Officiating guests joined the opening of the 14th Pan-Pacific Conference on Rehabilitation.
The opening ceremony was officiated by Dr Ronald LAM, JP, Director of Health of the HKSAR Government, who emphasised how closely this year’s conference theme aligns with the strategic imperatives laid out in the Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address.
Prof. CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Education) of PolyU, welcomed the global delegates and stressed on the university’s role in driving innovation.
The 14th Pan-Pacific Conference on Rehabilitation brought together over 350 researchers, clinicians, educators, and students from more than 16 countries and regions across Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America. It served as a major international platform for advancing the future of rehabilitation.
The 14th Pan-Pacific Conference on Rehabilitation (PPCR 2025), hosted by the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) at InnoCentre, successfully concluded and brought together over 350 researchers, clinicians, educators, and students from more than 16 countries and regions across Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America. The event, held from 8 to 9 November, served as a major international platform for advancing the future of rehabilitation.
Under the theme "Innovations in Rehabilitation Sciences: Research, Education and Knowledge Transfer," the conference featured a dynamic programme of 5 keynote speeches, over 50 oral presentations, over 140 poster presentations and 5 pre- and post-conference workshops. Participants explored critical sub-themes including Primary Healthcare, Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Mental Wellness, Physical Rehabilitation, Intelligent Rehabilitation, and Education and Rehabilitation, fostering collaboration and sharing cutting-edge research.
The opening ceremony was officiated by Dr Ronald Lam, JP, Director of Health of the HKSAR Government of the People’s Republic of China, who emphasised how closely this year’s conference theme aligns with the strategic imperatives laid out in the Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address. Dr Lam remarked, “The focus on research, education, and knowledge transfer in rehabilitation is not just an academic pursuit, but is vital to driving the next chapter of Hong Kong’s public healthcare services. Our government is committed to building Hong Kong into an International Innovation and Technology Centre, placing life and health technologies, artificial intelligence, and data science at the core of our development. This commitment is not abstract; it translates to better health, function, and quality of life for every citizen in need of rehabilitation.”
Prof. CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Education) of PolyU, welcomed the global delegates and stressed on the university’s role in driving innovation. "The conference theme resonates deeply with our university's core mission to translate pioneering research into meaningful educational programmes and societal impact. We are proud to facilitate this exchange of knowledge that drives our field forward."
This year’s keynote speeches covered a wide spectrum of innovative and timely topics in the field by distinguished speakers - Dr Ickpyo Hong from Yonsei University (South Korea), Prof. HU Xiangen from PolyU (Hong Kong), Prof. Linda LI from the University of British Columbia (Canada), Prof. Maritta Anneli VÄLIMÄKI from University of Helsinki (Finland) and Prof. YUAN Ti-fei from Shanghai Jiaotong University (Chinese Mainland), with topics ranging from digital health and data-driven rehabilitation outcomes, application of artificial intelligence and virtual rehabilitation, to technology-enhanced intervention for mental health rehabilitation, and the role of neuroengineering and brain-computer interfaces in advancing rehabilitation.
The conference not only highlighted academic and clinical advancements but also strengthened the global network of rehabilitation professionals. The high level of international participation underscored the conference's reputation as a premier event in the Asia-Pacific region.
