The Inauguration Ceremony of Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine
Karolinska Institutet’s first research hub outside of Sweden, Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine was inaugurated in Hong Kong in October 2016.
The inauguration of Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine took place on 7 October 2016 at Charles K. Kao Auditorium, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories. Over 180 guests from the Chinese and Hong Kong government, local universities, the industry and our research partners attended and witnessed this new page in KI’s history.
The Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine consists of two nodes, one in Stockholm and one in Hong Kong. Under KI's leadership, the centre will conduct basic research using technologies that are relevant for regenerative medicine. One of the primary goals is to develop new knowledge and tools to repair damaged or lost tissue
Before the inauguration ceremony, there was a guided tour in the newly built laboratory for KI colleagues and other officiating guests in Hong Kong.
Welcoming remarks by Professor Karin Dahlman-Wright, Acting Vice-Chancellor of Karolinska Institutet.
This is a natural step for KI, given our ambition of continuing to be a leading international university within medical research. Hong Kong is a global hub for research and innovation and provides unique opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange. By establishing this new centre, we hope to take a significant step forward in an area that can have important future implications for human health.
Keynote speech by The Honourable CY Leung, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
This initiative is as much a milestone as it is inspiring – on two counts. First is the deepening of co-operation with the Karolinska Institutet, and secondly the broadening of the scope of co-operation between Hong Kong and Sweden to cover other sectors as well. As we continue this Hong Kong-Sweden journey, we believe that our joint efforts will benefit the people of Hong Kong, the whole of China and Sweden.
A traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony on stage by representatives of the Chinese and Hong Kong governments, the Consul General of Sweden in Hong Kong and Macao, Senior management of KI and Steering Group and management team of MWLC officially inaugurated the centre.
The opening speech by Mr Ming Wai Lau was truly impressive. The first half of his talk was in fluent Swedish.
For KI, it is an opportunity to cement and consolidate existing partnerships both locally and in the region; it is also a platform to make new friends and develop new areas of research. Both Hong Kong and China already have achievements in the field of reparative medicine and it is vital for KI, as a world class medical university, to capitalize on these developments.
In the congratulatory speech by Ms Helena Storm, Consul General of Sweden in Hong Kong and Macau highlighted the exciting opportunities for both Sweden and Hong Kong brought by the setting up of the Centre. There will be tremendous exchanges in scientific areas and beyond.
In his scientific remark, Professor Tak Wah Mak, FRS, OC, PhD, DSc, MDhc stressed that the top three pearls to scientific and commercial successes are:
- Passion & Perseverance
- Creativity & Serendipity
- Mentorship & Sponsorship
In the afternoon there was a scientific symposium for HK scientists to get know more about MWLC and the research to be conducted. Ola Hermanson, scientific director of MWLC and senior researcher at KI’s Department of Neuroscience introduced the Lau Faculty and Fellows for the audience.
We believe that people who are skilled in this area will be attracted by the new centre. Research today is all about partnerships, especially for newly established groups. Much of the best stem cell research today is being done in Asia, and KI wants to be a part of it.
