The sixth Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH), jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), and the 17th Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair (Medical Fair), have concluded successfully, drawing a combined attendance of approximately 16,000 participants from over 60 countries and regions. Together, the two flagship events facilitated over 1,000 high-quality collaborations and connections, including more than 400 one-on-one deal-making sessions at the ASGH and over 670 business matching meetings at the Medical Fair, fully demonstrating the synergy between medical technology, investment and industry applications.
The ASGH, held under the theme "Fuelling Healthcare Breakthroughs," gathered some 3,000 participants from 43 countries and regions, bringing together over 90 global leaders including healthcare officials, scientific pioneers, a Nobel laureate, investors and corporate leaders. Key discussions focused on public health, frontier healthcare technologies, AI breakthroughs, healthcare investment and the silver health economy. At Plenary Session I on pandemic preparedness, Prof Ibrahim Abubakar of University College London emphasised the need to develop research platforms long in advance of pandemics and invest in infectious disease infrastructure, AI technology and disease management. Jonathan Symonds, Chair of GSK, noted that all developed countries face ageing, low birth rates and chronic disease, which are now economic problems, not just health system issues.
AI applications were a central theme throughout the summit. Natasha Chhatrapati of Pfizer said that AI is compressing timelines across the entire healthcare journey, from drug development to patient care. The session "Intelligence at Scale" and "Transforming Healthcare through Digital Health & AI Innovations" explored how AI is powering real-world healthcare revolutions. The silver health chapter addressed challenges of population ageing, with Dr Alex Mihailidis of the University of Toronto highlighting that successful technology for older people requires not just the technology but also service delivery models and supportive policy.
The ASGH also facilitated the signing of 10 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), including agreements between HKSH Medical Group and Siemens Healthineers, making HKSH Siemens Healthineers' first Photon Counting Computed Tomography Simulation Reference Site in Asia. Australian AI startup Heidi Health signed separate agreements with EC Healthcare and Hong Kong Metropolitan University. The HKTDC also signed an MoU with the Hong Kong Singapore Business Association to support Mainland enterprises' "going global" via Hong Kong to target Singapore and ASEAN markets, leveraging deepening cooperation between Hong Kong and Singapore.
The Medical Fair, organised by the HKTDC and co-organised by the Hong Kong MedTech Association, welcomed some 13,000 buyers from 61 countries and regions. Featuring about 300 exhibitors from 10 countries and regions, the fair focused on MedTech, GeronTech and Preventive Healthcare, with the number of exhibitors featuring smart ageing products and green solutions doubling this year. Exhibitors noted that AI has become a core driver of healthcare services. First-time exhibitor GenomeMe Lab Inc. from Canada connected with buyers from Hong Kong, Thailand and India, while Dresio Limited, a returning exhibitor, signed an MoU with a Filipino buyer on the third day for a contract expected to exceed HK$1 million, expanding its software into Southeast Asia.
The implications of these events are significant for the global healthcare industry. The strong focus on AI and digital health underscores a shift towards technology-driven solutions that can compress timelines in drug development and improve patient care. The emphasis on silver health reflects the urgent need to address ageing populations worldwide, which is becoming an economic priority. The numerous business matching meetings and MoUs signal growing cross-border collaboration, particularly between Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, and international markets, positioning Hong Kong as a superconnector for healthcare enterprises seeking to go global. The events also highlighted Hong Kong's unique advantages, including high-quality electronic medical records spanning 30 years, which Prof Bernard Cheung noted are a unique asset for studying long-term disease progression.
The ASGH and Medical Fair, as part of International Healthcare Week, have reinforced Hong Kong's status as a global healthcare hub, facilitating over 1,000 collaborations and providing a platform for enterprises to explore investment, technology deployment and market expansion. The hybrid EXHIBITION+ model, with Click2Match available until 20 May, extends networking opportunities beyond the physical event.
