Hong Kong biochemist finds entrepreneurial success in Greater Bay Area

However, a word from his father helped him reach his decision. "My father once came to visit me in the United States and stayed for half a year. Before he left, he told me that he could not communicate with his grandson because the child could not speak Chinese."

In 2012, he joined a mainland pharmaceutical company as its technical director and chief scientist.

"There is a great demand for biotechnology talent in the mainland. And I think I will develop better in a cultural background that's familiar to me," he said.

His subsequent work experience further convinced him that the biomedical industry in the mainland has huge development potential, and he elected to start his own business.

Poon chose the research and development of culture media, a key raw material in the biomedical industry, as his entrepreneurial direction.

He said the supply of culture media is basically monopolized by large foreign enterprises. The delivery period is long, and the product quality is unstable. It is easily affected by external factors, which is a big constraint for Chinese pharmaceutical enterprises.

After some consideration, he set his eyes on the GBA and established Quacell Biotechnology Co Ltd.