From 16 to 19 October 2026, the 4th 2026 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Biomedical Engineering Innovation and Development Forum was held at Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) in Shantou. The forum was co-organized by Biomedical Analysis, the Journal of Instrumental Analysis, the Greater Bay Area Biomedical Sensing Alliance and the Extracellular Vesicles Industry-University-Research Innovation Alliance, and hosted by the Department of Biotechnology andFood Engineering (BFE) at GTIIT, and co-organized by the School of Biomedical Engineering at Sun Yat-sen University, the School of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and the School of Biomedical Engineering of the Health Science Center at Shenzhen University.

More than 200 delegates attended, from universities, research institutes, hospitals and medical device companies across the country, including academicians, recipients of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars and heads of clinical departments. Under the theme "International Collaboration · Engineering-Medicine Integration · Smart Bay Area · Translational Future", the forum presented frontier progress in biomedical engineering through keynote lectures, thematic forums, special sessions, the 2026 Youth Innovation Competition in Analytical Testing and industry–hospital exchanges. It also discussed pathways for interdisciplinary integration across medicine, engineering, chemistry and information science, so as to connect research innovation with clinical needs and industrial translation.

Opening Addresses Set the Direction; Keynote Lectures Review the Frontier

Opening Ceremony

On the morning of 17 October, the opening ceremony was held and chaired by Prof. Zong Dai of Sun Yat-sen University, Associate Editor of Biomedical Analysis. Addresses were delivered, in turn, by Prof. Junfa Mao, Chancellor of GTIIT; Mr Yifei Guo, Member of the Leading Party Group and Deputy Director of the Shantou Science and Technology Bureau; Prof. Peng Xu, Dean of the Research Institute at GTIIT; and Prof. Chenzhong Li of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Associate Editor of Biomedical Analysis.

Speaking on behalf of the co-organising institutions, the local science and technology authority and the journal publishers respectively, the four speakers shared a common expectation of deepening academic exchange, promoting collaborative research and advancing the translation of research outcomes. The forum drew both on the disciplinary and industrial base of the Greater Bay Area in biomedical engineering, and on GTIIT's international joint-education strengths in biotechnology and engineering.

Keynote Lectures

The keynote session was chaired by Prof. Zhihui Dai, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of Nanjing Tech University, and Prof. Xueji Zhang of Shenzhen University. The five lectures addressed intelligent bioanalysis, intelligent sensing and digital life, dynamic in vivo imaging, medical artificial intelligence and biorheology. The five speakers came from a state key laboratory and from universities and their research institutes, and their lectures ranged from analytical methods to imaging, and from artificial intelligence to biorheology.

Prof. Jinghong Li, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Professor at Tsinghua University, spoke on intelligent bioanalysis, reporting progress in the construction of analytical methods and detection systems in this field; Prof. Xueji Zhang of Shenzhen University addressed intelligent sensing and digital life, discussing the application of sensing technology in the acquisition and digital processing of life-science and health information; Prof. Fan Zhang of Fudan University focused on dynamic in vivo imaging, introducing technical routes and progress in the dynamic observation of physiological and pathological processes in living organisms; Prof. Zhifeng Hao, President of Shantou University, spoke on medical artificial intelligence, reporting on AI methods in medical data analysis and clinical decision support; and Prof. Linhong Deng, Dean of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences at Changzhou University and Director of the Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology of the Ministry of Education, addressed biorheology, discussing the role of mechanical factors in the regulation of cell and tissue function and related research progress. Speakers and delegates continued to exchange views on related technical questions after the session.

Thematic Forums and Special Sessions in Depth

From the afternoon of 17 October to the morning of 18 October, four thematic forums ran in parallel — biosensing and precision diagnosis, engineering-medicine integration and clinical testing, microfluidics and emerging medical technologies, and nanomedicine and precision therapy — together with two special sessions, on engineering-medicine integration and brain-computer interfaces and on new analytical testing techniques and methods, and the 2026 Youth Innovation Competition in Analytical Testing. On the afternoon of 18 October, the special sessions on laboratory medicine and oncological medicine extended the discussion to disease diagnosis, clinical testing and precision therapy. 

The four thematic forums comprised 80 presentations in total, given by speakers from Tsinghua University, Peking University People's Hospital, Fudan University, Zhejiang University, Nanjing University, Nankai University, Sun Yat-sen University, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, City University of Hong Kong, the University of Macau and other institutions. Each forum was convened by scholars working in the relevant field, and the presentations addressed methods, devices, systems and clinical applications.

Thematic Forum: Biosensing and Precision Diagnosis

The forum on biosensing and precision diagnosis was convened by Prof. Haifeng Dong and Prof. Zhuangqiang Gao of Shenzhen University and comprised 20 presentations. Speakers included Prof. Sichun Zhang of Tsinghua University, Prof. Xiue Jiang of Nankai University and Prof. Lin Ding of Nanjing University. Presentations covered single-cell analysis, molecular diagnostics and biosensing, and participants reported exploratory work on the application of novel detection techniques in precision diagnosis and in the study of life processes, including signal acquisition, the design of recognition elements, and the adaptability of detection systems to complex samples.

Thematic Forum: Engineering-Medicine Integration and Clinical Testing

The forum on engineering-medicine integration and clinical testing was convened by Prof. Jianhe Guo and Prof. Siyang Liu of Sun Yat-sen University and comprised 19 presentations. Speakers included Prof. Tingrui Pan of Tsinghua University's International Graduate School, Prof. Mo Yang of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Prof. Peng Shi of City University of Hong Kong. Responding to the practical needs of biomedical research and clinical testing, the presentations addressed extracellular vesicles, spatial transcriptomics and flexible sensing, illustrating different routes by which engineering technology serves clinical testing and application, and highlighting the need for closer alignment between engineering and clinical metrics.

Thematic Forum: Microfluidics and Emerging Medical Technologies

The forum on microfluidics and emerging medical technologies was convened by Prof. Keying Guo of GTIIT and Prof. Xing Han of Sun Yat-sen University and comprised 21 presentations. Speakers included Prof. Bo Zheng of the Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Prof. Xi Yao of City University of Hong Kong and Prof. Bo Peng of Northwestern Polytechnical University. Presentations covered microfluidic detection, biochips and digital detection platforms, and introduced new progress in AI-assisted analysis and laboratory automation. Concentrated on device design and system integration, the forum reflected the convergence of microfluidic technology with intelligent analytical methods.

Thematic Forum: Nanomedicine and Precision Therapy

The forum on nanomedicine and precision therapy was convened by Assoc. Prof. Cheng Jiang of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Prof. Han Liu of Shanghai University and comprised 20 presentations. Speakers included Prof. Xin Song of City University of Hong Kong, Prof. Ruibing Wang of the University of Macau and Dr Piaopiao Chen of West China Hospital. Presentations addressed nanobiomaterials, liquid biopsy for tumours and precision therapy, illustrating the application of nanotechnology in diagnosis and treatment; much of the work focused on material design, in vivo behaviour and the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy.

Special Session: Engineering-Medicine Integration and Brain-Computer Interfaces

The special session on engineering-medicine integration and brain-computer interfaces was convened by Prof. Zhifeng Hao, President of Shantou University, and Prof. Benqing Zhou. Eight scholars presented their work, focusing on technological needs in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of neurological disorders. The topics covered AI-assisted diagnosis of depression and cognitive rehabilitation, non-invasive brain-computer interfaces for Alzheimer's disease, stroke rehabilitation control, cognitive and affective computing, and clinical vital-sign monitoring. The work spanned brain-signal sensing, intelligent analysis, neural modulation and rehabilitation applications, reflecting the diverse exploration of brain-computer interfaces and artificial intelligence in neurological medicine.

Special Session: New Analytical Testing Techniques and Methods

The special session on new analytical testing techniques and methods was convened by Ms Xiufen Long, Director of the Editorial Office of the Journal of Instrumental Analysis, and Prof. Jinbin Liu of South China University of Technology. Presentations covered biomedical sensing for assisted reproduction, microplastic detection, high-resolution mass spectrometry, mass spectrometry imaging, in vivo imaging and spatial multi-omics, demonstrating the application of new analytical techniques and methods in life sciences and health, food and environmental analysis, and biomedical research, and reflecting the trend of modern analytical technology towards higher sensitivity, greater dimensionality and greater intelligence.

Special Session: Laboratory Medicine

The special session on laboratory medicine was convened by Prof. Jianhe Guo of Sun Yat-sen University. Six experts from Chongqing Medical University, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, the Guangzhou Analysis and Testing Centre and other institutions gave presentations. The reports addressed single-molecule point-of-care diagnostic platforms and their clinical translation, performance verification and quality control of AI diagnostic systems in laboratories, rapid emergency testing of toxicants, pathogen detection and intelligent diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. Participants discussed progress in applying new analytical detection techniques and AI methods in clinical testing, as well as the verification and quality issues that methods must address before entering clinical workflows.

Special Session: Oncological Medicine

The special session on oncological medicine was convened by Prof. Han Liu of Shanghai University, with six experts taking part. The presentations covered tumour immunotherapy, bioactive materials, near-infrared photothermal therapy, CRISPR-based clinical diagnostics, breath analysis for tumours and optical molecular imaging, and explored the application of new materials, technologies and detection approaches in the precision diagnosis and treatment of tumours.

2026 Youth Innovation Competition in Analytical Testing

The 2026 Youth Innovation Competition in Analytical Testing was held alongside the forum. Finalists presented innovative work in analytical testing, biomedical detection, artificial intelligence and microfluidics. Following on-site presentations and expert review, first, second and third prizes were awarded, together with the Best Popularity Award and the Outstanding Supervisor Award. The competition provided a platform for young researchers to present results and exchange research ideas.

Honours Presented as the Forum Concludes

On the afternoon of 18 October, the closing ceremony and award presentation took place, chaired by Ms Xiufen Long, Chair of the Organising Committee of the forum and Director of the Editorial Office of the Journal of Instrumental Analysis. At the ceremony, Biomedical Analysis and the Journal of Instrumental Analysis recognised their 2026 outstanding editorial board members, young editorial board members, peer reviewers and outstanding papers, in appreciation of the long-standing support of scholars for journal development, academic exchange and the dissemination of research results.

Awards were also presented to the winners of the 2026 Youth Innovation Competition in Analytical Testing, together with the Outstanding Contribution Award, and the honour of "Outstanding Co-organising Institution" was conferred on GTIIT. These honours recognise the institutions and individuals involved in organising, hosting and servicing this year's forum.

Through keynote lectures, thematic forums, special sessions, the youth competition and industry–hospital exchanges, the forum provided an interdisciplinary and inter-institutional platform for academic exchange in biomedical engineering. While sharing research progress, delegates discussed technological innovation, clinical needs and the translation of research outcomes, creating conditions for further collaboration. As one of the co-organising institutions, the Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering at GTIIT took part in the organisation and hosting of the forum. The University will continue to draw on its international joint-education conditions and disciplinary platforms to contribute to academic exchange and talent development in biomedical engineering in the Greater Bay Area.

Text: GTIIT Biotechnology and Food Engineering, GTIIT News & Public Affairs

Photos: GTIIT News & Public Affairs, Leng Yixuan, Wei Zixuan, Huang Jiaji, Wang Yue, Wang Manyi, Ye Ziqi, Yi Qiaoye