International Healthcare Week to Showcase Hong Kong as Medical Technology and Investment Hub

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) announced that the fifth International Healthcare Week will take place from 11 to 31 May, positioning Hong Kong as a premier destination for medical technology, investment, and trade. The event's flagship components—the sixth Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH) and the 17th Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair (Medical Fair)—will be held concurrently at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 11 to 13 May, offering a comprehensive platform covering the entire healthcare industry chain, from R&D and investment to manufacturing and services.

Sophia Chong, Executive Director of the HKTDC, emphasized the strategic importance of the events, stating that Hong Kong's unique position as an international financial center and its world-class research ecosystem make it an ideal hub for medical innovation. She noted that the events align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan's prioritization of health development, focusing on high-growth areas such as biopharmaceuticals, AI-empowered healthcare, the silver economy, and modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. The events aim to accelerate commercialization of research outcomes, facilitate business matching, and boost cross-border investment, reinforcing the 'Healthy China' initiative and Hong Kong's role as a superconnector.

The ASGH, themed "Fuelling Healthcare Breakthroughs," will feature a lineup of international health officials, scientists, and industry experts, including a keynote from 2013 Nobel Prize laureate in Chemistry, Professor Michael Levitt. The summit will cover critical topics such as pandemic preparedness, AI in healthcare, the silver economy, and traditional Chinese medicine, with sessions addressing the National 15th Five-Year Plan. Notable speakers include Professor Lo Chung-mau, Secretary of Health of the HKSAR government, and representatives from GSK, JP Morgan, and the Hevolution Foundation.

The Medical Fair, themed "Innovations Boosting Smart Health Experience," will gather about 300 exhibitors from 10 countries and regions, showcasing breakthrough technologies in MedTech, GeronTech, and Preventive Healthcare. Highlights include a smart health wearable watch integrating Chinese and Western medicine, an augmented reality surgical platform for orthopedics, and a world-first smart knee brace using AI and wearable technology. The fair will also feature over 50 forums and seminars, including discussions on mental health innovation and gerontechnology demand.

Both events will adopt the "EXHIBITION+" hybrid model, with the physical fair at HKCEC and the "Click2Match" online platform available from 4 to 20 May. The International Healthcare Week, spanning 17 healthcare-related activities, aims to drive innovation and investment exchange in the Asian healthcare industry, further solidifying Hong Kong's status as a regional medical innovation hub.