Introduction
With the enthusiastic dedication and leadership and active participation of our committee members, the Biomedical Division (BMD) has been gone through a fruitful year for 2023/2024 Session. The Division has continued to develop and has grown over the past 34 years, and this can be reflected in the recognition of the importance of Biomedical Engineering (BME). I am glad to see the Division’s continuous contribution as a learned society and sharing platform for the biomedical engineering field in Hong Kong and now expanding our coverage to the Greater Bay Area and beyond. To keep up with the emerging technologies in biomedical profession worldwide, the BMD has played a supporting role in various global events related to BME and organizing a global BME conference in Hong Kong in collaboration with local institutions, industry and the academia. Besides, the Division continues in:
- Supporting local biomedical engineering research and development.
- Exhibit and showcase biomedical engineering technologies to public.
- Promoting knowledge exchange among the academia, industry, and overseas biomedical engineering society.
- Organising technical training, workshops, and visits; and
- Attracting and inspire more young students to pursue the profession.
Biomedical Engineering Conference 2023 (BME 2023)
BME 2023 was held on 11-18 August 2023 at the Charles K. Kao Auditorium “Golden Egg” and the INNO2 of the Hong Kong Science Park (HKSTP). This conference was co-organized with Hong Kong Centre for Cerebro-cardiovascular Health Engineering (COCHE) and the Hong Kong Medical and Healthcare Device Industries Association (HKMHDIA), supported by HKSTP, EMSD, HKBIO, ARC, Multi-Scale Medical Robotics Center, HKETA, Gense, HKU BME AA, CityU, CUHK, HKU, HKUST, MU, PolyU and HK Tech300; and sponsored by Vincent Medical, PhoMedics, Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong and AML Holdings Ltd.
The conference theme was ‘Healthcare Innovation & technology: Roles of HK Biomedical Engineers in the Greater Bay Area (GBA)’. We are honored to have three Guests of honor, Prof. Dong Sun JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, together with Mr Albert Wong, Chief Executive Officer, HKSTP and Ir David Wong, Chairman of HKIE Biomedical Division (BMD), who joined us for the opening ceremony. This conference aims to bring frontier and emerging biomedical topics from healthcare organizations, industries, start-ups and universities. Importantly, it provides an interdisciplinary atmosphere for students, engineers and experts to connect and exchange ideas. I am pleased to report that we had about 300 registered participants, 6 plenary presentations, 19 keynote presentations, together with 20 pitches and 27 poster presentations from our young generations. We also had 40 secondary students registered via the Bright Future Engineering Talent Hub, CityU joined us. Our distinguished local and non-local speakers came from Switzerland, USA, and regions of China, including Shenzhen, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Suzhou, Beijing, and Hong Kong. In addition to these exciting scientific exchanges, we also had the 1st Final Year Project Competition co-organized with HKU BME AA, booths to show case the healthcare technologies from Vincent Medical and PhoMedics, and the alumni corner to facilitate networking among local biomedical engineers. Participants were also engaged in entrepreneurship sharing from our founding member Prof. John Mok. This conference has instilled interesting engineering concepts in students and enhanced the synergy among stakeholders of biomedical engineering, including academia, industry, regulatory body and healthcare sector.
Role of Biomedical Engineers in Greater Bay Area (GBA)
Biomedical engineers have an important role to play in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and Healthy China 2030 initiatives in advancing healthcare technology and improving public health outcomes.
In the GBA, biomedical engineers are involved in the R&D of medical devices and equipment, as well as in the implementation of digital health technologies. We work closely with healthcare professionals (Doctors, Nurses, Practitioners) to ensure that new technologies are safe, effective, and meet related regulatory standards. Biomedical engineers in the GBA are also responsible for the maintenance and repair of medical equipment to ensure that it functions properly and is available when needed. They work to optimize healthcare systems, contributing to better patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs. In Healthy China 2030, biomedical engineers are playing a critical role in the development and implementation of digital health technologies. We are using our expertise in data analysis, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to develop new tools and applications that can improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. We are also working to develop innovative solutions that
can address the unique challenges of healthcare in China, such as the aging population and the
need for remote healthcare services. Overall, biomedical engineers are essential to the success of healthcare technology and services in the GBA and Healthy China 2030.
Webinars, competition and conference
To support promoting biomedical engineering knowledge and STEM education, the Division also organized various webinars to committee and public, including-
- “Technical Visit to CMEF Shenzhen” organized by Ir Dr Barry Mok & Ir Karon Lo
- “Technical Webinar: Technological Advancement in Stroke Rehabilitation for Motor
Recovery” delivered by Dr Ling Fung Yeung - “Innocarnival 2023 Online Seminar” delivered by Ir Dr Carrison Tong & Ir Karon Lo
- “2023港滬科技合作研討會” represented by Ir David Wong and Ir Karon Lo
- Supporting organization of HKMHDIA MedTech Forum 2022: “Opportunities in the Greater
Bay Area”, organized by HKMHDIA - Supporting organization of 第四屆生物醫學工程創意競賽之 「愛．創耆樂」judging panel Ir Jerry Heung, Ir Moises Chu, Ir Dr Barry Mok & Ir Karon Lo
- “HKIE Engineering Week 2024 Biomedical Engineering Division Booth”
- Supporting organization of MedTech Forum 2024: Think MedTech-Think Hong Kong, organized by HKMHDIA
I would like to extend my gratitude to the excellent support from the HKIE Headquarters and other Divisions’ enthusiastic collaboration. The active participation of all of our Committee Members and stakeholders are also crucial for organising the activities during the year. My warmest congratulation to our Honorary Secretary Ir Karon Lo in receiving Young Engineer of the Year Award 2024, Certificate of Merit from HKIE, for his contribution to biomedical engineering industry. In the upcoming year, the BMD will continue promotion of the field, organising learned society activities and attract young talents to pursue the biomedical engineering profession. I have great confidence that the new Committee members will lead the Division to the next era, with healthy growth and contributions benefiting our biomedical engineering profession, industry, and community.