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HKLSS hosted the “Switzerland‑UK Study Tour” from 19 to 28 August 2025, engaging 20 participants in a ten-day learning journey focused on biotechnology development and effective science communication in Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The Study Tour is supported by the HYAB Funding Scheme for International Youth Exchange.
Click here for the income and expenditure report.
In partnership with the Swiss Biotech Association and sponsored by InvestHK, Hong Kong Life Sciences Society (HKLSS) hosted “Life Sciences Entrepreneurship Conference: Perspectives from Hong Kong and Switzerland” on 21 March 2025. The conference gathered leading experts, entrepreneurs, and innovators from Hong Kong and Switzerland to discuss the current landscape and future opportunities in life sciences entrepreneurship.
The conference officially opened with welcoming remarks by Mr Antony Leung, Vice Chairperson of HKLSS, Chairman of Nan Fung Group, and Chairman and Co-founder of New Frontier Group. Mr Daniel Freihofer, Consul General of Switzerland in Hong Kong, then delivered the opening remarks.
Esteemed speakers from Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Switzerland shared their expertise and perspectives with the audience. Dr Qiusong Tang, Head of Roche Accelerator, delivered the plenary session on “Catalyzing Biotech Innovation in Hong Kong: Bridging Swiss Excellence to China’s Ecosystem”.
Dr Eric Adam, Chief Operations Officer of HAYA Therapeutics SA, presented the company’s work on RNA therapeutics for cellular reprogramming to treat rare and chronic diseases.
One of the highlights of the conference was the participation of outstanding start-ups that showcased their technologies and products. Speakers from Swiss start-ups included Mr Erik van den Berg, Chief Executive Officer of Memo-Therapeutics AG; Dr Christian Leisner, Chief Executive Officer and Director of CDR-Life AG; and Dr Andrea Chicca, Chief Executive Officer of 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 of Ally Bridge Group.
From Hong Kong, Dr Lydia Leung, Chief Executive Officer of Belun Technology; Prof Zongli Zheng, Co-founder and Chairman of GenEditBio; and Dr Eddy Wu, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arctic Vision, shared their companies’ research priorities and development focuses. This session was moderated by Dr Chuen Yan Leung, Partner (Healthcare Investment) of Value Partners Group and Co-founder of Silver Dart Capital.
The conference also explored opportunities for investment and strengthening biotech ecosystems. Dr Igor Fisch, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of NewBiologix; and President of FONGIT, discussed start-up incubation from a Swiss perspective via live streaming, while Mr Emmanuel Hui, Member of the Advisory Board of HKLSS and Chief Executive Officer of Tiger Jade Pebble Accelerator, shared his expertise in start-up acceleration in Hong Kong.
A fireside discussion, moderated by Dr Bettina Ernst Chief Executive Officer of BERNINA BioInvest and Vice-President of Swiss Biotech Association, featured panelists Dr Eric Adam, Chief Operations Officer, HAYA Therapeutics SA; Mr Emmanuel Hui, Chief Executive Officer, Tiger Jade Pebble Accelerator; Dr Grace SN Lau, Head of Life and Health Technology of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation; Prof Anderson Shum, President of The Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences; Vice-President (Research), and Chair Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering of City University of Hong Kong; and Mr Andy Wong, Head of Innovation and Technology of Invest Hong Kong. Together, they shared valuable insights on fostering the robust development of Hong Kong's life sciences ecosystem.
To conclude the half-day conference, Ms Lillian Cheong, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of HKSARG, delivered a video message expressing her thoughts on this important collaboration between Hong Kong and Switzerland in advancing the life sciences sector. The conference concluded with closing remarks by Dr Bettina Ernst, Chief Executive Officer of BERNINA BioInvest and Vice-President of the Swiss Biotech Association.
Hong Kong Life Sciences Society (HKLSS) hosted the Hong Kong Life Sciences Scholarship Awards Presentation Ceremony 2025/26 at AIRSIDE last Saturday (27 September 2025) to recognize the academic excellence and aspirations of outstanding life sciences students in Hong Kong. Mr Vincent Cheung, Founder and Board Chair of HKLSS, presented the Scholarship Awards to six undergraduate students selected from a record high of over 120 nominations. Also attending the celebratory occasion was Mr Meng Zhou, Partner - Head of Private Investment Team of Nan Fung Trinity, who enlightened the awardees with his words of encouragement.
Professor Ken Wong, Executive Director of HKLSS, congratulated the awardees in his welcome remarks, “As the leading youth organization devoted to building a dynamic life sciences ecosystem locally, we are not only delighted about the applicants’ competencies but also impressed by seizing the ample learning and career opportunities in our city, regardless of their nationality. With the HKSAR government’s blueprint to develop the life and health technology industry, including its latest proposal for the establishment of the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation as announced in the Policy Address last week, we are confident that the prospects for the field here are increasingly promising. This reinforces Hong Kong as an ideal place for the future pillars of life sciences to realize their ambitions.”
International Awardees with Local Commitment
Launched in 2022, the Hong Kong Life Sciences Scholarship Awards invite applications from students enrolled in life sciences or biomedical science programs at Hong Kong UGC-funded institutions. This year’s edition once again garnered an overwhelming response, attracting over 120 entries – the highest number ever – from which six candidates representing five universities (i.e., 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) were chosen. In addition to a life sciences scholarship of HK$50,000, awardees also gain access to HKLSS Mentorship Scheme, along with priority enrollment in HKLSS Summer Internship Program.
During the ceremony, three awardees represented the cohort to deliver their vote of thanks. Tai Wing Yin, a third-year Biomedical Sciences student at The University of Hong Kong, shared, “My journey into life sciences began with a curiosity about the human body and a desire to make a meaningful impact. That passion led me to Biomedical Sciences, a field where we can drive innovations to improve well-being, which has since evolved into an aspiration to contribute to the life sciences industry in Hong Kong. The scholarship allows me and my fellow awardees to move closer to our goals.”
Rahman Syed Rayan, a year 3 Applied Biology with Biotechnology major at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, remarked, “Coming from the beautiful country of Bangladesh, I stand before you today as a proud recipient of the Scholarship Awards. Alongside this pride comes a tremendous weight of responsibility – to continue working hard and strive to revolutionize the field of life sciences research. By enriching my expertise through this award, I aim to contribute to both Hong Kong’s and the world’s biomedical research communities.”
Santoso Rachelle Jacinda, shared the same enthusiasm for giving back locally. Now in her penultimate year of the Biological Sciences program at City University of Hong Kong, she said, “Being an international student from Indonesia, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to HKLSS for the support they have provided to all life sciences students in Hong Kong – support that extends beyond financial aids through this scholarship. Their mentorship and internship programs, as well as study tours, have given us a platform to connect with each other. I look forward to being part of this inspiring community and bringing my dedication to it.”
HKLSS is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr William Tang, Executive Director, Peninsula Knitters, as a member of the Advisory Board, effective 1 August 2025. Mr Tang brings extensive experience in industry leadership and social commitment, with active roles in key community and professional organizations across Hong Kong and Mainland China. His expertise and wide-ranging network will greatly contribute to advancing HKLSS’s mission in life sciences and technology.
This summer, Hong Kong Life Sciences Society (HKLSS) and HK Wuxi Trade Association co-organized Wuxi-Shanghai Study Tour, bringing more than 50 tertiary students to visit leading pharmaceutical companies and R&D institutions in Wuxi and Shanghai. Alongside a series of cultural activities, the youth gained valuable insights into the latest developments in life sciences in China.
Among the Study Tour participants were interns from HKLSS Life Sciences Summer Internship Program 2025. As the Program drew to a successful close in early August, a closing ceremony was held at AIRSIDE last Saturday (9 August 2025) to showcase the highlights of both the Study Tour and the Program and to celebrate the growth of the budding life scientists. In attendance were Mr Vincent Cheung, Founder and Board Chair of HKLSS; Professor Ken Wong, Executive Director of HKLSS; representatives from participating corporations; interns; Study Tour members; and distinguished guests.
Professor Ken Wong remarked, “Hong Kong Life Sciences Society is delighted that the HKSAR government is dedicated to transforming our city into an international center for life and health technology. Nurturing local talent and attracting those from overseas to Hong Kong are the core objectives of our annual Summer Internship Program. Since last year, with the support of the HK Wuxi Trade Association, we have especially rolled out the Wuxi-Shanghai Study Tour prior to the Program. By doing so, our interns got to see firsthand the full picture of China’s advancements in life sciences before having a real taste of work in the sector, making the entire experience more comprehensive and impactful.”
Study Tour Provides Macroscopic View on China’s Developments
Held from 24 to 28 June 2025, the Wuxi-Shanghai Study Tour took undergraduate and postgraduate students from biotechnology, healthcare, or business disciplines from local and overseas schools to visit renowned pharmaceutical companies and R&D institutions, such as AstraZeneca (China) and Roche Accelerator, as well as high-tech industrial development zone Wuxi (Mashan) National Life Science Park. The exposure gave the group a window on the innovative technology infrastructure and prospects of the two cities, which will help them explore their future career paths.
Aside from company visits, the five-day tour also featured cultural excursions at iconic attractions, including Huishan Ancient Town in Wuxi, and Jing’an District, the Bund, and Zhangyuan in Shanghai. The thoughtfully designed itinerary invited the young minds to comprehend the present through the lens of the neighborhoods’ past and culture. Additionally, HKLSS hosted welcoming dinners in both cities, creating opportunities for the youngsters to network and build connections with local practitioners and industry experts.
Internship Offers Up-Close Encounters at Real-life Workplaces
Following the Study Tour, HKLSS officially kicked off its Life Sciences Summer Internship Program. Held annually since the establishment of HKLSS, the Program continued to attract an overwhelming response this year, receiving an unprecedented 700+ local and international applications competing for approximately 50 places. The 2025 cohort also saw a record number of interns selected from diverse backgrounds, with the majority coming from Hong Kong and mainland China, while a few were from other Asian and African countries. They were assigned to a record high of 30 participating corporations, including prestigious start-ups, venture capitals, NGOs, and healthcare and pharmaceutical companies in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Shanghai.
The opportunity to work side by side with seasoned researchers and biotechnologists during the six-week internship has proven to be an important reference point for career planning. The Program has therefore been well-received by aspiring students and highly recognized by local educational institutions and industry partners alike since its launch seven years ago. HKLSS remains committed to continually innovating new initiatives to uphold its mission of nurturing life sciences talent and stimulating the overall ecosystem in Hong Kong.
HKLSS hosted the “Connect & Converse: Career Stories from Young Professionals” event on 11 June 2025, bringing together students and early-career professionals with a shared interest in life sciences, biomedicine, and biotechnology.
The event featured a dynamic mix of a sharing session and small group conversations, where participants had the opportunity to engage directly with HKLSS young mentors — emerging professionals from across the life sciences sector. These mentors shared their personal career journeys, practical advice, and insights into the evolving industry landscape, fostering a supportive and peer-driven environment for open dialogue and learning.
We were delighted to have the following young mentors join us as speakers:
- Mr Sze Wang Li, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP)
- Ms Heti Yiu, Jardine Matheson
- Dr Carol Lee, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Ms Candice Wan, Ultra High Point
- Mr Harrison Li, WeDerm
Their stories and experiences offered attendees valuable perspectives on navigating early career decisions, building resilience, and exploring diverse pathways in the life sciences field.
HKLSS extends its sincere thanks to all speakers and participants for contributing to a meaningful and inspiring evening of connection and growth.
HKLSS partnered with Mr Daniel Chan Ho Yuen to host “The Phab Maze”, a meaningful and engaging workshop, on 7 June 2025
Participants were grouped to take on a series of sports-themed challenges that simulated the everyday obstacles faced by individuals with disabilities. These hands-on activities offered a powerful, empathetic lens into the physical and mental resilience required to navigate such experiences.
Daniel also shared his inspiring journey as a para-athlete, highlighting the determination, adaptability, and passion that have shaped his path. His story left a lasting impression, reminding us all of the importance of inclusion, perseverance, and breaking barriers — both in sports and in society.
