Med x Tech Summit Asia 2018: Recap Day 2

By Joanne Shih

The second day of Med x Tech Summit Asia had a full program discussing AI, deep learning, blockchain, and other technologies in healthcare and how to bring technology to the real world by innovative business strategy.

Blockchain and Healthcare

Blockchain not only is a buzz word in IT or investment, but also is playing a crucial role in transforming healthcare. Mr. Mohammed Tayeb, Co-founder and COO of Medicalchain, opened for the second session of MEDTEX, pointing the insufficient of current system and how they use blockchain to build a decentralized platform where patient data is protected and linked together. Ms. Alexandra Tinsman, Regional Head of NEM Foundation, overviewed the near future of using blockchain and IoT to change medical system. “Healthcare in your pocket” medical solution is around the corner. Lastly in this session, Ms. Emma Hossack, CEO of Extensia, talked about adapting technology to healthcare, and appealed that “Don’t chase technology over the purpose.”

Designing an Intelligent Healthcare Ecosystem

Keren Priyadarshini, Regional Business Leader at Microsoft, demonstrated the AI applications developed by Microsoft which add aid on medical image analysis, GP practice, and even help geriatric patient to identify pills in real-time. Dr. Vitaly Herasevich, Associate Professor at the Division of Critical Care at Mayo Clinic, talked about current flaws in clinical intensive care unit (ICU) and how electronic medical record (EMR) can facilitate decision making and patient management. He said, “We need right tool for right task.” David Hansen, CEO of Australian e-Health Research Centre, broke e-healthcare ecosystem down to three aspects: biomedical informatics, health informatics, and health services. He said, “Now smartphone APPs can help managing various diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and renal failure.”

Biotechnology Ecosystem in Singapore

Yan-Lin Lye, VP Business Development at Cambridge Consultants, moderates the luncheon panel with leaders from university, industry, and venture investing discussing the biotechnology ecosystem and innovation in Singapore. Hsien-Hui Tong from SGInnovate said that as a venture investing company they are looking at both human capital and investment capital in terms of biotechnology talents and resources.

Global Healthcare Innovation Strategy

The Keynote Speech of the last session was given by Markus Kalousek, Head of Pharma Search and Evaluation at Novartis. He said, “We are constantly propelled by high unmet needs in medicine.” Kalousek also stressed that the importance of a therapy discovery reflects on its business value. Novartis also provide evaluation process to pharmaceutical startups via a pipeline of innovative opportunity to encourage medical R&D.

Following up Yong-Hui Shi, Managing Principal of Medtronic China Venture Fund, joined a fireside chat with Yoa-Pu Hu, Chair Professor at Taipei Medical University discussing challenges and opportunities in biotech startup. Shi encouraged startups to plan further enough and proactively to make business viable and sustainable.

Viewpoints of Global CEOs

At the Bio-innovation Stadium, companies and organizations for Israel, Australia, US, and UK were on the stage presenting their current development, business strategy, and unique industrial ecosystems in each country. Rohan O’Reilly, Co-founder of Neuromersiv, introduced the concept of neuroplasticity, and explained how virtual reality can greatly improve neural rehabilitation. Dan Shwarzman, CEO of MindUp, a digital health company, shared insight of starting a digital health company and how incubator can help startup to bring lab work into market and to solidify new business. CEO of Israel Advanced Technology Industries (IATI), Karin Mayer Rubinstein, drilled down to the life science industry in Israel showing that biotechnology is a growing field in Israel these days.

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