From Early Vision to Emerging Opportunity

AFCR’s Continuing Commitment to Hong Kong’s Biomedical Innovation Ecosystem

A Look Back from 2022 to 2026

2022: Asking an Important Question

In 2022, the Asian Fund for Cancer Research Limited (AFCR) convened a multidisciplinary Think-Tank Forum at BIOHK around a forward-looking question: What would it take for Hong Kong to realize its potential as a globally important biomedical innovation hub – and translate its scientific strengths into greater benefits for patients?

The discussion brought together leaders and experts from academic and clinical research, biotechnology and investment in Hong Kong and the United States. Rather than focusing only on research funding, the group examined the broader ecosystem required to move promising discoveries from laboratories toward clinical development, commercialization and patient impact.

The resulting white paper, “Unlocking the Potential of Hong Kong as a Biomedical Innovation Hub,” was intended to identify gaps and opportunities and to offer practical ideas for strengthening Hong Kong’s biomedical innovation ecosystem.

What We Saw Then

The Think Tank recognized Hong Kong’s considerable assets: world-class universities and researchers, an international financial center, growing biotechnology capabilities, proximity to the Greater Bay Area, and a distinctive position connecting Mainland China with the international community.

At the same time, participants identified a fundamental challenge: scientific excellence alone does not create a biomedical innovation ecosystem.

The report highlighted the need for stronger translational research capabilities; greater collaboration among universities, hospitals, industry and investors; stronger entrepreneurship and commercialization infrastructure; greater availability of early-stage capital; expanded clinical research capabilities; and stronger international collaboration.

Importantly, the discussion looked beyond individual programs toward an interconnected ecosystem capable of moving innovation forward.

From Identifying Gaps to Proposing Solutions

The 2022 report proposed several practical directions, including making life sciences and technology a strategic priority and:

strengthening basic and translational research;

encouraging international collaboration;

improving technology transfer and commercialization across institutions;

developing entrepreneurship and drug-development talent;

creating mechanisms to help investors evaluate biomedical opportunities;

building public-private funding partnerships capable of supporting early-stage biotechnology companies.

Hong Kong did not simply need more excellent science.
It needed stronger connections between discovery, translation, entrepreneurship, capital, clinical development and patients.

Hong Kong needed an ecosystem with integrated efforts from all stakeholders.

Download 2022 Think-Tank Forum White Paper

2026: Encouraged by the Direction Hong Kong Is Taking

Four years later, it is encouraging to see many of these broad priorities receiving substantially greater attention in Hong Kong’s evolving innovation strategy, including in its new Five-Year Plan.

For AFCR, this alignment affirms the value of our early discussions and strengthens our commitment to helping move this work forward.

Hong Kong’s biomedical ecosystem has been shaped by government, universities, researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, investors, industry and many other organizations over many years.

The discussions at BIOHK2022 offer an important perspective: many of the challenges that AFCR and its partners identified have since moved closer to the center of Hong Kong’s biomedical innovation agenda.

For AFCR, this convergence reinforces our long-held conviction that strengthening the connections between research, translation, capital and patients is essential to realizing Hong Kong’s biomedical potential.

AFCR as a Convener Connector and Catalyst

AFCR’s distinctive contribution is to serve as a convener, connector, and catalyst—helping bridge gaps among government, universities, clinicians, investors, and biotechnology companies.

As an independent nonprofit organization focused on cancer research and innovation, AFCR can convene stakeholders who do not ordinarily sit at the same table; identify promising science before it attracts conventional investment; help bridge translational funding gaps; connect researchers with entrepreneurial and investment expertise; facilitate international collaborations; and keep the ultimate objective – improving outcomes for patients – at the center of innovation.

That role was already visible in the 2022 Think Tank, whose concluding vision brought together academic institutions, biopharmaceutical companies, hospitals and patients, research organizations, investors and other stakeholders in a collaborative biomedical innovation ecosystem.

Looking Forward Why This Moment Matters

Hong Kong today has an important opportunity to build on its scientific excellence, financial capabilities and unique international position. The policy environment is increasingly focused on the difficult middle ground between discovery and impact – precisely where collaboration, translational support, entrepreneurship and patient-oriented innovation become critical.

For AFCR, the question is therefore no longer simply whether Hong Kong can become an important biomedical innovation hub. It is:

How can AFCR help ensure that promising discoveries move through the innovation ecosystem – and ultimately reach the patients who need them?

This is the work AFCR intends to continue: serving as a convener, connector and catalyst; supporting high-impact cancer research and translation; linking scientific innovation with capital and expertise; and helping keep patient benefit at the center of the biomedical innovation journey.

AFCR’s Continuing Journey

An Invitation to Help Move This Work Forward

Hong Kong’s growing commitment to healthcare and life sciences innovation creates an opportunity we must help turn into meaningful progress for patients. AFCR is committed to bringing people, expertise, and resources together to help promising cancer research move forward. We cannot do this alone.

We invite individuals and organizations who share this purpose to join us:

• Connect us with potential partners. Introduce researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, donors, and organizations who could help advance this work.
• Share your expertise. Help us identify unmet patient needs, address barriers to clinical development, and build stronger collaborations.
• Support the research. Your philanthropic support can help AFCR fund promising cancer research and bridge gaps that can otherwise delay its progress toward helping patients.

Together, we can help Hong Kong’s investment in innovation deliver something that matters deeply to all of us: better ways to prevent and treat cancer, and greater hope for patients and their families.

Explore AFCR’s BIOHK Journey →