The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), in collaboration with InvestHK and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, led the city's largest-ever delegation of life and health technology innovators to the BIO International Convention 2026 (BIO 2026) in San Diego from June 22 to 25. The delegation, which doubled in size from last year, included 41 organizations from HKSTP—partner companies, research institutes, and for the first time, spin-offs from five top local universities: The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and City University of Hong Kong. This record presence underscores Hong Kong's deep capabilities in AI-enabled biotech, therapeutics, diagnostics, and pharma innovation, highlighting its role as Asia's largest and the world's second-largest fundraising hub for biotechnology.
At BIO 2026, HKSTP facilitated three major strategic partnerships. HKSTP signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with LabCentral, one of the largest global non-profit biotech incubators, to support life sciences startups with lab infrastructure and community programs, deepening ties between the U.S. and Hong Kong ecosystems. Immuno Cure, developer of the first-in-human novel therapeutic HIV vaccine ICVAX, announced collaboration with OPIS, an international contract research organization, to support overseas clinical trial execution and global expansion. Zhaoke Ophthalmology signed an MOU with Laboratório Teuto, Brazil's first producer of generic medicines and OTCs, to explore cross-border cooperation in ophthalmology, marking Zhaoke's first strategic MOU in the Brazilian market and aiming to bring advanced eye care to Latin America.
HKSTP CEO Mr. Terry Wong participated in a panel titled "Translating Innovation Across Borders: Creating Global Gateways for Biotech Startups," sharing insights on biotech trends and Hong Kong's strengths. He stated, "As a super-connector, Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to bridge global innovators with opportunities across Asia and beyond." HKSTP and five university delegates also visited the Salk Institute, home to six Nobel Laureates, to explore partnerships. Additionally, HKSTP hosted a Global Mixer with industry leaders including Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, LabCentral, Roche, Simcere Pharmaceutical, and T.Rx Capital, who judged startup pitching sessions and facilitated networking for commercialization, licensing, and investment.
In the lead-up to BIO 2026, HKSTP co-organized the 2026 Biomedical Pitch Competition in Boston, where HKSTP park company Meta Pharmaceuticals (HK) Limited won Third Place for its next-generation autoimmune therapeutics, competing against 170 biotech firms worldwide. This recognition underscores Hong Kong's biotech pipeline strength and HKSTP's commitment to translational medicine and globally scalable healthcare solutions.
Hong Kong continues to expand its global healthcare footprint as the world's second-largest biotech fundraising hub. HKSTP's ecosystem now hosts over 300 life and health technology companies, connecting capital, talent, infrastructure, and market access to accelerate innovation from discovery to impact.
