Every year, more than 25 million people around the world undergo procedures to repair damaged or missing bone caused by injury, surgery or disease. In China alone, around 2.5 million such procedures are performed annually.
According to Australian medtech company SDIP Innovations, these figures highlight not only a major healthcare challenge but also an opportunity to improve lives through its patented bone-regeneration technology JAZBI.
Leveraging support from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem, the company is now bringing its regenerative bone technology to Asia with ambitions to use the city as a launchpad for expansion across the region.
From lab discovery to global expansion
Founded in 2018, SDIP Innovations develops advanced materials that help the body repair damaged bone. Its flagship product, JAZBI Resorbable Bone Void Filler, acts as a temporary scaffold when placed into gaps in damaged bone. Over time, the material safely dissolves and is replaced by the patient's own healthy bone.
The technology offers an alternative to common surgical procedures that involve harvesting bone from elsewhere in the patient's body to repair damaged areas. By reducing the need for this extra step, it has the potential to make treatment less invasive and support faster recovery.
"JAZBI helps the body repair damaged bone naturally," said Stephanie Nemec, General Manager of SDIP Innovations' Hong Kong office. "Our goal is to bring innovative regenerative technologies to more patients and improve treatment outcomes."
The innovation is built on more than a decade of scientific research by the company’s founders at universities and research institutes in Australia.
A major validation of the company’s innovation came earlier this year when the US Food and Drug Administration cleared JAZBI for sale, paving the way for wider commercialisation. With this important milestone behind it, the medtech firm set its sights on international expansion – starting in Hong Kong.
"We chose Hong Kong because it offers an ideal gateway to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the broader China market, while maintaining a globally recognised business and regulatory environment," Ms Nemec said.
Building momentum through Hong Kong
The company's Hong Kong journey began in mid-2025 when the HKTDC’s Sydney office approached it to join the Asia Summit on Global Health as part of the Investment New South Wales pavilion, Ms Nemec recalled.
"Hong Kong immediately stood out as a bridge between East and West, offering a unique combination of international business connectivity, a world-class healthcare ecosystem and direct access to the Greater Bay Area."
The conference proved to be a turning point, connecting the company with key players in Hong Kong's innovation community and giving it a deeper understanding of the opportunities available in the region and beyond.
The HKTDC’s Sydney office later connected the company with the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP), opening the door to discussions on the newly launched IGNITE@HSITP incubation programme, which offers up to four years of seed funding and support.
The opportunity compelled SDIP Innovations to establish a Hong Kong entity in December 2025. Just a few months later, it was selected to join the first cohort of the IGNITE@HSITP programme and returned to the 2026 Asia Summit on Global Health as an exhibitor.
"The HKTDC has been highly supportive in helping us establish our presence in Hong Kong," Ms Nemec said. "Through introductions to HSITP, networking opportunities and increased visibility within the local innovation ecosystem, they have helped us build valuable relationships and raise our profile among potential partners and stakeholders."
Since establishing its Hong Kong office, the company has built relationships with clinicians and researchers at Queen Mary Hospital, HKU-Shenzhen Hospital and The University of Hong Kong. These collaborations are helping the firm validate its technology, while exploring opportunities for wider adoption across Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.
Looking ahead, SDIP Innovations plans to deepen its partnerships with hospitals and healthcare institutions across the region to expand the clinical use of JAZBI. At the same time, it is laying the groundwork for entry into the Chinese Mainland market, building on the connections and experience gained through its Hong Kong operations.
For Ms Nemec, Hong Kong's importance goes far beyond serving as a convenient location.
“We see Hong Kong as our strategic regional headquarters — a gateway for building clinical, commercial and manufacturing partnerships that will enable us to scale across one of the world's largest and fastest-growing healthcare markets while bringing innovative regenerative solutions to more patients,” she concluded.