Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) recently held its first Women’s Health & Tech Forum on March 4, 2025. The event convened prominent figures from the government, educational institutions, and the private sector to examine the convergence of technology and women’s health. The forum featured extensive sessions and media opportunities covering policy initiatives, clinical research advancements, and the growth of the health tech ecosystem, attracting key stakeholders in Hong Kong’s rapidly developing health sector.
Government’s Strategic Vision for Women’s Health
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is prioritizing health innovation as a major driver of economic growth within the city, with a clear goal to become an international health and medical innovation hub. It is investing in reforms to improve drug and medical device approval, increasing clinical trial capabilities, and accelerating research translation. This will lay a strong foundation for innovation, especially in women’s health.
Dr. Libby Lee, the Under Secretary for Health, stated, “The HKSAR Government is committed to complementing technological innovation with institutional innovation, developing Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub. As we move forward, we must continue to prioritise health and well-being of people in our innovation agenda. This requires collaboration across sectors – Government, academia, healthcare providers, and the private sector – all working together to address unmet needs and create sustainable and scalable solutions. Together, we can harness technology to improve health outcomes, empower women, and build a healthier society for all.”
InvestHK’s Contribution to Innovation
InvestHK plays a critical role in encouraging the growth of health technology in Hong Kong through initiatives designed to attract and support innovative businesses. The agency’s approach leverages Hong Kong’s world-class infrastructure, skilled workforce, and robust ecosystem to establish the city as a leading health tech hub.
Ms. Alpha Lau, Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, commented, “As a global innovation and technology hub, Hong Kong is leveraging cutting-edge technologies and world-class expertise to advance women’s healthcare. With the global femtech market expected to grow substantially, InvestHK is dedicated to attracting pioneering solutions to strengthen the healthcare ecosystem in Hong Kong and across Asia.”
Advances in Women’s Health Through Academic Partnerships
Primary healthcare is a cornerstone of Hong Kong’s public health strategies. A significant announcement at the forum highlighted a collaboration between the District Health Centre and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) to introduce post-natal health services within the primary healthcare framework. This demonstrates how partnerships between academia and government can effectively address unmet needs within local communities.
Dr. Pang Fei-chau, the Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, emphasized, “Primary healthcare has become the foundation of our public health initiatives, bringing essential services closer to the community through the District Health Centre Scheme. The Government has launched the Life Course Preventive Care plan. Based on the core principles of prevention-oriented and whole-person care, a personalised preventive care plan will be formulated according to the latest evidence to establish healthy lifestyle patterns and raise self-health management awareness among citizens of different age groups, thereby improving the overall health of the population, providing accessible and coherent healthcare network services, and establishing a sustainable healthcare system.”
Prof. Liona Poon, Chairperson of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at CUHK, added, “This collaboration helps address the unmet needs in post-natal health, which represents a significant step forward in women’s healthcare delivery. This partnership combines the CUHK’s pioneering clinical expertise with the Government’s community outreach capabilities. Through this integrated approach, we can better support women’s health needs at the community level.”
Driving Innovation in Women’s Health Tech
Hong Kong’s health tech ecosystem continues to attract and nurture forward-thinking companies targeting important needs in women’s healthcare. WomenX Biotech Limited, a Hong Kong-based startup developing a non-invasive HPV test using menstrual blood, and EveryBaby, an Irish health tech company focused on preventing preterm births through cervical tissue analysis, showcased local and international innovation that are taking advantage of the technological capabilities within the city.
Dr. Choi Pui-wah, the Founder of WomenX Biotech Limited, explained, “The city’s research capabilities and clinical resources have been crucial in developing our technology for early disease detection. Hong Kong’s supportive ecosystem has enabled us to transform monthly menstrual blood collection into a powerful tool for women’s health monitoring.”
Mr. Dabriel Choi, the CEO of EveryBaby, stated, “We chose Hong Kong as our Asian headquarters because of its strong healthcare foundation and strategic position for entering the Mainland China market. The ecosystem here facilitates meaningful partnerships between start-ups, researchers, and healthcare providers, which is essential for developing and validating our innovative preterm birth prevention technology.”
A Hub for Women’s Health Innovation
The Women Health & Tech Forum 2025 effectively demonstrated Hong Kong’s commitment to leveraging technology to improve women’s health. By encouraging collaboration between the government, universities, and the private sector, and by building on the city’s strengths in life and health sciences, Hong Kong is building itself as a leader in women’s health innovation. This combination of technological and institutional innovation supports the government’s bigger plan to transform Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub, creating beneficial impacts locally and throughout the region.
