Sight is a precious sense, yet millions suffer from preventable vision impairment. As global eye care demands escalate, an international alliance has emerged to fast-track ground-breaking vision technologies from laboratories to patients worldwide.

The newly launched Global VisionTech Incubation Programme marks a landmark collaboration among Hong Kong’s leading academic sector, clinical research community, and innovation ecosystem. Co-organised by PolyU’s School of Optometry, the InnoHK Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), and PolyU’s Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office (KTEO), the initiative partners with the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry and Vision Science and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP). Officially unveiled at the PolyU campus during the International Conference of Vision and Eye Research 2026, this partnership establishes a premier pipeline designed to accelerate frontier research into real-world applications.

Officiating guests included Ms Lillian Cheong, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government of the People’s Republic of China; Professor Christopher Chao, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU; Mr Terry Wong, Chief Executive Officer of HKSTP; Professor Zheng Zijian, Vice President (Knowledge Transfer) of PolyU; Professor Ben Thompson, CEO and Scientific Director of CEVR, and Professor of the School of Optometry and Vision Science of the University of Waterloo; and Professor Allen Cheong, Associate Head (Academic Programmes and Clinical Training) and Professor of the School of Optometry of PolyU, and COO and Deputy Scientific Director of CEVR.

Spanning three years across three cohorts, the innovative initiative targets three core areas: vision science, healthcare, and advanced technologies. By combining the academic and clinical expertise of PolyU and CEVR with HKSTP’s robust incubation ecosystem, the initiative provides startups with comprehensive business advisory, funding matching, and infrastructure support.

In her video address, Ms Lillian Cheong stated the HKSAR Government is dedicated to building a dynamic innovation and technology ecosystem that promotes research excellence, knowledge transfer and the transformation of impactful technologies into practical real-world solutions.

Highlighting the strategic importance of this ecosystem, Ms Lillian Cheong noted, “By integrating research, clinical expertise, entrepreneurship support, and international collaboration, the programme demonstrates how Hong Kong can serve as a platform for nurturing innovative healthcare technologies with global impact.”

For global entrepreneurs, this partnership solves the critical challenge of commercialisation. Professor Christopher Chao, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, emphasised that the initiative provides a robust research translation platform to transform discoveries into “real-world solutions to benefit those in need, safeguarding eye health and shaping a brighter future for humanity.”

This initiative is a major milestone that positions Hong Kong as a vital global hub for research translation, technology validation, and market expansion. International vision science research teams, medical technology startups, and entrepreneurial talents are actively invited to leverage this platform, join forces with industry leaders, and bring their cutting-edge innovations to the global stage to shape a brighter future for human eye health.

Applications for the first cohort of the Programme are now open. For details, please visit the website.