2026-03-19
Co-organised by HKBIO and the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Hong Kong, the closed-door Netherlands–Hong Kong Biotech Exchange Forum held on 17 March 2026 brought together Dutch delegates from government, industry, academia and investment as well as Hong Kong industry members to deepen cross-border collaboration in innovation, industry and capital, building momentum for BIOHK 2026.
On the afternoon of 17 March 2026, the Netherlands–Hong Kong Biotech Exchange Forum, co-organised by the Hong Kong Biotechnology Organization (HKBIO) and the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Hong Kong, concluded successfully. This closed-door exchange brought together government representatives from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency and Enterprise Agency; leadership of the premier industrial hub Pivot Park; representatives from top Dutch research institutions including Radboud University Medical Center, the University of Groningen and TNO; as well as high-calibre industry players such as Constellate Proteomics and AVIGI Therapeutics. Over 50 HKBIO members from Hong Kong’s biotech sector took part in the event, which aimed to foster scientific innovation, industrial collaboration and business development.
The event opened with remarks by Maurits Ter Kuile, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Hong Kong and Macau. He emphasised that Hong Kong, as a super-connector linking China and the rest of the world, continues to unlock enormous potential in biotechnology. This exchange forum serves not only as a critical platform for strengthening China‑Netherlands ties, but also a valuable opportunity to deepen integration between both sides in R&D innovation, industrial advancement and market opportunities.
Subsequently, Hans Schikan, Lead for Life Sciences & Health of the Netherlands, spoke on behalf of the Dutch delegation. A former official with the Netherlands’ top life sciences and health government body, he possesses profound insights into the global landscape of biotech collaboration. He noted that the Netherlands and Hong Kong have maintained close cooperation, and this event marks an excellent chance to deepen partnerships among industry, academia and the investment community. Comprising elites from government, industry, academia and investment circles, the delegation seeks to leverage Hong Kong’s strength as an international gateway to advance deeper collaboration in innovative research, industrial chain synergy and capital cooperation.
As one of the organisers, Professor Yu Changhai, Chairman of the Hong Kong Biotechnology Organization, stated that Hong Kong, with its international outlook, is an ideal base for cross-border biotech collaboration and the commercialisation of biomedical innovations. There is substantial room for cooperation between Hong Kong and the Netherlands in fundamental research, clinical translation and investment and financing. As an international super-connector and innovation hub, Hong Kong is actively advancing cross-border collaboration and refining its industrial ecosystem. This exchange seeks to facilitate partnerships between research institutes and enterprises of both places, unlock new industrial opportunities and lay a solid foundation for future cooperation.