Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Opening Ceremony of BIOHK2026 today (September 9):

Professor Albert Yu (Chairman of the Hong Kong Biotechnology Organization and President of BIOHK2026), Professor Lo (Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning. It is a great pleasure to join you all at BIOHK2026. As we are riding on the wave of biotechnology transformation, it is crucial for us to exchange ideas, contribute our expertise, and seize boundless opportunities in the biotechnology area. A very warm welcome to those joining us from abroad and I wish you a pleasant stay in Hong Kong.

     Let me begin with an achievement worth celebrating for Hong Kong's recent I&T (innovation and technology) development. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) yesterday published the WIPO Global Innovation Index 2026, once again ranking the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster first globally. Reaching the top once is a monumental milestone, but retaining the top spot cements our cluster's world-class capability, resilience, and sustained innovation. The cluster has excelled at channelling capital to support the translation of innovative ideas into practical outcomes, including biotechnology.

     This affirms that Hong Kong's efforts in fostering effective collaboration among the Government, industry, academic, research and investment sectors are on the right track. Over the past few years, the Government has deployed targeted policy measures to ensure technology, capital, and talent reinforce one another, as well as expediting co-operation with our Greater Bay Area sister cities. Core to this strategy are three $10 billion funding schemes, namely the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme, the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme, and the Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund. Moreover, the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government has been supporting the growth of start-ups. With the $180 million Pilot I&T Accelerator Scheme to be launched this year, we aim to attract more experienced incubators to set up accelerator bases in Hong Kong so as to better support the development and needs of start-ups.

     As Hong Kong accelerates its development into an international I&T centre, life and health technology stands at the very core of our strategic vision. We are taking every step to strengthen our R&D (research and development) capabilities. Our Health@InnoHK cluster continues to develop itself into a holistic research hub on life sciences, accelerating breakthroughs in biomedicine, genomics and more. In addition, we will set up the Life and Health Technology Research Institute. The Institute will operate on a "1+3" model, with a main institute in the Loop focusing on "AI + life sciences", and three branch institutes established by local universities based on their specific research strengths such as medical diagnostics, advanced therapies, and neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly.

     Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong offers an open ecosystem for innovation to thrive. With our world-class universities, advanced research facilities and a vibrant ecosystem, we provide an integrated platform for life and health technology companies to innovate and grow from R&D to clinical trials and commercialisation. Next week, Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan and the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address will be officially announced. As both documents are of paramount importance to our I&T development, I encourage everyone to follow the updates closely so that we can shape the future of I&T together.

     Before I close, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to BIOHK and the relevant stakeholders for their significant contributions to promote the development of biotechnology in Hong Kong, the nearby region and the world. I wish BIOHK2026 every success and everyone a fruitful experience throughout the event. Thank you.

Ends/Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Issued at HKT 10:41

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