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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.

On 12th October, the Hong Kong Life Sciences Society (HKLSS or the Society) held a Presentation Ceremony at the AIRSIDE headquarters of Nan Fung Group for the Hong Kong Life Sciences Scholarship Awards (the Scholarship Awards), honoring 10 outstanding undergraduate students in life sciences and biomedical science. Like last year, this year’s selection process utilized artificial intelligence (AI) to evaluate applicants’ overall abilities in the first round, followed by a second-round interview which served to identify students with the greatest potential. Over 100 Nominations Received, Recipients from 5 Local Universities The Scholarship Awards were established in 2022 by HKLSS with a goal of supporting outstanding undergraduate students to pursue life sciences or biomedical studies in local universities. The Awards have received overwhelming responses since its inauguration, and this year made no exception as over 100 nominations were received. The 10 recipients who stood out are second- or third-year students from City University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and The University of Hong Kong, who are studying in related fields of biomedical engineering biochemistry, and biomedical sciences. In addition to the HK$50,000 scholarship, each awardee will also be entitled to participate in the Society’s 12-month Mentorship Scheme and be given priority to apply for the Summer Internship Program in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Shenzhen. While the scholarship enables students to focus on their studies, the diverse learning opportunities that come with it can also broaden their horizons, enrich their academic and professional experiences, and support their all-round development so as to nurture them into future leaders in the life sciences and biotech industries. Apart from excelling academically, scholarship recipients should also show their academic and career aspirations. The selection process included two rounds of interviews: with last year’s successful implementation of AI, the first-round interview continued to use the technology to evaluate applicants’ abilities and soft skills, whereas the second-round interview was conducted by industry experts, including representatives from startups, biomedical centers, and biotechnology companies, who assessed students’ potential and suitability based on industry standards and trends. A Presentation Ceremony that Promotes Diverse Exchange within the Industry (Photo 2: Mr Andy Wong, Head of Innovation and Technology at Invest Hong Kong and the Guest of Honor, delivers words of encouragement) Mr Andy Wong, Head of Innovation and Technology at Invest Hong Kong, was the Ceremony’s Guest of Honor who also delivered words of encouragement, while Mr Vincent Cheung, Founder and Board Chair of HKLSS, presented the awards. Prof Ken Wong, Executive Director of HKLSS, said in his speech, “This year marks the 5th anniversary of HKLSS. We have strived to attract, nurture, and unite life sciences talent in Hong Kong by promoting knowledge exchange, collaboration, and participation, so as to strengthen the local life sciences ecosystem. The scholarship not only recognizes students’ past efforts but, more importantly, encourages and supports their future professional development in the life sciences industry.” Representatives from various universities and nominators of the scholarship also attended the Ceremony. The Society hoped to bring together organizations from various professional fields to foster further exchange. Recipients Express Gratitude for Guidance on Future Paths During the Ceremony, two scholarship recipients shared their gratitude on behalf of all awardees. Fu Tianlu, a second-year student majoring in biochemistry at The University of Hong Kong, said, “I am very grateful to HKLSS for the scholarship, which allows me to continue my research in biological sciences and hopefully pursue a PhD. When I complete my studies, I hope to use my expertise to help the people of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area live healthier and longer lives.” Printer Roshni Olga, a third-year biotechnology and business student at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said, “I hope to develop innovative therapeutics to address unmet healthcare needs. With this scholarship, I am one step closer to my goal. The Mentorship Scheme and Summer Internship Program will also help me find my footing in Hong Kong.”

The Hong Kong Life Sciences Society (HKLSS), dedicated to cultivating professional talents in life sciences since its establishment in 2018, continues to provide the vastly popular Summer Internship Program. This year saw the 6th edition of the program, which both the number of applicants and final admissions reached record highs. It also marks the first time internship opportunities being offered in Shenzhen, in addition to Hong Kong and Shanghai. The expansion allows undergraduate and postgraduate students to gain a deeper understanding of the frontier developments and technological innovations in the life sciences industry in Mainland China. The program concluded with a closing ceremony last Saturday, where participating organizations and the distinguished guests witnessed the interns’ growth. The six-week Life Sciences Summer Internship Program is conducted annually from early July to mid-August. This year, over 400 applications were received, of which, many had come from students studying abroad. In the end, 42 undergraduate and postgraduate students from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and abroad were selected. The students interned at 23 organizations including start-ups, venture capital firms, healthcare and pharmaceutical companies, and non-governmental organizations in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. The internship offered them with opportunities to explore in pioneering research and technologies, which equipped them for future careers. Prof Ken Wong, Executive Director of HKLSS, said in his speech, “Exposing our talent to diverse perspectives and career paths is a key part of preparing them for the future. This is the reason we launched our summer internship program back in 2019. By engaging talent to work and live in the three cities, we can further enhance cross-cultural exchange and learning opportunities for our interns. This cross-city collaboration is crucial as we collectively work to cultivate the next generation of life sciences leaders.” Prof Wong added, “Before the internship program began, we also launched a five-day study tour to Wuxi and Shanghai, in partnership with the Hong Kong Wuxi Trade Association. This allowed our interns to gain insights into different aspects of the industry that are not easily accessible in Hong Kong alone.” Program Expands to Shenzhen, Benefiting Both Employers and Students Shenzhen-based Signet Therapeutics participated in the program for the first time. Dr Shu Zhuo, Vice President and Head of R&D at Signet, expressed his delight with the company’s involvement. He mentioned that Signet, located in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, aims to attract Hong Kong talents for internships and exchanges. Dr Zhuo said, “Our company has developed a focused and systematic training program specifically for interns, covering areas from organoid platforms to drug pipelines, allowing students to gain substantial experience within six weeks.” He also praised the Hong Kong students for their global perspective and communication skills, stating, “Their innovative thinking is remarkable, enabling them to effectively analyze and solve problems, which enriches our working environment. For R&D companies like ours that require constant innovation, such cultural exchange is essential.” Internship Program Equips Overseas Students in Future Career Planning 16 students participating in this year's summer internship program are from overseas universities. Among them, Susan Pan, who is enrolled in the HKU-Cambridge Undergraduate Recruitment Scheme (Natural Sciences), interned at Signet’s R&D department this summer through HKLSS’s program. She said, “I believe Shenzhen's life sciences and pharmaceutical development is among the best in the country. As the hub of the Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen has great potential for joint development with Hong Kong. During my internship in Shenzhen, I was able to interact with colleagues from different cultural backgrounds, all of whom are highly motivated and eager to explore.” Susan values this internship, which provided her with a more concrete vision for her future career, such as first-hand experience of laboratory work and experiment processes. She encouraged other peers who are considering to join the Internship Program, “Be proactive in engaging and communicating with your colleagues. Be brave to ask questions and learn from your seniors. Enjoy this internship as it is an invaluable opportunity to learn and explore.” In-Depth Understanding of Hetao Development A record number of postgraduate students participated in the HKLSS Summer Internship Program this year. Tony Xie, a PhD candidate at the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Medicine, chose to intern in Shenzhen, joining the The Chinese University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Biomedical Innovation R&D Center. Tony believes that participating in the internship as a postgraduate student has many benefits, “In addition to broadening my horizons and opening up possible career paths, I believe employers will view graduates who have completed an internship as more experienced and prepared, and it serves as an advantage in the job market. Interning in Shenzhen required adapting to cultural differences at the beginning, but I gradually realized that their equipment and working environment are very similar to those in Hong Kong, making it easier for us to adapt.” Students participating in the Internship Program noted that the HKLSS internship is highly regarded by their academic institutions and various corporations. The program also includes workshops, site visits, and exchange activities that enrich the participants’ understanding and better prepare them for their future careers. HKLSS will continue strengthening its collaboration with laboratories and biotech companies in Shenzhen and Hetao area. Additionally, it aims to provide study tour opportunities in more locations in the fields of research, testing, and artificial intelligence for local and overseas students.

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