All mentors are industry experts, young entrepreneurs and senior executives from a wide range of professions in the life sciences industry, including Mr Antony Leung, Group Chairman of Nan Fung Group, Mr Vincent Cheung, CEO of Nan Fung Group and the Founder and Chairman of HKLSS, Ms Irene Chu, Partner, Head of New Economy and Life Sciences of KPMG China,  Dr Lydia Leung, CEO of Belun Technology, Prof Tom Cheung, Associate Profession of Division of Life Science at HKUST, Mr Stanley Sy, Chief Executive Officer of Sanomics, etc. Offering Career Development Insights by Individual Mentoring and Coaching The Scheme opens to all undergraduate and postgraduate students, aged 18 or above, who are studying life sciences or a related academic discipline. Recent graduates or applicants with a non-life sciences background will be considered on an individual basis. HKLSS allows participants to gain hands-on experiences from different industry sectors based on their academic background and preferences, spanning across consulting, data analysis, entrepreneurship, research and development, finance, healthcare, law and compliance, and non-profit organizations. Each mentor will be assigned to no more than two mentees, with regular meetings for the mentor to share valuable experiences and success stories with the mentees, enabling both parties to have a close and engaging relationship. Prof Ken Wong, Executive Director of HKLSS, said: “With an initiative of passing the torch, HKLSS Mentorship Scheme establishes a platform for life sciences students to build their own network, develop communication skills and gain valuable insights, preparing the next generation for future careers in the thriving life sciences industry in Hong Kong and mainland China.” For more information on the Mentorship Scheme, please click here. Launched “Expert Insights Series on Life Sciences” with Sharing from Our 10 Experts Under the new normal, the public and the investors are paying more attention to life sciences developments. Therefore, the Society launched the “Expert Insights Series on Life Sciences” with sharing from our 10 experts, including Mr Antony Leung, Mr Vincent Cheung, Mr Gerald Chan, Prof Dennis Lo, Prof KY Yuen, Prof Nancy Y. Ip, Mr Stanley Sy, Mr Shan Fu, Mr Meng Gao and Ms Irene Chu, in different perspectives to talk about the competitive advantages of Hong Kong in driving life sciences developments, and encouraging young people to devote themselves to science careers. The 10 insightful videos will be updated regularly on Ming Pao’s dedicated page from now till February 2022.