The Asia Health Innovation Summit 2023, hosted by Brinc as part of the StartmeupHK Festival curated by InvestHK, successfully brought together a full-capacity crowd of more than 200 in-person attendees at The Park Lane Hong Kong – A Pullman Hotel. Government officials, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and healthcare professionals were in attendance, along with an enthusiastic online audience of over 1,000.
The third-annual summit solidified its reputation as a premier gathering in the health innovation space in Asia. Featuring a full day of on-stage panel sessions, networking opportunities, and key partner announcements, these discussions were centered around crucial subjects such as commercialization strategies, the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain in healthcare. Here we recap some of the key takeaways from the event:
Making Hong Kong a Tech and Innovation Hub
Experts shed light on how generative AI can significantly reduce timeframes and improve safety measures and advocacy efforts, highlighting just one of many areas with immense potential for innovation and advancements in the healthcare sector in Asia. The summit kicked off with opening remarks from Hon. Duncan Chiu, Hong Kong’s Legislative Council Member for the Technology and Innovation Constituency, and Andy Wong, Head of Innovation and Technology at Invest Hong Kong. They highlighted Hong Kong’s commitment to bolstering its position in the healthcare industry and emphasized that it is an opportune time to establish a tech company in the city. The government’s determination to support startups and accelerate innovation through new policies and initiatives was a key focus of their remarks.
Hong Kong’s Potential to Play Pivotal Role in Health Innovation in Asia
Demonstrating Brinc’s commitment to nurturing the ecosystem for health innovation, representatives from the Hong Kong Institute of Biotechnology Limited, Our Hong Kong Foundation, IQVIA, and Cellomics International Limited were tapped to be panelists, and they emphasized the numerous opportunities available in Hong Kong’s ecosystem, from its solid R&D foundation to its world-class hospitals. They expressed their belief in the city’s potential, citing regulatory frameworks, government support, big data, and the unique role Hong Kong can play in the Greater Bay Area.
Collaboration Crucial for Fostering Growth
Industry leaders from Moderna, Ogilvy Health Asia, and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation stressed the accelerated pace of innovation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One recurring focal point across several panels was the significance of collaboration between startups, clients, changemakers, academics, and policymakers to foster success and growth in the healthcare sector. Embracing new technologies was stressed as a key driver for advancements before experts broke down the best methods of navigating the intricate nature of healthcare regulation.
Alternative Avenues for Investment
In the face of current market conditions, many panelists stressed that there are still extensive investment opportunities that can be pursued through exploring alternative avenues like accelerator programs and government grants. By embracing creativity and actively seeking out these resources, companies can uncover promising opportunities even in challenging times. The speakers also provided expert guidance on investment trends tailored specifically to the needs of healthcare startups through an incredibly engaging and insightful hour-long Ask-Me-Anything session that featured Joseph Ho, Health Program Director at Brinc, as a panelist.
Numerous topics were covered during the full-day summit – from regulatory landscapes, the challenges startups face, how to attract and retain talent, plus many other essential subjects that demonstrate an alignment of values between peers in the industry. A sincere thank you to StartmeupHK, InvestHK and our distinguished speakers, whose insights, expertise and determination to innovate will continue to evolve industry practices, enhance healthcare delivery and improve the role that Asia plays on a globalscale.
For those unable to attend on the day, you’re invited to watch the recorded sessions on YouTube here.
Thank you to all of our panel participants:
A View from Hong Kong – Ecosystem Opportunities
Andy Liu, Cellomics Holdings
Carmen Li, IQVIA
Dr. Gina Jiang, Hong Kong Institute of BioTechnology
Dr. Jane Lee, Our Hong Kong Foundation
Gaining Speed & Agility to Deliver Successful Health Innovation
Dr. Donna Brown, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
Joyce Lee, Moderna
Pierre Robinet, Ogilvy Health Asia
How AI is shaping Healthcare: Applications, Issues, and Regulatory Approaches
Dr. Aldrin Yim, Codex Genetics
Akina Ho, AllStarsWomen DAO
Dr. Frank Pun, Insilico Medicine
Pierre Robinet, Ogilvy Health Asia
The Road to Commercialization – Building an Effective Commercialization Strategy
Jessica Fong, Prenetics
Mitul Lakhani, AIA GROUP
Philip Sin, Belief BioMed
Dr. Q. Y. Ma, Time Medical
Investment Trends – Attracting Investors During a Bear Market
Dr. Amit Kakar, Novo Holdings Asia
Andrew Pang, Ally Bridge Group
Furuzonfar Zehni, Fresco Capital
Yolanda Yang, ABC International
The Regulation on Health Technology – What’s Next?
Dario Heymann, Galen Growth
David Swain, Essex Bio-Technology
Emma Holcroft, IMUNIS
Dr. Swee Kheng Khor, Angsana Health
Startup Help – Ask the Experts Anything
Adrian Lam, Bioworld Ventures
Carolyn Wright, RTHK
Emmanuel Hui, Tiger Jade Pebble Accelerator
Joseph Ho, Brinc
Impact of Blockchain Technology in Healthcare
Dr. Marten Brelen, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Sarah Mok, Brinc
Varun Panjwani, MetaCare
William Yeung, MediConCen
Reimagining the Healthcare Workplace to Attract and Retain Talent
Angela Feng, Ness Wellness
Dee Cheung, Alea
Ivan Li, Prenetics
Kara Cheung, Amgen
