| Startup Thailand | TH |
NIA Leads Thai Health Tech to
the Global Stage:Lessons from ASGH 2025
in Hong Kong
The National Innovation Agency (NIA) continues to solidify its role as a leader in pushing Thai health and medical tech startups onto the global stage. By leading a delegation of Thai startups to the Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH) 2025 and the Medical and Healthcare Fair in Hong Kong, held from May 26–27, 2025, NIA has not only opened doors to business and investment opportunities but also provided a crucial platform for these startups to learn and adapt to the challenges of international market expansion.
ASGH 2025: A Gateway to Global Health Tech
Organized for the fifth time in collaboration with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), ASGH is a premier platform that brings together key players in the global healthcare industry. This includes academic leaders, investors, technology firms, startups, R&D institutions, and government agencies. This year’s ASGH featured in-depth seminars covering critical topics such as biotech, digital health, and geriatric care, along with valuable opportunities for startups to participate in Project Pitching and one-on-one Deal-making Sessions.
Running concurrently, the Medical and Healthcare Fair 2025 showcased a comprehensive range of medical innovations and solutions—from biotechnology and hospital equipment to rehabilitation and fitness technologies. The fair provided a chance for businesses to present their latest products and services and stay updated on global health market trends.
NIA’s Role: Elevating Thai Health Tech
NIA recognized the significance of both events as a global stage to enhance the potential of Thai health tech innovations. Their main goals were to promote market expansion into Hong Kong and China, connect with global investors, build partnerships with leading companies, elevate the capabilities of startups to keep pace with global trends, and showcase Thailand’s potential as an innovation hub.
Under the “Scale Up to Global” project, NIA brought five Thai startups—Arincare, Osseolabs, Agnos Health, Heal & Soul Technology, and FAMME WORKS—to participate in exhibitions and business matching activities. This resulted in more than 30 business matches and garnered significant interest from businesses, hospitals, investors, and leading accelerators from various countries.
The delegation also included a Media Tour, where leading media outlets from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore interviewed the Thai entrepreneurs. Startups like Arincare and Osseolabs were even selected to pitch in front of global VCs, creating positive international brand awareness for both the startups and Thailand’s innovation ecosystem.
Insights from Thai Startups on the Global Stage
We had the opportunity to speak with Teera Kanokkanjanarat, CEO & Co-founder of Arincare, and Punyapat Sophaamphornchat, CEO & Co-founder of Heal & Soul Technology, to hear about their direct experiences, challenges, and key takeaways from entering the international market.
Arincare, a comprehensive pharmacy management platform, secured a crucial opportunity to pitch to global VCs.
“Pitching on a major stage with global investors was an invaluable experience,” said Teera from Arincare. “We learned how to make concise and direct presentations to capture the attention of foreign investors, who have very different perspectives and evaluation criteria compared to those at home.”
“The challenge was understanding the diverse needs of the Hong Kong and broader Asian markets and adapting our business model to cope with high competition and regulations,” Teera added. “But what we gained was a clearer global healthcare market overview and the chance to network with potential partners.”
Heal & Soul Technology, a developer of holistic health technology, also participated with an exhibition booth and networking.
“Exhibiting at the Medical and Healthcare Fair allowed us to meet a variety of people, including hospitals, distributors, and even direct users. This showed us the potential of our product to expand into new markets,” said Punyapat from Heal & Soul Technology. “The challenge was communicating our innovation’s unique features to target audiences with different cultures and needs. Furthermore, understanding the business ecosystem and legal frameworks abroad was something we had to prepare for intensely. But what we took away was invaluable feedback from experts and the confidence that Thai innovation can truly compete internationally.”
Both startups emphasized the importance of preparing local market data and regulations and adapting products and services to meet the needs of the target market. These are key factors in overcoming the challenges of entering new countries.
Opportunities for Expansion into Hong Kong and China
NIA also used this opportunity to arrange meetings for the startups with key partner organizations, such as the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (HKSTP), to prepare them for the Soft-Landing program, which assists companies looking to expand into Hong Kong and mainland China.
Another interesting partner is Cyberport, Hong Kong’s digital technology hub, which plays a crucial role in incubating digital and AI startups. Cyberport has the potential to support startups with funding of up to HK$1.1 million, free office space, and a robust business ecosystem of over 2,000 companies, including a collective fund for investing in innovation. This presents a golden opportunity for Thai digital platform startups aiming to expand into the Greater China market.
Participating in ASGH 2025 and the Medical and Healthcare Fair is a strategic move for NIA to propel Thai health tech innovations onto the global stage. It creates opportunities to access funding, expand markets, and build collaborative networks that will lead to the sustainable growth of Thailand’s health and innovation industry.
For Thai entrepreneurs and startups interested in participating in similar events, you can stay updated and prepare for future opportunities by following Startup Thailand and NIA. Together, we can lead Thai innovation to the world!
