A connection made through the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s (HKTDC) Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH) has blossomed into a partnership bringing Hong Kong neuroscience research together with specialist clinical expertise in the Chinese Mainland.
Hong Kong drug developer INFItech, incubated at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with Wenzhou Kangning Hospital in September, after more than a year of discussions.
The partnership began with an introduction by the HKTDC team at ASGH in 2024. INFItech and Kangning were among thousands of industry players attending the event, which is held annually in May. At the most recent edition, some 3,000 participants from 43 countries and regions gathered for networking and industry insights, with more than 400 one-to-one deal-making meetings held on-site.
Following the initial connection, the two sides remained in contact and explored how Hong Kong research and innovation could connect with specialist healthcare applications in the Chinese Mainland. The HKTDC continued to support the relationship as discussions progressed, culminating in the September agreement.
Wayne Tan, biomedical and healthcare lead at HKUST’s Office of Knowledge Transfer, said the experience illustrated the value of bringing together the right organisations and nurturing those connections beyond the initial meeting.
“The Asia Summit on Global Health brings clinical institutions, research commercialisation teams and professional services together in one place, enabling discussions to quickly progress towards concrete cooperation.
“For us, the value of the Summit goes far beyond one-off exposure. It brings the right partners to the table, with the organiser providing support until those connections turn into actual collaboration.”
From connection to application
Under the agreement, INFItech and Kangning Hospital will explore collaboration on projects including clinical observation, real-world studies, academic exchange and connecting with university research resources. The aim is to help bridge research and practical applications in neurological and mental health.
For INFItech, the partnership comes as it seeks to develop innovative medicinal treatments for major neurological conditions. The company focuses on treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, combining molecular neuroscience with knowledge derived from traditional Chinese medicine. Alongside drug development, INFItech has also entered the consumer brain health market with its Hanfang Formula supplement range.
Meanwhile, Kangning Hospital, affiliated with Wenzhou Medical University, brings clinical capabilities and expertise to the partnership. The Hong Kong-listed specialist psychiatric healthcare institution combines clinical services, medical education and research translation. Designated a National Key Clinical Specialty in 2011, the hospital has around 3,000 beds, with extensive experience in mental healthcare, medical education and related research.
Joining the links
Mr Tan said the partnership brings together different parts of the journey from university research to real-world application.
“This partnership marks an important step in turning neurological and mental health research into practical applications and bringing them to market. It also shows how different players in Hong Kong and the Mainland’s life sciences and health technology ecosystems can work together.
“HKUST’s Office of Knowledge Transfer helps move research beyond the university; INFItech takes molecular neuroscience discoveries forward into product development; the HKTDC acts as a bridge between Hong Kong’s innovation and technology sector and the Mainland healthcare market; and Kangning Hospital contributes clinical, educational and research capabilities.
“By bringing these complementary strengths together, we can forge closer links between research, industry, markets and real-world applications.”
Looking ahead, INFItech plans to pursue a two-track growth strategy.
On one track, it will continue expanding its Hanfang Formula brain health supplement business, combining traditional Chinese medicine with modern molecular neuroscience to develop products that meet international standards.
At the same time, the company will advance the clinical research and development of its innovative drug candidates. Through partnerships with specialist healthcare institutions such as Kangning Hospital, it plans to conduct clinical observations, real-world studies and academic exchange, helping move its research from the laboratory towards clinical application.