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Life Sciences practice
Unlocking
global scale
through Hong Kong.
We help European biotech, medtech and healthtech companies establish a Hong Kong centre — and use it to reach Asian clinical networks, partners, capital and the Greater Bay Area market.
Market snapshot
China's healthcare market is moving to innovation
China's healthcare ecosystem is shifting from a generic, volume-led model towards value-focused, technology-led innovation.
Source: KPMG, China Life Sciences Sector Overview and Outlook, May 2026.
The global pharma shift
China's rise & the Hong Kong window
The pharmaceutical order is moving from US dominance to a US–China dynamic. Hong Kong is where Western capital and Asian science meet securely.
China nears parity
32% of global out-licensing deal value — four times 2021 — and 18% of first launches of new molecular entities. With major patent expiries ahead, Western pharma is licensing Chinese assets.
AI-driven discovery
Chinese companies hold around 70% of global AI-driven drug discovery patent filings, moving molecules from concept to clinic faster than traditional models.
Removing friction
Common Law IP protection for joint ventures and licensing, clinical data from Hong Kong institutions recognised internationally, and deep markets for late-stage funding.
Source: ING, Asia Pharmaceutical Report, 2026.
Why Hong Kong
Capital hub and market access
A Hong Kong corporate or joint-venture channel connects European innovation with deep liquidity and a very large market.
Free flow of capital
"One Country, Two Systems", the HKD–USD peg, freedom of capital movement and English Common Law — a familiar, secure environment for governance.
Efficient fiscal framework
No capital gains tax, no dividend withholding tax and a 16.5% corporate tax rate. A Hong Kong holding can be an efficient home for global licensing.
Offshore wealth centre
A deep network of VCs, family offices and global asset managers actively looking at high-growth sectors.
Gateway to China
For generations, the trusted route for international innovators into the Mainland — and into the Greater Bay Area's 86M+ people.
Hong Kong biotech priorities
Four fields stand out.
Backed by major government programmes: the InnoLife Healthtech Hub (HK$10bn), the Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HK$62bn) and 28 Health@InnoHK research labs.
- AI-enabled drug development
- ADC, autoimmune & rare disease drugs
- High-end medical devices & surgical robots
- Synthetic biology
Market access
The Greater Bay Area & the regulatory shortcut
The GBA links Hong Kong, Macau and nine Guangdong cities — including Shenzhen and Guangzhou — into an economy of around US$2 trillion.
Bypassing the regulatory wall
Under the GBA medicine and device policy, products registered in Hong Kong can be used in designated GBA institutions without waiting for full national NMPA approval — enabling earlier adoption, early revenue and local real-world data to support mainland registration.
Innovation infrastructure
Hong Kong Science Park (300+ biotech companies) and the new Hong Kong–Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop anchor the city's life-sciences R&D.
Capital access
Funding at every stage
Financing options across the biotech lifecycle — closing the gap between the capital needed to scale and the exits available to investors.
Seed
HKSTP Incu-Bio and the RAISe+ matching scheme, alongside specialist biotech VC funds.
Series A
Government co-investment through the Innovation and Technology Venture Fund with institutional VCs.
Series B & C
The Hong Kong Investment Corporation and cross-border private equity linked to GBA clinical cohorts.
Pre-IPO & IPO
HKEX Chapter 18A lets pre-revenue, clinical-stage companies access public markets.
Indicative. Listing requirements are set by HKEX and should be confirmed with advisers.
Our value offering
From strategy to operational support
Market strategy & entry
Corporate set-up, regulatory navigation and local clinical research talent — fast-track employment visas, coaching and mentoring.
Academia engagement
Warm introductions to top-tier accredited centres; engaging therapeutic leaders as regional principal investigators.
Partner & vendor ecosystem
Licensing and distribution agreements. CROs, central labs, genomics platforms and medical-grade cold-chain logistics.
On-the-ground representation
A senior representative in the region, corporate matchmaking and bio-venture showcases, and discussions with HKSTP and HSITP.
Investment access & IPO study
Public grants, fund managers and family offices, and support on the IPO journey as a pre-revenue biotech.