The inaugural dentech-Asia conference convened key opinion leaders, investors, researchers and innovators from around the globe with a bold new vision: to build a bridge from East to West, connecting innovation with investment to accelerate oral health like never before.
The conference officially opened on May 11, 2026 at Seoul National University’s Siheung Campus Convention Center, located in the heart of South Korea’s innovative “Bio Hub” district. Representatives from ADA and ADA Forsyth joined participants from across North America, Europe, and Asia for an energizing two-day event that sparked new connections, showcased bold ideas, and left attendees eager for what comes next.
ADA Forsyth CEO Dr. Wenyuan Shi opened the conference with an overview of ADA and Forsyth’s essential partnership in leading and sustaining advances in the dental industry. Attendees both new and familiar to dentech were reminded of the forum’s growing role in shaping the oral health innovation ecosystem over the last five years, and the significance of this moment marking a new chapter in the future of oral health. His remarks were followed by a welcome message from American Dental Association Executive Director Dr. Nader Nadershahi. Dental Bean CEO Dr. Sungwon Park shared his vision of next generation digital dentistry with the audience.
Day 1
The first panel of dentech-Asia featured some of the most influential dental school deans in Asia. Led by Dr. Young-Seok Park, Dean of Seoul National University School of Dentistry, the academic leaders spoke about turning bright ideas into concrete actions to enhance clinical care and produce a fruitful next generation of dental professionals. The morning’s next panel discussion focused on understanding the U.S. dental ecosystem, gathering experts in intellectual property, manufacturing, and business development.
In his keynote address, ADA Forsyth CSO & COO Dr. Ben Wu presented the institute’s cutting-edge 4-pillar approach to advance its century-long mission into the 21st century. He illustrated how dentech and dentech-Asia are major components of the ADA Forsyth Technology Innovation Ecosystem, and provided specific examples of novel interactions with industry partners that leverage ADA Forsyth’s scientific excellence, technical expertise, research infrastructure, and the powerful dentech ecosystem.
Carrying Day 1 into the afternoon, Dr. Wu led a Q&A session with ADA Forsyth representatives to further discuss research, clinical validation, and technology development. After lunch, a group of elite investors with worldwide experience in the dental market provided an inside view of their decision-making process during the third panel discussion.
Twelve innovative startups presented their dental solutions in the first session of dentech-Asia’s Technology Showcase & Pitch Competition. These companies included Purgo Biologics, Stemden, Contoral Health, Neo Modulus, DCARER, Saint Therapeutics, 3D ONS, Ceramic Technology, Beyond Medicine, IR Scientific, Dental Bean, and Gloud.
Day 2
Asian innovation took center stage on Day 2 of dentech-Asia. The day began with remarks from Seoul National University President Dr. Honglim Ryu, South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare officials Dr. Yu-Kyoung Oh and Dr. Luna Byon, and the Asan Medical Center’s Dr. Bu Kyu Lee. Dr. Young Kee Shin, Director of the Siheung Biohub where the conference took place, delivered the Day 2 keynote address.
Prof. Seog Bae Oh, Director of the SNU-AFI Joint Research Center, served as moderator for Day 2’s first panel discussion. He was joined by six Seoul National University faculty members to discuss new innovations emerging from ADA Forsyth’s ongoing collaboration with SNU. Prof. Oh then moderated the Day 2 Technology Showcase & Pitch Competition featuring presentations by ODS, NIBEC, and DDH.
Four deans of major dental schools across Asia took the stage for Day 2’s second panel. Dr. Xuliang Deng of Peking University School of Stomatology, Dr. Xianglong Han of West China School of Stomatology, Dr. Lijian Jin of Hong Kong University Faculty of Dentistry, and Dr. Mohamed Jamal of Dubai Health provided a window into each of their regions’ advancements in scaling oral health innovation and technology development.
In Day 2’s final session, Dr. Densen Cao of CAO Group and Dr. Rainer Seeman of Dentsply Sirona presented fascinating success stories in dental innovations.
Korea Dental Industry Association President Dr. Young-ku Heo and American Dental Association President Dr. Richard Rosato delivered inspirational closing remarks, punctuating the successful completion of dentech-Asia’s first chapter. In what felt like a metaphorical ribbon-cutting, their message was clear: the bridge is officially open, and a new era of oral health innovation begins today.
Dr. Rosato was then joined on stage once again by Dr. Shi, Dr. Wu, and Dean Park to present awards on behalf of the Judges and Organizing Committee:
- IR Scientific was selected as Winner of the Pitch Competition: Pre-Revenue Companies for its presentation on its first product, Sensi-IP, a bioactive glass technology aimed at reducing dentin hypersensitivity.
- NIBEC was selected as Winner of the Technology Showcase: Post-Revenue Companies for its presentation on manufacturing expertise in regenerative biomaterials.
- Dr. Jeremy Krell, Managing Partner at Revere Partners, was presented with a special new award for outstanding citizenship in the oral health innovation ecosystem.
In his final thank-you’s and closing remarks to an audience already in high spirits, Dr. Shi delivered one more announcement to end this landmark event on a note of excitement – we’ll see you next spring for ADA Forsyth dentech-Asia 2027 at Hong Kong!
After an intensive day and a half of conference programming, attendees were treated to a special networking experience curated by our Korean hosts, including traditional Korean arts and culture, K-pop dance performances, and some friendly competition to further strengthen new connections.
ADA Forsyth dentech-Asia at Seoul was co-hosted by the ADA Forsyth Institute, Seoul National University, and Peking University School of Stomatology, and organized by Dental Bean. The event organizers and co-hosts extend their sincere thanks to all event sponsors, including gold sponsor ODS, Inc., for their support in making dentech-Asia possible.
ADA Forsyth and partners are proud to connect dental ecosystem experts from Western countries with the incredible innovation landscape across Asia. The conversation continues in Boston at ADA Forsyth dentech this September.
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