15 Oct 2025
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) was delighted to welcome a distinguished delegation from the Hong Kong Kowloon Group on Wednesday, marking a milestone in the University’s ongoing commitment to bridging educational innovation with real-world industry practice. The visit not only deepened mutual understanding between both institutions but also sparked new opportunities for collaboration in innovation, technology, and healthcare entrepreneurship.
Led by Mr. Sun Xi, Chairman of the Hong Kong Kowloon Group, the delegation included Mr. Wang Jun, Vice President of the Group, and Dr. Pan Huaping, Director of the Suzhou Kowloon Hospital Medical Rehab Centre. They were warmly received by EdUHK representatives, including Professor Chetwyn Chan, Vice President (Research and Development), Professor Ken Yung, Associate Vice President (Research) and Mr. Donny Siu, Director of the Centre for Pre-Incubation and Outreach (CPO), who coordinated the visit’s activities.
The visit began with a campus tour led by Mr. Siu, giving the delegation an overview of EdUHK’s facilities. This was followed by a fruitful exchange between the delegation and Professor Chan. Professor Chan outlined EdUHK’s progress in research and innovation, emphasizing the university’s commitment to translating academic findings into practical applications. The parties exchanged information on their respective development status, strengths, and directions in talent cultivation, scientific and technological innovation, and health technology. They discussed establishing the “Hong Kong Mainland” collaboration framework and accelerating the transfer of academic research and innovations, while exploring the feasibility of closer future collaboration. Mr Sun took the opportunity to introduce the hospital’s latest initiative, which he believes is the first of its kind -- a dedicated incubator within the hospital. This innovative project aims to integrate the hospital’s extensive resources with entrepreneurship development, creating a comprehensive support system. The initiative is expected to provide valuable assistance to entrepreneurs, fostering success across product development, academic collaboration, research, and investment.
A highlight of the visit was an inspiring startup pitching and technology showcase, organised by the Centre for Pre-Incubation and Outreach (CPO) with strong support from Associate Vice President Professor Ken Yung and the Knowledge Transfer Sub-office (KTSO). The session brought together the vibrant energy of EdUHK’s young innovators and the keen interest of industry leaders, featuring two startup teams making remarkable progress in health technology alongside a captivating demonstration from the University’s Robotics Team.
Ms. Iris Yang, alumna and Co-Founder of Project DynaFix3D, presented her team’s work on a 3D-printed, oxygen-permeable device for bone fracture recovery — an innovation designed with both biomedical precision and patient comfort in mind. Mr. Zihao Qiu, Co-Founder of Phemson Innovation Limited and current student undertaking MA in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, introduced PureSafe ProTM, a novel artificial chemical compound that provides outstandingly safe and long-lasting antibacterial protection. Both projects showcased EdUHK’s commitment to supporting innovation that combines innovation excellence with real-world applicability.
The delegation took a particular interest in these student-led ventures, providing professional advice and recommendations for refining the projects to better align with customer needs and market realities. They also engaged in further exchanges with the founders and expressed strong interest in discussing the application of the products at the Hospital during the presentation and exchange, exploring potential avenues for cooperation and technology transfer.
The visit continued with an impressive demonstration by EdUHK’s Robotics Team, who showcased an underwater robot prototype developed for environmental monitoring and research. This presentation highlighted EdUHK’s growing interdisciplinary strengths, where engineering, technology, and education intersect to address global challenges.
Following the presentations, the delegation and Professor Yung shared insights on each party’s ongoing research and technology development directions, identifying concrete opportunities for industry–academia collaboration. In particular, Suzhou Kowloon Hospital and EdUHK found immediate cooperative opportunities, exemplifying how partnership can turn scientific ideas into viable solutions.
The delegation expressed strong appreciation for the meticulous arrangements and the spirit of innovation demonstrated throughout their visit. Both Ms. Yang and Mr. Qiu were offered collaboration and business opportunities with Suzhou Kowloon Hospital, a recognition of their projects’ practical potential and market relevance. The event provided invaluable networking and presentation opportunities for the young entrepreneurs — a moment both teams described as instrumental in their professional growth.
Reflecting on the day, Mr. Qiu remarked, "Thanks to the precise referral from the CPO, our startup team had the privilege of engaging in in-depth exchanges with Suzhou Kowlong Hospital—an institution with strong capabilities and a deep commitment to industry–medical–research–innovation collaboration—and received insights from the hospital's expert team and business seniors and reached efficient collaboration outcomes. Behind them lies the CPO’s profound understanding of students’ entrepreneurial needs and its ability to 'match resources precisely for immediate results.'"
Ms. Yang echoed the sentiment: "This interaction was not only a "timely rain" that perfectly aligned with our needs but also a precious opportunity to drive the growth of our project. We are particularly grateful for the university's full-cycle and thoughtful support: in the early stage of the project, it helped us connect with the Office to accumulate experience and refine our direction; now that the project has achieved initial results, it has promptly linked us with such high-quality hospital resources. Every step of support has accurately hit the key nodes of the team's development. This collaboration has opened the door to the Yangtze River Delta - advancing business layout from Suzhou not only paves the way for technology implementation but also perfectly meets the team's regional expansion needs".
This exchange is a testament to EdUHK's commitment to "provide a multidisciplinary learning and research environment beyond education that is conducive to intellectual pursuits, free thinking and speech, advocacy of policy and practice, and the promotion of collaboration and diversity^". By promoting knowledge transfer and advancing societal development, EdUHK is collaborating with industry partners to create a more impactful future through the integration of education and industry.
For both parties, this visit represented more than a dialogue between a Hong Kong university and a leading mainland Chinese healthcare institution on technological innovation and entrepreneurship. It also marked their active exploration of pathways to achieve deeper "industry-university-research integration." By cultivating a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem where promising ideas can evolve into impactful innovations, EdUHK aims to continuously empower its students and researchers to make substantive contributions to the region's innovation-driven development.
As the delegation concluded their visit, both sides reaffirmed their shared expectation to future collaboration. The successful event once again demonstrated EdUHK's dedication to fostering deep integration among education, research, and industry practice, while partnering with outstanding institutions to create knowledge value and social impact that extend far beyond the campus gates.
Centre for Pre-incubation and Outreach
The Education University of Hong Kong
