Upon graduation from IVE, Bond Chan Chun-Pong worked in the biotech sector right away, developing technologies for avian flu vaccine production, and setting up manufacturing facilities. When COVID-19 broke out in 2020, small shops shuttered and large enterprises struggled to stay afloat. But in the midst of every crisis, lies opportunity. The pandemic spurred the development of new products and drove the growth of sectors related to scientific research. With his biotech knowledge, market insight and a perfect timing, Bond helped his company launch a brand of antibacterial coating, not only gaining steadfast foothold in the market, but also benefiting the people at large. In order to forge ahead with countless obstacles along the way, he believes in acquiring diverse knowledge, seizing opportunities, and reminding himself of why he chose this career path in the first place.
Setting his goal, realising his aspirations
Biology has always been Bond’s favourite subject since he was in secondary school. That’s why he chose to enrol in the Higher Diploma in Analytical Science and Biotechnology at IVE. Looking back on those days, he believed the programme set itself apart from others with its emphasis on experimental training that gave students a competitive edge and created value for them. He said, “Theories are important, but conducting experiments in a laboratory allows students to see how theories work for themselves, while helping them accumulate knowledge. Such experience will come in handy in the workplace after they graduate.” Bond definitely enjoyed such hands-on experiences which also laid a solid foundation for his career later on. The IVE programme also included work placement where Bond conducted a study on ants. Ecological research might not seem closely related to biotechnology, but in the process, he learned how different scientific elements were applied in research. The experience also shed light on the close-knit connections among various academic disciplines, sparking his faith in interdisciplinary learning.
On the other hand, the IVE programme also broadened Bond’s horizons. As it turned out, there was so much more than running lab tests in the microscopic world of biotechnology. It also covers pharmacology, molecular biology, and genetics, among many other subjects whose common value lies in the social good they do. From then on, Bond has been determined to contribute to the public health of Hong Kong, with his goal and aspiration to bring benefits to the people.
Theory into practice, knowledge across disciplines
After graduating from IVE, Bond was employed to develop a new production platform for avian flu vaccine. Thanks to his study on genetic theories at school, he had acquired relevant knowledge prior to his appointment. Better still, he also mastered solid skills on essential laboratory tasks, so that he got the gist of his job much faster than others. His abilities to analyse data and consolidate results from experiments were also well recognised. His knowledge, skills and abilities have brought him invaluable job opportunities.
Over his stint spanning close to a decade, Bond was involved in a number of biotech projects, including developing new vaccines and conducting quality assurance. Certain projects also entailed engineering knowledge on top of biotech expertise, such as setting up new factories, patent applications, determining production scale, and establishing production lines. This is a testimony to the practical need of applying interdisciplinary knowledge in the workplace. As his company had close ties with various government departments and institutions in mainland China, Bond was assigned to help set up large-scale production lines in different mainland cities. The experience opened his eyes to the unfathomed breadth of science; he also learned to accept others’ opinions humbly so as to truly engage himself in the corporate culture of different regions. He said, “When I assume various positions in different disciplines, of course I need to leverage technologies and apply my knowledge. Meanwhile, I never forget the reason why I launched my career in this sector in the first place – to work diligently for the benefits of the people. This is very important to me.”
Major breakthrough, chance of a lifetime
In the early phase of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, Bond foresaw the dire situation that was deemed to unravel. Thus, he shopped for epidemic prevention supplies in advance, only to find that there were an overwhelming array of products on the market at different price points and with different claims. Some items, especially coating products, promised anti-viral action, but with dubious effects. People might spend a fortune on a cornucopia of anti-epidemic products, but without getting the protection they deserved. Right then, Bond spotted an opportunity to protect those vulnerable people at large with an innovative idea.
To help ourselves and others, Bond believed we needed to do some research on the effectiveness of various anti-epidemic products first. In the beginning, he just wanted to find effective antimicrobial items for his relatives and friends. Coincidentally, he came across a biotechnology that can be used in antiviral coatings – in fact, it fitted the bill as the ideal anti-epidemic product that truly lives up to its claim. In line with his belief that biotech should always benefit the people, Bond decided to apply the technology on different products and launch them as soon as he could. Over the years, he had built an extensive personal network which helped him convene a research and publicity team with relatively short notice. With keen financial support from his former employer, Bond spent nearly two months with his team to conduct tests repeatedly, while modifying the formula of his nano-antibacterial coating for the best performance in daily life. The brand Nanofactor was born at last. It takes the right people at the right time and the right place for a business opportunity to thrive. It takes profound knowledge, extensive experience, personal network, and collaborative synergy for a brand to emerge.
According to Bond, “biotech isn’t just an industry. It should always bring benefits to the people in the first place. Therefore, amid the pandemic, I took the initiative to contact my alma mater IVE (Chai Wan) by providing antibacterial coating service on the campus. I really hoped to offer better protection to IVE students and teachers.” He believed the coating would bring greater benefits to more people when applied in public spaces like a school.
Heroic return, back to his roots
In the post-pandemic era, Bond revisited his roots by quitting his job in the pharmaceutical industry and returning to the biotech sector. He emphasised that a good biotech company must have its own factories, technology and products. That’s the reason he chose to join a biotechnology company again.
Hired to set up a new production plant, Bond was in charge of designing the company’s own factory with over 20,000 square feet of floor space to manufacture new products. He also managed the whole construction project. As the factory was converted from a floor of an existing building in Hong Kong, Bond had to consider relevant fire regulations thoughtfully when handling the project. This was something substantially different from what he had done and quite a new challenge to him. In addition to biotech knowledge, he was also required to have insights on construction and fire regulations. Right then, he realised that becoming a polymath well-versed in different subjects is the only way to achieve success. Specialising in only on one subject leads to knowledge gaps that result in inadequacy and underperformance in case of complex projects. On the contrary, polymaths who are open to acquiring different skills and knowledge beyond their comfort zone are equipped with diverse assets and tools to handle various matters from a macroscopic point of view. That’s the only way to cope with the daily ever-changing needs in a workplace.
Embracing the future, pursuing polymathic knowledge
Bond encourages young people to study hard, so as to understand the truth. Thereafter, practise what you learn to find out your shortcomings in the process. Then study hard again to make up for these shortcomings. Bond discovered that he was lacking in some aspects at work, so he decided to return to his alma mater to pursue knowledge in different contexts. After the pandemic, the general public pays more attention to health-related products and lab test services. He reminded students who are interested in joining the biotech sector to acquire knowledge across various disciplines in addition to biotech subjects. He also urges everyone to always remember why you chose biotech in the first place – the purpose of scientific research is to add value to the world. Let that be your guiding light.