On 11 August, the ECCK attended the 2025 APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies (HWHE) Research Prize Reception, held at the Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel. Since 2014, the APEC HWHE initiative—supported by three APEC working groups and the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany—has promoted women’s health as a foundation for economic participation, launching the HWHE Policy Toolkit in 2015 and the annual Research Prize in 2019 to encourage gender-based research and data-driven policy.
This year’s prize was awarded to Professor Jun Zhu of China’s National Maternal and Child Health Surveillance Office for developing an innovative surveillance system that integrates population- and hospital-based data to guide maternal health policy. Covering more than 140 million people, the system has contributed to a significant reduction in China’s maternal mortality rate, from 31.9 to 15.1 deaths per 100,000 live births between 2009 and 2023.
By recognising outstanding research that improves women’s health and economic inclusion, the APEC HWHE Research Prize continues to highlight the importance of evidence-based approaches to achieving inclusive growth across the Asia-Pacific region. In line with this vision, the ECCK remains committed to advancing gender equality, diversity, and family-friendly corporate cultures through its Family-Friendly Future Forum (FFFF) initiatives.
ECCK Attends 2025 APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies Research Prize Reception
On 11 August, the ECCK attended the 2025 APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies (HWHE) Research Prize Reception, held at the Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel. Since 2014, the APEC HWHE initiative—supported by three APEC working groups and the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany—has promoted women’s health as a foundation for economic participation, launching the HWHE Policy Toolkit in 2015 and the annual Research Prize in 2019 to encourage gender-based research and data-driven policy.
This year’s prize was awarded to Professor Jun Zhu of China’s National Maternal and Child Health Surveillance Office for developing an innovative surveillance system that integrates population- and hospital-based data to guide maternal health policy. Covering more than 140 million people, the system has contributed to a significant reduction in China’s maternal mortality rate, from 31.9 to 15.1 deaths per 100,000 live births between 2009 and 2023.
By recognising outstanding research that improves women’s health and economic inclusion, the APEC HWHE Research Prize continues to highlight the importance of evidence-based approaches to achieving inclusive growth across the Asia-Pacific region. In line with this vision, the ECCK remains committed to advancing gender equality, diversity, and family-friendly corporate cultures through its Family-Friendly Future Forum (FFFF) initiatives.