Under the witness of Mr Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP (second from right), and Abdulrahman Alsufiany, Vice-Governor, Innovation Ecosystem Development, RDIA (Second from left), Dr Zhu Tian, Co-Founder and CEO of GenEditBio (first from right) signed a strategic MoU with Mr Abdullatif Alturki, General Manager, Anwa BioSciences (first from left) to jointly combat genetic diseases using CRISPR technology. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Having nurtured one of Asia’s top emerging start-up ecosystems, Hong Kong has plenty to offer to advancement of biotech and health-tech sectors in Belt and Road nations, including Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries, a forum heard in Riyadh on March 4. 

Titled “Hong Kong Healthtech Innovations Driving Global Transformation for Generations to Come” a panel event on the opening day of the LEAP 2024 global tech conference and exhibition in the Saudi capital featured leaders in the Hong Kong biotech and health-tech innovation scene. During the discussions, they explored upcoming and ongoing transformative innovations in the sector and Hong Kong's critical contributions to pioneering global health-tech advancements.

Three panelists from the health-tech community also shared insights on how to ensure that innovation benefits people, business and society, from breaking through the age-old challenge of commercialization, propelling success across borders and realizing transformative innovations in the field of surgical robotics, genomics, and digital healthcare.

READ MORE: Shenzhen-based firm MGI launches new biotech lab in HK

The potential and predictions for biotech and health-tech innovation are reaching new highs, but the question of how societies can move quickly from promise to impact becomes pertinent. In this regard, Lam Chi Man, founder and CEO of Applied Technology Group offered illustrations of potential solutions. 

According to Albert Wong, there have been endless opportunities for Hong Kong-Middle East collaboration which heralds a bright and promising future

To solve the aging problem, for instance, he noted that his company’s Remote Monitoring System can extend the outreach to elderly homes to simulate the ICU wards in the hospital by providing real-time alerts for exceptional cases of individual vital sign conditions. Given the lack of enough medical professionals, Lam noted that the provisioning of point-of-healthcare in easy access locations can let patients to do quick health check with AI powered analysis to understand their health situation before they request the medical professional resources.

He also mentioned that “Healthcare not Sick-care” can create personalized wellness plan for each individual to allow a custom-made nutritional, physical training and supplement recommendations to stop sickness.

Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP (first right), and Peter Yan, CEO of Cyberport (first left), sign an MoU with Khalid A. Aldakkan, Senior Vice-President for Innovation Parks, KACST (center), under the witness of Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR government (second left) and H.E. Dr. Munir M. Eldesouki, President, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (second from right), to form a strategic partnership between the Hong Kong and Saudi I&T ecosystems, accelerating the growth and development of start-ups and talent. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Samuel Au, president of Cornerstone Robotics, said his company, taking advantage of a state-of-the-art robotic strategic system, was established to improve the accessibility of high-end medical services such as robotic surgery both within and outside China. “We have already finished our clinical trials (for robotic surgery) in the Chinese mainland and in Hong Kong,” he said.

Albert Wong, CEO of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, moderated the event, which illuminated the prospects of health-tech and highlighted the shared visions of China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Saudi Arabia, and the limitless opportunities in the industry. According to him, there have been endless opportunities for Hong Kong-Middle East collaboration which heralds a bright and promising future.

Albert Wong, CEO of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, moderates the event in Riyadh. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Hong Kong-based biotech startup GenEditBio is set to expand its footprint in the Middle East. The company made its significant mark at this year’s LEAP event by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Anwa Biosciences, a leading Saudi firm on genomics. The two firms are collaborating on use of cutting-edge CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) technology to combat genetic diseases, starting with sickle cell disease.

Zhu Tian, co-founder and CEO of GenEditBio, said during the panel event that the start of a key partnership between Anwa BioSciences and GenEditBio has begun.

GenEditBio is a genome-editing therapy startup focused on providing genome editing-based therapeutic solutions, often referred to as “DNA surgery”

“In a commitment to realizing Saudi Arabia’s vision to be a biotech leader in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region and beyond, both companies are collaborating to use cutting-edge CRISPR technology to combat genetic diseases,” Zhu said. “This MoU signifies more than just an agreement; it symbolize a promise of hope and health, made possible by the convergence of vision and expertise.” 

GenEditBio is a genome-editing therapy startup focused on providing genome editing-based therapeutic solutions, often referred to as “DNA surgery”. The solutions are characterized by a high safety profile, solid precision and affordable access for patients with genetic diseases that have no cures or lack effective treatments today. The company was formed by a group of top-notch scientists and visionary entrepreneurs who are passionate about harnessing the power of the Nobel Prize-winning CRISPR-based genome editing technology to bring DNA surgery into a clinical reality.

READ MORE: Deputy calls for building HK into world-class life science hub

Zhu noted that Saudi Arabia has recently launched a strategic plan to become a biotech hub in the MENA region by 2030 and globally by 2040, with priorities placed on genomics and vaccines which fit into their strength. 

Titled "Hong Kong Healthtech Innovations Driving Global Transformation for Generations to Come", the HKSTP-hosted panel discussion offers insights from robotics expert Professor Samuel Au, President of Cornerstone Robotics (first from left); Information and Communications Technology veteran Mr Chi Man Lam, Founder and CEO of Applied Technology Group (second from right); and passionate drug hunter Dr Zhu Tian, Co-Founder and CEO of GenEditBio (second from left). (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

“At GenEditBio, we have developed differentiating in vivo genome editors and diverse delivery platforms that could be transformed into curative and programmable solutions for patients with genetic diseases, such as sickle cell diseases, which is prevalent in Saudi Arabia,” she said.

Lam, from Applied Technology Group, said his company has had discussions with the Sharjah technology research and innovation center. “There will be collaboration opportunities with United Arab Emirates medical schools and hospitals to extend our R&D team, as well as (establish) new deployment opportunities here in the UAE,” he said.

Contact the writer at vivienxu@chinadailyapac.com