Hong Kong, 19 December 2024 - Emerging Viral Diagnostics (HK) Limited ("EVDL"), a Hong Kong homegrown MedTech company, has developed an innovative “Automated Multiplex Diagnostics System", which can detect more than 40 pathogens, including viruses, bacteria and fungi simultaneously. Today, EVDL held a “Healthcare Innovation and Strategic Alliance Press Conference” announcing its recent achievements and two important strategic collaborations. EVDL is now listed as one of the Local Manufacturers of Medical Device managed and approved by the Department of Health and has become a registered vendor of Hospital Authority. Its Automated Multiplex Diagnostics System" has also received local and international recognitions, including but not limited to “The 2023-24 Hong Kong Awards for Industries: Equipment and Machinery Design Award” announced earlier this week and the only Hong Kong company being listed in the "2024 WHO Compendium of Innovative Health Technologies in Low-Resource Environments". These mark a significant milestone for EVDL and it is one of the very few successful examples of Hong Kong local innovation.

Partnerships are important in translating research results to advanced medial manufacturing and technology commercialization. EVDL has dedicated itself in fostering research-academic-industry collaboration and has distinctive advantages in getting strong support from our Motherland and close connection to overseas markets to showcase Hong Kong innovation to the world and bring more positive value to the society.

EVDL is honoured to announce today the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on establishing joint Research Centre with China Resources Research Institute of Science & Technology and collaborative contract for rolling out strategic commercialization plans with GE Healthcare. By combining the advantages of both companies’ industrial resources and market experience, EVDL is going to further strengthen scientific R&D and technology translation and commercialization in full force.

The event was made special by our principal witness, Professor Sun Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, who also gave an encouraging speech on our achievements to date. To that effect, we were deeply honored. Other distinguished guests attended as witness included Ms Wu Cheng, Deputy Director General of Education and Technology Department in the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU; Professor Kwok-yung Yuen, Managing Director and Scientific Director of CVVT and Professor Wing-tak Wong, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU. We were also delighted to have representatives from HKSTP and our industry partners attended our event.

Prof. Johnson Lau, Chief Executive Officer of EVDL, said, "We are very pleased to have our distinguished guests present today to witness the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and collaborative contract between us and our two strategic partners. We are very confident that with EVDL's innovative technology, combined with the scientific 

research capabilities of CRRIST and GE Healthcare's market experience, EVDL’s “Automated Multiplex Diagnostics System” will not only be a pioneering MedTech that is “Designed in Hong Kong, Manufactured in Hong Kong”, but also ready to “Serve Hong Kong, Serve the Nation and Leap forward to International Level”.

In his speech, Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, said, “Emerging Viral Diagnostics (HK) Limited (EVDL) has achieved a significant breakthrough in diagnostic technology. Their “Automated Multiplex Diagnostics System” has been recommended by the World Health Organization as an innovative health technology suitable for application in low-resources regions and environments. This project is among the first batch of funded projects under the “Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme”. Through this scheme, the system will undergo further optimization, technological advancement and wider application, paving the way for development of new quality productive forces. It also serves as a very successful example of Hong Kong's high-quality innovation and technology development through an efficient industry-academia-research collaboration."

Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), remarked, “HKBU recognizes the importance of public health to the society, and thus put much effort on the innovative development of health and drug, which is also one of the University's key research focuses. Through innovation, research, technology translation and application, we aim to transfer cutting-edge research outcomes into practical solutions that benefit the community. Professor Lau's rapid diagnostic system would serve to address the societal need for efficient and cost-effective medical diagnosis.”

In his presentation, Professor Terence Lau, Co-Founder and President of Emerging Viral Diagnostics (HK) Limited, said, “From research development to clinical evaluation, technology translation, and implementation, we are pleased to share the commercialisation journey of EVDL and various exciting updates today. We sincerely thank Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau (ITIB) and Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) for their continuous support through various research and I&T funding schemes, including the Public Sector Trial Scheme (PSTS), Midstream Research Programme for Universities (MRP), and the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme. We also appreciate the full support from Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) in the establishment of advanced manufacturing site in Hong Kong, and the collaboration with the Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics (CVVT) led by Professor Kwok-yung Yuen. Looking ahead, EVDL will continue to foster more technology development and medical innovations and translation to benefit more people.”

–Finish–

 

1. [Photo of Professor Sun Dong, JP] At the “Healthcare Innovation and Strategic Alliance Press Conference”, we are honoured to have Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, delivering a speech.

2. [Photo of Professor Kwok-yung Yuen Yuen, GBS, JP] Professor Kwok-yung Yuen, Managing Director and Scientific Director of the Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics (CVVT), was also invited to share his academic experience at the press conference.


 

3. [signing photo with CRRIST] Professor Terence Lau, Co-founder and President of EVDL (front left) and Mr. Zhi Zhe (front right), Executive Vice Dean of CRRIST, jointly signed a MoU for the establishment of a joint research center. The ceremony was attended and witnessed by distinguished guests including Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of Hong Kong Baptist University (1st from left), Professor Johnson Lau, Chief Executive Officer of EVDL (2nd from left), Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR (3rd from left), Ms Wu Cheng, Deputy Director General of Education and Technology Department in the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR (3rd from right), Professor Kwok-yung Yuen, Managing Director and Scientific Director of CVVT (second from right) and Professor Wing-tak Wong, Deputy President and Provost of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (first from right).



 

4. [Signing photo with GE Healthcare] Dr. Parker Tsang, Senior Director, Engineering, of EVDL (front left) and Ms. Jocelyn Chung, Sales Director GE Healthcare (front right), signed a collaborative contract at the signing ceremony. The ceremony was attended and witnessed by Professor Terence Lau, Co-Founder and President of EVDL (1st from left), Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of Hong Kong Baptist University (2nd from left), Professor Johnson Lau, Chief Executive Officer of EVDL (3rd from left), Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR (back middle), Ms. Wu Cheng, Deputy Director General of Education and Technology Department in the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR (third from right), Professor Kwok-yung Yuen, Managing Director and Scientific Director of CVVT (second from right), and Professor Wing-tak Wong, Deputy President and Provost of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (first from right).

5. [Group photo with guests of honor] The “Healthcare Innovation and Strategic Alliance Press Conference” is supported by a number of distinguished guests, including (from left to right) Ms. Jocelyn Chung, Sales Director of GE Healthcare, Dr. Parker Tsang, Senior Director, Engineering, of EVDL, Professor Terence Lau, Co-Founder and President of EVDL, Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of Hong Kong Baptist University, Professor Johnson Lau, Chief Executive Officer of EVDL, Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR, Ms. Wu Cheng, Deputy Director General of Education and Technology Department in the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Professor Kwok-yung Yuen, Managing Director and Scientific Director of CVVT, Professor Wing-tak Wong, Deputy President and Provost of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Mr. Zhi Zhe, Executive Vice Dean of CRRIST, Dr. Grace Lau, Head, Institute for Translational Research, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, and Dr. Jenny Cheung, Associate Director, Centres and Channels, Corporate Development Division, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.

 

6. [EVDL system photo] Product demonstration of EVDL’s "Automated Multiplex Diagnostics System".


 

About Emerging Viral Diagnostics (HK) Limited (“EVDL”)

Emerging Viral Diagnostics Limited (“EVDL”) is a Hong Kong homegrown start-up formed by a group of experienced scientists, and engineers having the vision in providing solutions to unmet medical needs. With a unique integration of the expertise of our multidisciplinary professionals, we are able to transfer our knowledge to innovative yet practical diagnostic solutions to the community. As part of the Avalon Biomedical (Management) Limited, a local biotechnology incubator, we aspire to become a worldwide leader in diagnostic industry.

About China Resources Research Institute of Science and Technology (“CRRIST”)

Established in June 2019, China Resources Research Institute of Science and Technology (“CRRIST”) is positioned as one of the main platforms for China Resources Group to carry out scientific research in Hong Kong. In response to the needs of the country, the strengths of Hong Kong, and the capabilities of China Resources, CRRIST will foster integration of industry, academia and research in scientific and technological innovation, build a platform for the convergence of scientific and technological talents and a platform for technology commercialization, and strive to tackle key core technologies, so as to play a role in helping Hong Kong build an international innovation and technology hub.

About GE Healthcare

GE Healthcare is committed to becoming a leading global innovator in medical technology, diagnostic drugs and digital solutions, providing integrated solutions, services and data analytics to make hospital operations more efficient, clinical diagnosis more effective, treatment methods more accurate, and patients healthier and happier. For more than 125 years, GE Healthcare has been driving personalized, connected, and empathetic care while streamlining patient care. GE Healthcare's medical imaging, ultrasound, life care and diagnostic drugs businesses cover all aspects of medical care from diagnosis, treatment to monitoring. With GE Healthcare’s vision of "caring for every Chinese's important moment in life", we continue to practice the strategy of " domestic production, unbounded innovation, and win-win cooperation", bringing better, more convenient and more efficient medical products and services to patients and medical institutions, improving the accessibility of precision

medicine and high-quality medical resources, and contributing to the formation of "Healthy China 2030". GE Healthcare will actively drive industry-academia-research collaboration by working closely with regional governments and colleges. For media enquiries, please contact:

Emerging Viral Diagnostics (HK) Limited

Ms. Bianca Ko

Phone: +852 9356 9195 / 2389 6899

E-mail: kotyb@emvdl.com