Day 1Tuesday, 1 September 2026 - SGT / Singapore

As APAC rapidly strengthens its position within the global healthcare ecosystem, biotech and medtech companies across the region are increasingly focused on scaling innovation, securing strategic partnerships, and expanding internationally. This opening keynote explores how investment, cross-border collaboration, AI, digital health, and commercial strategy are reshaping healthcare innovation across Asia-Pacific, and what will define the next generation of globally competitive healthcare companies.

• Which APAC markets are emerging as the strongest global innovation hubs?
• How are biotech, medtech, AI, and digital health converging to reshape healthcare delivery, investment strategy, and competitive positioning?
• What strategies are helping APAC healthcare companies scale internationally and compete globally?
• Are biotech companies increasingly being valued for their data assets, AI capabilities, and platform intelligence as much as their therapeutic pipelines?

The APAC partnering landscape continues to evolve rapidly as global pharma expands its search for innovation beyond traditional markets. This session explores where deal activity is accelerating across Asia, which markets are attracting strategic attention, and how regional biotech companies are positioning themselves within an increasingly competitive global environment.

• Which APAC markets are generating the strongest partnering momentum?
• What types of assets and technologies are attracting the greatest global interest?
• How are regional biotech companies differentiating themselves in today’s market?
• How are tightening capital markets, LP pressure, and changing crossover investor activity reshaping APAC biotech funding and partnering strategies?

Scientific innovation is increasingly global, but commercial success depends on the strength of the ecosystem surrounding a company. This fireside explores how connected networks of research institutes, innovation hubs, investors, clinical partners and industry can help biotech companies build international pathways from day one. The discussion will examine how ecosystem-to-ecosystem collaboration is enabling companies to access the expertise, infrastructure and relationships needed to scale globally.

• What distinguishes high-performing life science ecosystems, and how do they accelerate company formation, innovation and international growth?
• When should startups begin building an international footprint, and what capabilities or milestones indicate they are ready to expand beyond their home market?
• How can companies identify the right overseas ecosystem, not simply the nearest one, and build ecosystem-to-ecosystem relationships that create long-term value?
• What role do research institutions, investors, innovation hubs, clinical networks and industry partners each play in supporting globally ambitious biotech companies?
• How can companies identify the optimal precincts that embed them in strategic locations that enhance accessibility to capabilities and advance progress within complex projects?
• How can leveraging connected organisations, such a Life Science Incubator, CoLabs or BioLabs offer security in global scaling decisions?

APAC biotech companies are pursuing global ambitions earlier than ever before, but scaling internationally brings significant operational, regulatory, and commercial challenges. This session explores how companies are balancing regional strength with global competitiveness while navigating partnerships, expansion strategies, and increasingly selective capital markets.

• How are regulatory strategy and market access planning influencing global expansion decisions earlier in the company lifecycle?
• At what stage should companies begin building global strategies, and what are the biggest challenges when scaling beyond APAC?
• How important are strategic partnerships in accelerating international growth?

Back for another year, Startup Spotlight showcases a curated selection of emerging biotech innovators from across APAC. Designed to connect early-stage companies with investors, pharma, and strategic partners, the session highlights breakthrough science, platform technologies, and companies shaping the next generation of healthcare innovation across the region.

Startup Finalists:

Romulus Therapeutics

CaSRevolution

ReWire Therapeutics

Brano Therapeutics

Loma Therapeutics