Local Hong Kong MedTech company’s “Automated Multiplex Diagnostics System” being recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) and established strategic partnerships with China Resources Research Institute of Science and Technology (CRRIST) and GE Healthcare

(Hong Kong, 20 December 2024) – Emerging Viral Diagnostics (HK) Limited ("EVDL"), a Hong Kong homegrown MedTech company, has developed an innovative “Automated Multiplex Diagnostics System", which can detect more than 40 pathogens, including viruses, bacteria and fungi simultaneously. EVDL held a “Healthcare Innovation and Strategic Alliance Press Conference” announcing its recent achievements and two important strategic collaborations yesterday. EVDL is now listed as one of the Local Manufacturers of Medical Device managed and approved by the Department of Health and has become a registered vendor of Hospital Authority. Its Automated Multiplex Diagnostics System" has also received local and international recognitions, including but not limited to “The 2023-24 Hong Kong Awards for Industries: Equipment and Machinery Design Award” announced earlier this week and the only Hong Kong company being listed in the "2024 WHO Compendium of Innovative Health Technologies in Low-Resource Environments". These mark a significant milestone for EVDL and it is one of the very few successful examples of Hong Kong local innovation. 

Partnerships are important in translating research results to advanced medial manufacturing and technology commercialization. EVDL has dedicated itself in fostering research-academic-industry collaboration and has distinctive advantages in getting strong support from our Motherland and close connection to overseas markets to showcase Hong Kong innovation to the world and bring more positive value to the society. 

EVDL is honoured to announce today the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on establishing joint Research Centre with China Resources Research Institute of Science & Technology and collaborative contract for rolling out strategic commercialization plans with GE Healthcare.  By combining the advantages of both companies’ industrial resources and market experience, EVDL is going to further strengthen scientific R&D and technology translation and commercialization in full force.

Prof. Johnson Lau, Chief Executive Officer of EVDL, said, "We are very pleased to have our distinguished guests present today to witness the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and collaborative contract between us and our two strategic partners. We are very confident that with EVDL's innovative technology, combined with the scientific research capabilities of CRRIST and GE Healthcare's market experience, EVDL’s “Automated Multiplex Diagnostics System” will not only be a pioneering MedTech that is “Designed in Hong Kong, Manufactured in Hong Kong”, but also ready to “Serve Hong Kong, Serve the Nation and Leap forward to International Level”. 

In his speech, Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, said, “Emerging Viral Diagnostics (HK) Limited (EVDL) has achieved a significant breakthrough in diagnostic technology. Their “Automated Multiplex Diagnostics System” has been recommended by the World Health Organization as an innovative health technology suitable for application in low-resources regions and environments. This project is among the first batch of funded projects under the “Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme”. Through this scheme, the system will undergo further optimization, technological advancement and wider application, paving the way for development of new quality productive forces. It also serves as a very successful example of Hong Kong's high-quality innovation and technology development through an efficient industry-academia-research collaboration."

Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), remarked, “HKBU recognizes the importance of public health to the society, and thus put much effort on the innovative development of health and drug, which is also one of the University's key research focuses. Through innovation, research, technology translation and application, we aim to transfer cutting-edge research outcomes into practical solutions that benefit the community. Professor Lau's rapid diagnostic system would serve to address the societal need for efficient and cost-effective medical diagnosis.”

In his presentation, Professor Terence Lau, Co-Founder and President of Emerging Viral Diagnostics (HK) Limited, said, “From research development to clinical evaluation, technology translation, and implementation, we are pleased to share the commercialisation journey of EVDL and various exciting updates today. We sincerely thank Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau (ITIB) and Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) for their continuous support through various research and I&T funding schemes, including the Public Sector Trial Scheme (PSTS), Midstream Research Programme for Universities (MRP), and the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme. We also appreciate the full support from Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) in the establishment of advanced manufacturing site in Hong Kong, and the collaboration with the Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics (CVVT) led by Professor Kwok-yung Yuen. Looking ahead, EVDL will continue to foster more technology development and medical innovations and translation to benefit more people.”