HKSTP Inks HKEX Partnership to Elevate Hong Kong’s Global Status in Biotech and Fintech

Photo 1: HKSTP CEO Albert Wong (seated, left) and HKEX CEO Nicolas Aguzin (seated, right) shake hands after the signing of the MOU. The signing was witnessed by HKEX and HKSTP senior executives, including HKSTP Head of STP Platform Dr. Crystal Fok (back row, 1st from left), HKSTP Head of BioMedical Technology Cluster Prof. John Kao (back row, 2nd from left), HKSTP General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer Rosana Wong (back row, 3rd from left), HKSTP Chief Corporate Development Officer Eugene Hsia (back row, 4th from left), HKEX Head of Listing Bonnie Chan (back row, 4th from right), HKEX Managing Director, Innovation and Data Lab Adam Wielowieyski  (back row, 3rd from right), HKEX Co-Heads of IPO Vetting, Listing Janice Wu (back row, 2nd from right) and Stephanie Lau (back row, 1st from right).

(Hong Kong, 2 September, 2021) Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) to collaborate on initiatives to nurture more startup successes and bolster Hong Kong’s rise as a global hub for world-class biotech and fintech ventures.

The partnership marks an important milestone in HKSTP’s strategy to bring together sector leaders in industry and academia to raise the collective strength of the Hong Kong I&T ecosystem. It aims to contribute to the development of Hong Kong as a world-class hub for investment, development and growth of high-potential local and global startups.

HKSTP will provide a team of biotech industry leaders and experts to assist in HKEX’s review of biotech listing applications. HKSTP’s expert advice will help maintain and reinforce HKEX’s robust standards of investor protection and solidify its leadership as the world’s number two biotech funding hub.

HKSTP Chief Executive Officer, Albert Wong said: “HKSTP firmly believes biotech and fintech to be core pillars for Hong Kong’s innovation-driven future and this exciting partnership with HKEX brings us even closer to realizing this vision. This is also a significant step forward in our goal to create the ideal investment platform and innovation ecosystem to support biotech ventures in their unique long-term growth challenge.”

HKEX Chief Executive Officer, Nicolas Aguzin said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with HKSTP, a uniquely Hong Kong institution known for its innovation and expertise, to help drive the continued development of the city’s fast-growing biotech and new economy ecosystem. We look forward to working together, collaborating to realise our shared commitment to the community, which is to help support the growth aspirations of the leading companies of tomorrow.”

Biomedical Technology Consulting Services from HKSTP

Under the partnership, HKSTP will leverage its expertise in biomedical technology to provide consulting services and advice to HKEX on queries relating to listing applications.

HKSTP has made biomedical technology (BMT) a core focus of its innovation mission covering a broad spectrum of healthtech ventures covering medical devices, diagnostics, therapeutics and personal care, as well as regenerative and traditional Chinese medicine.

The HKSTP BMT cluster today features advanced infrastructure facilities such as its Biobank and Biomedical Informatics Platform, plus industry-leading incubation programs like the Incu-Bio and Clinical Translational Catalyst (CTC) programs. This provides a unique platform for bench-to-bedside biomedical technology development – a diverse and connected end-to-end support system from R&D, product development to commercialisation.

In addition to the close collaboration around biotech, the MOU also includes a commitment by the parties to study the feasibility of a financial data research platform for advanced data analysis and to explore other opportunities for cooperation.