Distinguished guests attending the forum include Prof. Liu Jiming (first row, 6th from left); Prof. Lyu Aiping (first row, 5th from left); Mr. Min Zhidong (first row, 7th from left); Prof. Li Min, Dean and Chair Professor of the School of Chinese Medicine (first row, 4th from left); Mrs. Lily Chan, Director of University Advancement and Secretary-General of the HKBU Foundation (first row, 3rd from left); Prof. Zhang Hongjie (second row, 7th from left); Prof. Simon Han (second row, 6th from left); and Prof. Zhu Furong, Head of the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology (second row, 8th from left)

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) co-hosted the “Food-Medicine Homology: Future Technologies and Innovations” Forum on 10 September 2026, in partnership with Hong Kong International Food Technology Innovation and Development Co., Ltd. The event brought together leading scholars, scientific experts, and industry leaders to explore the innovative integration of the “food-medicine homology” concept with modern food technologies, and to discuss the future direction of the health industry.

In his welcoming remarks, Professor Liu Jiming, Interim Provost of HKBU, said that the University has long been committed to integrating the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with modern life sciences, and has achieved significant results in research on natural health products, and the modernisation and translational application of food. He emphasised that “food-medicine homology” is a treasured legacy of Chinese traditional wisdom, embodying valuable health concepts and practical applications that remain to be further explored and translated through cutting-edge technologies.

At the forum, Mr. Min Zhidong, President of Hong Kong International Food Technology Innovation and Development Co., Ltd., introduced the attending scholars and industry representatives from the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Denmark, fostering international exchange between academia and industry. Ms. Zhang Yi, Deputy Director-General of the Achievement Transformation Bureau of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, shared the Academy’s latest progress in the commercialisation and transformation of its research achievements. Professor Zhao Liping, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, presented on the theme “Food is Medicine”, discussing the role of the gut microbiome in human health and proposing new approaches to food-medicine homology and precision nutrition.

During the research showcase session, led by Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research and Development) cum Dean of the Graduate School of HKBU, a team of researchers presented their work. Professor Zhang Hongjie and Professor Simon Han, Associate Deans of the School of Chinese Medicine, together with researchers from the School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Science and Technology, the Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development, and the Research and Development Centre for Natural Health Products, shared their work on topics including the development of food-medicine homology functional molecules, the application of Chinese herbs, the translation of novel TCM drugs and health products, the health benefits of everyday foods, and AI-driven evidence-based personalised health.

The forum further strengthened industry-academia-research collaboration and international exchange, providing a platform for collaboration among research institutions, enterprises, academics and investors, to advance the translation of food-medicine homology research outcomes and drive innovation in future food technologies. Participants expressed their hope to deepen collaboration in the years ahead, jointly promoting precision health management and the development of the health and wellness industry, and contributing to the enhancement of human health and well-being.