On 28 November 2024, the BM Division organised the captioned visits to three prominent InnoHK centres at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (HKSTP).
Led by the BM Division’s R&D Focus Group Lead Dr Russell Chan and its Honorary Secretary Ir Karon Lo, the visits included the Multi-Scale Medical Robotics Center (MRC), the Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre (ABIC), and the Hong Kong Centre for Cerebro-Cardiovascular Health Engineering (COCHE).
The MRC integrates Artificial Intelligence, imaging, and robotic technologies to revolutionise medical diagnosis and treatment and contribute to the increased worldwide accessibility of minimally invasive surgeries. During the visit, we explored projects like the Robotic Endoscopic Platform for Advanced Endoluminal Surgery, Micro-/NanoRobotics and Clinical Applications, and the Magnetically Actuated Soft-Tethered (MAST) Colonoscope.
ABIC drives innovations in biomedical instrumentation through trans-disciplinary strategies to improve patient care and advance medical research. We were introduced to flagship projects such as a microfluidic approach for multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a chip-scale photonic sensor for painless, bloodless glucose detection via saliva.
The COCHE was established under City University of Hong Kong’s collaboration with The University of Oxford and the Karolinska Institutet, and focuses on innovative wearables for real-time vital sign monitoring.
We were able to engage with startups including Cimple Biotechnology, ANRim, LUMAT-SERS, Sweat-Permeable Integrated Electronic Patch, the Pyrocks Ultrasonic Company, AI-vBrain, and E-SENSE Innovation & Technology (E-SENSE).
These visits provided a platform for participants to engage with cutting-edge technologies and innovations. Each visit began with a comprehensive introduction to the centre, followed by presentations from project teams and startups. The visits enabled us to enjoy a rich exchange of knowledge and expertise.
Participants gained insights into advancements such as state-of-the-art robotics, next-generation biotechnological methods, and cutting-edge biomedical imaging.
Researchers and startups benefited from fellow biomedical engineers’ practical experience sharing. This fostered a positive, collaborative environment that helped bridge the gap between research and industry.
“These visits,” Dr Chan emphasised, “are crucial in fostering innovation and collaboration in the biomedical engineering field. They provide our engineers with exposure to the latest technologies while offering researchers and startups practical insights into industry applications.”