On May 9, 2025, the HKU Collaborative Innovation Center and Jingjinji National Center of Technology Innovation (京津冀国家技术创新中心) successfully co-organized a pivotal event at the University of Hong Kong’s Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, focusing on the 2025 National Key R&D Program – Disruptive Technology Innovation Key Project in biomedical engineering. The seminar attracted over 60 participants, including researchers, academic leaders, and industry professionals, who gathered to gain insights into the program’s objectives, funding mechanisms, and application strategies.
The event commenced with a comprehensive presentation led by Professor Liu Xianguo, Director of the Biomedical Engineering Institute at the Guangzhou Disruptive Technology Innovation Center. Professor Liu, alongside a panel of experts, detailed the program’s emphasis on fostering groundbreaking innovations that align with national technological priorities. They highlighted the exclusion of purely theoretical studies, stressing the need for projects with tangible real-world impact, particularly in areas such as advanced medical devices, AI-driven diagnostics, and regenerative medicine. The session also clarified the three-tiered funding structure: early-stage “Yuzhong(育种)” projects (1–2 million RMB per phase), mid-term “Yumiao（育苗）” projects, and recent “Yucai（育材）” projects (5–10 million RMB per phase), all eligible for rolling support. Eligibility was confirmed for universities, research teams, and companies across Mainland China and Hong Kong, encouraging cross-regional collaboration.
Following the presentation, attendees engaged in a lively 30-minute Q&A and networking session, during which participants clarified application requirements and exchanged ideas over lunch. The seminar’s interactive format was further enhanced by eight pre-scheduled one-on-one consultations in the afternoon, allowing project teams to receive personalized feedback from experts. These discussions delved into proposal refinement, commercialization pathways, and strategies for scaling innovations, underscoring the program’s focus on practical, scalable solutions.
For event recordings or inquiries about project applications, please contact: Victoria Tian at victoria.tian@hku.hk.
Official program guidelines: https://service.most.gov.cn/kjjh_tztg_all/20250214/5632.html.
