Hong Kong Industrialist Aug Oct 2021

FOSTER CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION 連 官 學研 and health services. The GBA also provides the industry with the necessary supply chain components and supporting facilities needed for industrialisation within a short radius. Alongside the Central Government’s vision for Hong Kong to become an international innovation and technology hub in the GBA, governments are working hand-in-hand to facilitate the flow of bio-specimens and talents in support of cross-border research collaboration. This fully presents considerable prospect and unique advantages for business looking to set up biotechnology activities in Hong Kong. As one of the most highly-regulated industries, a large amount of regulatory data is required for validation throughout the biotechnology R&D journey, making the research process lengthy and costly. It is common to spend 10 to 15 years from basic research to commercialisation. Professor Kao said that HKSTP operates diversified shared facilities and technical support schemes for the industry, including Clinical Translational Catalyst programme, GMP facilities (Cell Processing), Biobank and Biomedical Information Platform. Besides, HKSTP has established the first Drug Safety Testing Centre in Hong Kong which adheres to the Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), targeting to start operation in early 2022. Apart from pharmaceuticals, medical device and diagnostics, the application of biotechnology is extensively huge and has great possibilities to collaborate with traditional industries. Prof Kao shared some examples, “Artificial blood vessels are derived from textile techniques; while the fabric used to produce raincoats have been used in implantations. Biotechnology is not as alien as people imagined. It can be applied to raw materials, food processing and traditional Chinese medicine etc. to break new business grounds.” The commercialisation of biotechnology also creates demand for high value-added producer services, such as sensors-connected information technology systems for collecting and handling of health data (Software-as-a-Medical-Device) and cold chain warehousing and logistics for biological products, thereby driving the upstream and downstream development of the industry chain. Prof Kao is optimistic about the development of the biotechnology industry in Hong Kong, “Biotechnology is an industry that will never sunset as long as human exists. We will shift from treating diseases to preventing diseases, and innovate for more affordable healthcare for people. I believe that biotechnology will make its contribution to each and every industry in the future.” HKSTP's Biomedical Technology Cluster, led by Prof Kao, are commissioned to support start- ups striding technology barrier and help them pave the way for commercialisation. The newly established “HKSTP Institute” serves as platform for start-ups to share the wisdom of veteran industrialists and businessmen. “The profound industrial experience and shrewd market acumen from Hong Kong industrialists will definitely inspire start-up research teams in identifying market gaps and establishing business models. This is one of the most important intangible assets we need to bring research outputs to market.” 港作為大灣區一部份，又鄰近東南亞，兩地 對醫療及健康需求龐大，是香港生物科技應 用的重要市場。此外，大灣區為行業提供不 少產業化所需的原材料及配套，加上政府及 國家一直支持香港成為大灣區的創科中心， 由生物樣本互通以至人才流動等，助中港兩 地各取所長合作科研，均是其他城市難以複 製的優勢。 生物科技是現今規管最嚴謹的一個產業，在 科研過程中需要提供大量實驗數據配合規管 制度，亦因此所需時間長、成本高，由基礎 研究到商品化花上十至十五年也是平常事。 高教授指，為了加快產業化過程，科技園公 司為業界營運多元化的共用設施和技術支 援計劃，包括臨床轉化促成計劃（Clinical Translational Catalyst）、GMP設施（細胞 處理）、生物樣本庫及生物醫學信息平台， 更開設了香港首個符合「優良實驗室規範」 (GLP) 規格的藥物安全測試中心，將於明年 初開始營運。 除了大家熟悉的製藥、醫療器材和疾病檢測 之外，生物科技應用的層面極廣，與傳統工 業具有很大合作空間，高教授表示:「舉例 說，人工血管源於紡織技術、塑膠雨衣的物 料後來被用於植入手術中。生物科技並非想 像中般遙不可及，原材料製造、食品加工、 中醫藥等製造業，都能與生物科技協作提升 價值。」生物科技的商品化，更需要專業的 高增值生產服務配合，例如收集和處理健康 數據的傳感器及資訊科技系統 (Software as a medical device)、生物製品所需的冷鏈 倉儲及物流等，帶動產業鏈上下游的發展。 高教授對於香港生物科技工業的發展十分樂 觀:「有人在的地方，生物科技就是一個永 遠不會褪色的行業，我們會由治療疾病轉為 預防疾病，醫療由昂貴變成更可負擔，越來 越多生物技術會被應用在各行各業。」 高教授領導的科技園公司生物醫藥群組團 隊，不但助初創企業跨過技術關口，也要為 他們找到產業化的出路。科技園公司最近成 立HKSTP Institute，助初創企業向資深工 商業家取經，「香港工業家具備深厚的產業 化經驗及市場觸覺，可以助科研團隊找到市 場缺口和建立業務模式，對科研成果商品化 是很大的助力。」 产 8-10/2021 | 25