Groundbreaking at Full Speed: Zhangjiang Life Science Projects Outline Future Development Blueprint

Jan 24, 2025 19:10 CST Updated 19:10

Qilu Pharmaceutical

Specialty Formulations and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Developer

Recently, the Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission announced the list of major projects for Shanghai in 2025. In 2025, the city plans to arrange 186 official major projects, including 66 in science and technology industries, 27 in social welfare, 15 in ecological civilization construction, 65 in urban infrastructure, and 13 in urban-rural integration and rural revitalization; additionally, 35 preparatory projects are planned.

Among them, the 2025 list of major projects in Shanghai includes multiple life science-related projects located in Zhangjiang Science City. Some projects are either newly starting construction, reaching structural topping-out, or successfully completing, continuously updating the "progress bar" of construction.

01Technology Industry Category (66 items)

▶ Plan to complete 10 projects.

▶ Plan to start 7 new projects, includingQilu Pharmaceutical Global R&D Headquarters for Innovative DrugsAnd other life science-related projects.

Qilu Pharmaceutical Global R&D Headquarters for Innovative Drugs

On the afternoon of December 2, 2024, the Zhangjiang Science City Construction Management Office of Shanghai and Qilu Pharmaceutical Group held a signing ceremony for a strategic cooperation agreement in Pudong. According to the agreement, Qilu Pharmaceutical Group will build its global R&D headquarters in Zhangjiang Science City, with the project located in the Zhangjiang Science City Private Economy Headquarters Park, representing a total investment of approximately 3 billion yuan.

Qilu Pharmaceutical Group is a large-scale comprehensive modern pharmaceutical enterprise in China, ranking third on the Top 100 List of China's Pharmaceutical Industry. Its businesses cover three major sectors: life health, animal health, and plant protection. The Qilu Pharmaceutical Global R&D Headquarters for Innovative Drugs, located in Zhangjiang, focuses on therapeutic areas such as oncology, autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, and neurological diseases. It has established innovative platforms including precise design of small molecule drugs, monoclonal antibodies/bispecific antibodies, ADC, siRNA, etc., and is building a first-class headquarters park that is technologically advanced, highlights its landmark status, fully functional, environmentally friendly, and beautifully landscaped.

▶ 49 projects under construction, includingShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences Platform for Enhancing Original New Drug Discovery Capabilities, Blue Sail Medical Science and Technology Headquarters and Industrialization BaseAnd other life science-related projects.

Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica Original New Drug Discovery Capability Enhancement Platform

The Original New Drug Discovery Capability Enhancement Platform Project (referred to as the "Newton Road Campus of Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica") invested in and constructed by the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as "Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica"), is located in Zhangjiang Science City. It is bordered by Baireng Road to the east, Chunxiao Road to the south, Newton Road to the west, and Xiating Road to the north. The land area is 33,518.3 square meters, with a total construction area of 145,526 square meters.

Real Scene of the Platform for Enhancing the Development Capability of Original Innovative Drugs on September 14, 2024

(Image source: Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

The project commenced in September 2022 and, after intensive progress through "a competitive spring, a challenging summer, a fruitful autumn, and a rigorous winter," was successfully completed in 2024.

Blue Sail Medical Science and Technology Innovation Headquarters and Industrialization Base Project

The Blue Sail Medical Science and Innovation Headquarters and Industrialization Base Project is located at Plot 40C-01 in the Zhangjiang International Medical Park, covering an area of 29,073 square meters with a total construction area of 149,374 square meters. It mainly consists of four high-rise buildings connected by elevated corridors, aiming to establish an international, modern, and humanized high-tech medical device industrial park based on production and R&D functions.

The project will leverage the advantages of Shanghai as a "global innovation hub" with its talent aggregation, rich interdisciplinary resources, and high degree of internationalization. It will not only become a new engine and connector for Blue Sail Medical's innovation and R&D efforts both internationally and within China, but will also be open to external collaboration, fostering coexistence with various partners in the industry to act as a connector and amplifier for collaborative innovation and development. Additionally, the project aims to become an enabler and incubator for medical talent, projects, innovation, and capital in Zhangjiang and even throughout Shanghai.

(Image source:Blue Sail Medical

In June 2024, the topping-out of Building D, the headquarters of Bluesail Medical Science and Technology Innovation Headquarters and Industrialization Base, marked the official completion of the project’s structural framework, fully transitioning into the general contracting management phase for mechanical and electrical installation, as well as decoration and renovation.

02Social Livelihood Category (27 items)

▶ Plan to complete 3 items.

▶ Plan to start 3 new projects.

▶ 21 projects under construction, includingPudong Campus of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineAnd other life science-related projects.

Pudong Campus of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

The Pudong Campus of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (hereinafter referred to as "Pudong Campus") is located at the southwest corner of Zhangjiang International Medical Park, surrounded by rivers on all sides, with the College River to the east, Wuzao Port to the south, the Zong Er River (east of S3 Expressway) to the west, and the Heng Er River to the north.

The Pudong Campus covers a construction land area of approximately 435 mu (about 29 hectares), with a total floor area of 425,017 square meters. The main construction includes 27 individual buildings: a new administrative building, a medical teaching complex, an experimental teaching complex, a medical research center, a life science museum, a medical research cluster, a library, an archives and history museum, an information center, a medical lecture hall, student dormitories, a comprehensive building for faculty living, a comprehensive gymnasium, a student activity center, and a dining hall.

Since the commencement of construction in 2020, the campus has undergone four years of building work and is currently in the final stages of construction. It is scheduled to be officially operational by September 2025.

(Image source:Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

The construction of the Pudong campus aims to build a world-class medical school and align with Shanghai's development goal of becoming an outstanding global city. Inspired by the humanistic concept of "embracing diversity and integrating Chinese and Western cultures," the campus architecture reflects this core idea. The overall planning balances three key spaces—vitality, living, and ecology—ensuring a rational functional layout, a harmonious and beautiful environment, and distinct contemporary characteristics. It is committed to creating an international, modern, intelligent, green, and sustainable campus that embodies the unique qualities of Shanghai’s medical education.

The list of major projects in Shanghai announced this time also includes 35 preparatory projects, includingSiemens Medical Devices Expansion Project in Shanghai, Phase II of the Proton Heavy Ion HospitalAnd other life science-related projects.

The blueprint has been drawn, and the start means a full sprint. The list published at the beginning of 2025 fills us with great anticipation for the development of Shanghai's biopharmaceutical industry this year. As a significant "territory" in Shanghai’s biopharmaceutical sector, Zhangjiang Pharm Valley will also keep moving forward without pause.