Hong Kong, November 9, 2026: Cornerstone Robotics hosted its inaugural Surgical Futures Forum at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, bringing together global healthcare leaders, policymakers, clinical experts, and industry representatives to discuss the future of accessible surgical care through robotics and innovation.
The event, themed “Redefining Access to Surgical Care Through Robotics & Innovation,” featured the announcement of a strategic partnership between Cornerstone Robotics and Medtronic. Under the agreement, Medtronic has invested approximately US$700 million in Cornerstone Robotics and secured rights to distribute the Sentire(R) Surgical System in selected international markets.
Global leaders and strategic investment
Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, officiated at the opening ceremony. Chan highlighted Hong Kong’s efforts to become an international hub for medical device innovation, citing the city’s regulatory framework, biotechnology listing regime, and cross-border clinical collaboration in the Greater Bay Area.
Clara Chan, CEO of Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC), delivered a keynote address, noting HKIC’s early support for Cornerstone Robotics and its role in bridging international capital with industry partners. She described Cornerstone Robotics’ growth as an example of Hong Kong’s ability to foster global brands in surgical robotics.
Cornerstone-Medtronic collaboration details
The official Toasting Ceremony marked the partnership between Cornerstone Robotics and Medtronic. The collaboration aims to combine Cornerstone’s proprietary technologies with Medtronic’s global commercial reach and existing robotic offerings, expanding access to advanced surgical care internationally.
Geoff Martha, Chairman and CEO of Medtronic, and Prof. Samuel Au, Founder and CEO of Cornerstone Robotics, participated in a Leadership Dialogue alongside Mike Marinaro, President of Medtronic. They discussed how cross-border partnerships can accelerate the adoption of robotic-assisted surgery worldwide.
Panel discussions and keynote speakers
The Forum included two panel sessions: one on the role of robotics and innovation in the future of healthcare, and another on modernizing surgical education and telesurgery training to build global clinical capacity. Pre-recorded keynotes were delivered by Professor the Lord Ara Darzi of Imperial College London and Professor Seigo Kitano, President of Oita University, covering topics in robotic surgery and innovation for patient care.
Industry and academic participation
Other notable attendees included Dr. Jerry Wang, Co-Founder, CTO & COO of Cornerstone Robotics; Alex Gu, Senior Vice President and President, Medtronic Greater China; Prof. Philip Chiu, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Prof. Liu Yun-hui, Choh-Ming Li Professor of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; and Cordelia Chung, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.
Cornerstone Robotics, founded and headquartered in Hong Kong, has developed the Sentire(R) Surgical System, which has completed multi-specialty clinical trials and received market approval in China, the European Union, and Singapore.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a press release provided by the concerned organisation and has been edited for style and clarity with the assistance of AI tools. BusinessFortnight does not verify, endorse, or take responsibility for the claims, figures, or statements made in the original release.
