Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), in collaboration with five local universities, together with InvestHK because the co-organizer and HKTDC because the supporting group, is main its largest-ever delegation to the BIO International Convention (BIO) 2026 to broaden cooperation, funding, and mutual market entry for ventures from the particular administrative area and international stakeholders.
To be held in San Diego, the United States, from June 22 to 25, BIO 2026 is without doubt one of the world’s most outstanding biotechnology conferences, bringing collectively greater than 20,000 attendees from over 70 nations and areas.
The Hong Kong Pavilion will comprise 41 members from town’s life and well being sector, together with tech corporations, analysis institutes, and college spinoffs, doubling final 12 months’s quantity. Exhibitors will showcase their newest developments spanning synthetic intelligence-enabled biotech, therapeutics, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical innovation.
HKSTP Chief Executive Officer Terry Wong Ping-sau stated the journey goals to spotlight the energy of Hong Kong’s innovation and know-how (I&T) ecosystem whereas deepening engagement with the worldwide biotech group.
“We hope to strengthen ties with the international industry and enhance companies’ ability to expand into global markets, thereby supporting the continued development of Hong Kong’s I&T sector,” Wong stated.
The delegation marks the primary time HKSTP has joined forces with five local universities — the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, City University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University — all ranked among the many international high 100 on this 12 months’s QS World University Rankings.
Lau Chak-sing, vice-president and pro-vice-chancellor (well being), and dean of drugs of HKU, stated participation in international occasions reminiscent of BIO 2026 is essential to advancing Hong Kong’s life sciences and well being know-how sector and enhancing its competitiveness as a biotechnology hub in Asia.
“HKU strives to drive biomedical innovation and translate research to real-world applications. The launch of the HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Core in 2023 strengthens startup support and fosters a dynamic innovation ecosystem. Through this event, we seek to attract global resources, including talent, technology and capital to accelerate the translation and commercialization of local research outcomes, reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as a leading biotech hub in Asia,” Lau stated.
Philip Chiu Wai-yan, dean of CUHK’s Faculty of Medicine, stated BIO 2026 gives a priceless platform to showcase Hong Kong’s biotech momentum, citing that many nations and buyers are nonetheless not absolutely conscious of town’s achievements.
Chiu added that the journey will assist startups and establishments join with international buyers and business friends, whereas studying from different markets. “Hong Kong has indeed made progress in I&T, but has yet to gain full global recognition. We need to learn how to build a better ecosystem for our local sector,” he stated.
Tim Cheng Kwang-ting, HKUST’s vice-president for analysis and growth, stated, “BIO 2026 offers a timely platform to share Hong Kong’s vision at the intersection of medicine, science, and technology. With the establishment of the HKUST School of Medicine and its focus on training physician-scientists, we are strengthening our commitment to addressing real-world healthcare needs.”
He added, “In recent years, Hong Kong has developed a dynamic ecosystem spanning research, knowledge transfer, and real-world translation — turning innovation into meaningful outcomes for society. HKUST has a strong track record in translating research into real-world impact, and we see BIO 2026 as an excellent opportunity to engage global partners and foster meaningful collaborations that advance innovation and improve healthcare outcomes.”
For CityUHK, bringing its breakthroughs in areas reminiscent of biomedicine and cell and gene remedy to the worldwide stage is a key goal, stated Michael Yang Mengsu, senior vice-president (innovation and enterprise).
Yang stated the college goals to join with world-class establishments and assets, whereas creating extra alternatives for startups to apply their applied sciences, additional strengthening the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems in each Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.
Simon Lee Ming-yuen, a Cally Kwong Mei Wan professor in Biomedical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Innovation at PolyU, shared an identical view.
“I attended the event last year and we have been seeking collaboration. Several enterprises and investment institutions showed interest in working with us, so this time we hope to deepen those connections and secure more new partnerships,” Lee stated.
Lee added that the delegation format, which brings collectively dozens of Hong Kong biotech corporations, may even strengthen ties throughout the local business and foster higher synergy.
Authorities throughout the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area have been stepping up efforts to foster deeper I&T and industrial synergy in recent times. This push is yielding international outcomes. In the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Global Innovation Index 2025, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster ranked first among the many world’s high 100 innovation hubs.
Meanwhile, because the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s 2018 itemizing reforms — together with the introduction of Chapter 18A to permit pre-revenue biotech corporations to checklist — greater than $17.5 billion has been raised by preliminary public choices, making Hong Kong the world’s second-largest biotech fundraising hub.
Jin Xia, CEO of Immuno Cure and a member of the delegation, stated the corporate will concentrate on forging partnerships with main abroad pharmaceutical companies at BIO 2026 because it prepares for a possible Hong Kong itemizing.
Founded in 2015, the HKU spinoff makes a speciality of DNA medicines and antibody immunotherapies for infectious illnesses and cancers. Its core product, ICVAX — a therapeutic DNA vaccine for HIV — has accomplished Phase I medical trials on the mainland and is transferring to the following stage.
Apart from the house markets, Jin stated the corporate can be focusing on Europe and the US. “So this year (at BIO), we hope to secure more memoranda of understanding with contract manufacturing organizations to advance clinical collaboration,” he stated.
The delegation additionally consists of GenEditBio, a local startup targeted on in vivo genome modifying therapies. Its know-how goals to ship gene-editing instruments instantly into sufferers’ cells, addressing limitations of conventional cell-based manufacturing and transplantation.
During BIO 2026, HKSTP will have interaction varied stakeholders, together with a go to to the famend Salk Institute, whose open and collaborative setting has efficiently attracted a number of Nobel laureates and main scientists. HKSTP may even host a sequence of sideline occasions, together with pitching classes, government sharing, and networking actions, creating alternatives for commercialization, partnerships, funding, and enlargement.
Wong famous that final 12 months’s delegation signed a number of MoUs with main abroad organizations, and stated he expects this 12 months’s outcomes to be even stronger.
“The role of HKSTP is not just to provide support such as lab resources or incubation programs. We also strive to strengthen our role as a guide and orchestrator, bringing together the conditions and resources companies need, so that they can develop their careers with confidence,” Wong stated.
Inno-tech Special