3月22日，首个香港生物科技峰会（HKEX Biotech Summit 2018）在香港金融大会堂隆重召开。香港交易所辖下联交所承办是次活动，主题为“探讨生物科技行业上市改革订立规则、并探讨全球与中国生物科技行业的未来发展和最新趋势”。本次峰会旨在拓宽香港现行上市渠道，便利生物科技与生命科学等新兴产业分享其最新最前沿的生物技术，帮助创新产业更好更快地发展壮大。
离会议正式开始还有1个小时，香港金融大会堂已座无虚席，约600位来自中、港、台三地生物科技公司及行业组织的高管、投资者以及股票市场参与者，包括投资银行、会计师、律师等社会精英就生物科技创新和行业发展探讨交流。
本次峰会发言嘉宾包括香港特别行政区财政司司长陈茂波、香港交易所集团主席周松岗、证监会行政总裁欧达礼等香港金融界人物，亦有国家食品药品监督管理总局药品审评中心首席科学家何如意、中国医药创新促进会（中国药促会）执行会长宋瑞霖等业界要员。
香港交易所集团行政总裁李小加在会上致辞，他表示现在这个时期正是改革上市規条的良机，生物科技界和金融业界对香港市场的热情和信心持续走高，科技的进步、中国越来越富裕以及人民对健康医疗越来越高的要求，使得越来越多的生物科技公司可以拥有一个很好的发展环境。而香港作为全球领先的金融中心，拥有“天时地利人和”的优势，具备卓越的条件发展成为生物科技的枢纽，完全有能力有实力吸引更多的生物科技公司来港上市。他还说到，凡符合国情、令人类活得更好更长久的生物科技、特别是天然创新的药品或产品，皆能成为业界甚至社会新的关注热点。
据港交所此前发布的资料文件显示，香港政府拟吸引一批以研发为主的生物科技公司赴港上市，需具备以下几个条件：1.上市前12个月必须一直从事核心产品的研发；2.必须拥有其核心产品相关的专利；3.在建议上市前的6个月内至少得到1名资深投资者提供的相当数额的第三方投资；4.上市时的最低市值需达15亿港元。
今次，港交所的改革行动对两岸三地众多的大中小生物科技公司来说是一次有力的鼓舞，更是一支“强心剂”！对香港来说是提升香港金融中心竞争力的历史性举措！假以时日，香港交易所一定能成为汇聚生物科技行业的亚洲“纳斯达克”。
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) on 22 March, 2018 hosted the first-ever HKEX Biotech Summit, an event that connects key industry leaderswith the investment community so they can share views on the latest biotech innovations and ways to finance the fast-growing sector. The HKEX Biotech Summit 2018 has been successfully held at HKEX Connect Hall, drawing more than 600 guests and delegates from across the biotech industry, including senior executives at biotech companies, the investment community, as well as investment banks, accounting and other marketing practitioners in the biotechfunding ecosystem.
Key themes for this year’s summit focused on the changing global biotech landscape, as well as recent advances in China’s biotech industry and the challenges that lie ahead. Summit highlights the discovery of the latest developments in the biotech ecosystem and industry trends both globally and inChina.
HongKong Financial Secretary Paul Chan delivered the opening remarks at the 2018 summit “As one of the world’s leading financial capitals, and China’s international financial centre, Hong Kong is indisputably well suited to meet the varying financial needs of biotech companies, whatever their size and whatever their stage of development. We certainly have the prime prerequisites for playing a hub role in biotech.” said Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan.
Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) Chairman Carlson Tong and SFC Chief Executive Officer Ashley Alder also addressed the conference along with biotech industry leaders.
The conference included lively panel discussions on the varying trends in Asia and China’s biotech developments compared with those in the West, and the various options for fundraising in a sector that has deep capital needs as it pursues research and development.
“Today is a milestone for HKEX, as this is the first biotech event we have ever hosted. We are very pleased that we have brought together many of the brightest and most experienced professionals in the biotech industry to share thoughts and discuss ideas for the best way forward,”said HKEX Chairman C K Chow.“Together we can build a vibrant and sustainable biotech ecosystem in Hong Kong.”
It’s a new era for biotechnology in Hong Kong.