HONG KONG, Nov. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Asia Health Innovation Summit 2023, hosted by global venture accelerator Brinc as part of the StartmeupHK Festival curated by InvestHK, attracted an online audience of over 1,000 and a full capacity of more than 200 in-person attendees at The Park Lane Hong Kong-A Pullman Hotel yesterday. The third-annual event solidified its position as a premier gathering for industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals in Asia's health innovation space. Aimed to foster greater ideations and collaborations, the event featured a full day of on-stage panel sessions featuring 38 speakers from Hong Kong and overseas, as well as networking sessions for all attendees to directly connect, and announcements made by key partners.
The event began with opening remarks from Hon. Duncan Chiu, Hong Kong's Legislative Council Member - Technology & Innovation Constituency, and Andy Wong, Head of Innovation & Technology at Invest Hong Kong. They spoke about the ways in which Hong Kong is bolstering its position in the healthcare industry, emphasizing that it is an ideal time to found a tech company in Hong Kong – since the government is determined to support startups and accelerate innovation through new policies and initiatives.
The panel discussions delved into crucial subjects like commercialization strategies and the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain in healthcare. The experts shed light on how generative AI can significantly reduce timeframes and improve safety measures and advocacy efforts. These insightful discussions highlighted the immense potential for innovation and advancements in the healthcare sector in Asia.
Representatives from the Hong Kong Institute of Biotechnology Limited, Our Hong Kong Foundation, IQVIA, and Cellomics International Limited, stressed the number of opportunities that exist 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.
Healthcare industry leaders, including representatives from Moderna, Ogilvy Health Asia, and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the pace of innovation. Stressing the significance of collaboration with startups, clients, changemakers, academics, and policymakers to foster success and growth in the healthcare sector, they highlighted the benefits of embracing new technologies. These industry experts also shared valuable insights on the intricate nature of healthcare regulation.
In the face of current market conditions, many panelists stressed that there is still an extensive number of investment opportunities that can be pursued through innovative approaches and exploring alternative avenues. This includes tapping into accelerator programs, and government grants, which offer potential avenues for investment. By embracing creativity and actively seeking out these resources, businesses can uncover promising opportunities even in challenging times. The speakers also relayed valuable insights on investment trends, providing expert guidance tailored specifically to the needs of healthcare startups.
Thank you to 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 & 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
About Brinc
Headquartered in Hong Kong, Brinc is a leader in global venture acceleration and operates 13 multidisciplinary accelerator programs across seven countries. Brinc accelerates startups focused on climate tech, clean energy, food technology, blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, connected hardware, robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) with a view to creating a more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive future.
Brinc also supports corporations with investment services, distributed innovation strategies, sourcing of new startups and technologies, as well as venture-building Web3-enabled businesses. Global corporations (Manulife, Huawei, Schneider Electric, Puma, Batelco, Merck, Omantel, Linrun Group, Zhihui Park), government organizations (Hong Kong Science Park, MBRIF, Guangdong Soft-tech Park), tertiary institutions (HK City University, National University of Singapore), fast-growing companies (Animoca Brands, DayDayCook), and leading venture funds (Artesian, LeverVC, Tamkeen, EDB) have all run programs with Brinc. In 2021, Brinc announced a series of venture funds to invest in high-potential early-stage companies through accelerators and provide LPs with a dedicated innovation platform and access to Series A+ co-investment opportunities.
