Hong Kong surgical robotics firm hosts first Surgical Futures Forum as $700m Medtronic deal takes centre stage

Hong Kong surgical robotics company Cornerstone Robotics hosted its inaugural Surgical Futures Forum at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Monday, November 9, under the theme "Redefining Access to Surgical Care Through Robotics & Innovation", bringing together global healthcare leaders, policymakers and clinical experts to discuss how robotic technology can expand access to high-quality surgical care.

The forum's opening ceremony was officiated by Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR Government. Also in attendance were Clara Chan, CEO of Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC), Geoff Martha, chairman and CEO of Medtronic, and Prof. Samuel Au, founder and CEO of Cornerstone Robotics.

Medtronic's $700 million strategic investment

A highlight of the forum was a toasting ceremony celebrating Cornerstone's strategic partnership with Medtronic, the global medical technology leader. Under the agreement announced on September 1, Medtronic will make an approximately $700 million strategic investment in Cornerstone and secure rights to distribute its self-developed Sentire surgical system in selected markets outside the US where the system is approved, alongside Medtronic's own Hugo robotic-assisted surgery system.

The Sentire system, developed entirely in-house by Cornerstone, has completed multi-specialty clinical trials. It received approval from China's National Medical Products Administration in 2024, and in May 2026 gained CE Mark certification in the European Union and approval from Singapore's Health Sciences Authority, covering minimally invasive general, gynecologic, thoracic and urologic procedures.

A Hong Kong innovation company going global

Cornerstone was founded in Hong Kong in 2019 and is headquartered at Hong Kong Science Park in Shatin, with operations in the Greater Bay Area and the United Kingdom. The company says its goal is to bring advanced surgical technology to patients in more regions, rather than concentrating it in a small number of large hospitals. Medtronic said Sentire will complement its Hugo system, giving surgeons and health systems more choice.