The International Society of Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 2025 Annual Meeting brings together 2,400 local and international experts in stem cell research and regenerative medicine from 58 countries and regions.
Hong Kong is hosting the world’s largest gathering of stem cell research and regenerative medicine for the first time.
The International Society of Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 2025 Annual Meeting, taking place from 11-14 June at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, marks the return of the event to Asia after 13 years. It brings together 2,400 local and international experts in stem cell research and regenerative medicine from 58 countries and regions, from Asia to North America, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and Mainland China.
The event’s topics span the field of regenerative medicine including, advances in cell therapies, fundamental discoveries, understanding disease processes and more. The programme features plenary sessions, concurrent tracks, poster presentations and networking opportunities. The HKTB has provided comprehensive support, from arranging reconnaissance to venue sourcing, bid proposal, network support and more.
Dr Peter Lam, HKTB Chairman, said, “Hong Kong is the first city chosen to host this annual event in Asia after a 13-year hiatus, underscoring the city’s status as the ‘World’s Meeting Place’. I am grateful for the active participation of the Hong Kong Convention Ambassadors from the three local universities, who leveraged their influence and network during the bidding for the host of the event to make the event come true.”
Exhibition comeback
Hong Kong has also reported a surge in its exhibition industry figures. According to the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association’s (HKECIA) latest annual exhibition survey, the destination hosted 121 large-scale exhibitions (defined as those occupying more than 2,000 sqm of space), of which 80 were ‘trade’ and ‘trade and consumer’ exhibitions, compared to 73 in 2023.
Attendee and exhibitor numbers at these exhibitions have also increased year-on-year; exhibiting companies have increased by 13.9% from over 45,000 to close to 52,000, while the number of visitors has increased by 4.5% to over 1.46 million. Exhibition space rented by exhibitors has however decreased by 6.8%, to nearly 830,000 sqm.
When comparing the 2024 figures to those from 2019, pre-covid, HKECIA says Hong Kong’s exhibition industry has not yet fully recovered. The total number of exhibitions has recovered to pre-covid levels, while exhibiting and visitor participation lags behind 2019 figures by 25.1% and 21.3% respectively,
The number of visitors from the Mainland attending ‘trade’ and ‘trade and consumer’ exhibitions in Hong Kong in 2024 shows an encouraging recovery pace, growing by 21% from 2023 and surpassing the 2019 level by 9.2%.