Roche China Accelerator Building Inaugurated in Shanghai to Propel Local Innovation onto the Global Stage

On September 28, 2023, the inauguration ceremony of the Roche China Accelerator Building was held at the Zhangjiang High-Tech Park in Shanghai. Dr. Severin Schwan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Roche Group, Dr. Thomas Schinecker, Global CEO of Roche Group, members of the Roche Group Board of Directors and leadership team, the Roche China leadership team, representatives from Zhangjiang Group, and partner representatives of the accelerator attended the event and witnessed this milestone moment. The Roche China Accelerator, with an investment of nearly 300 million RMB, is the first accelerator independently established and operated by Roche globally. Start-up companies can access Roche’s full range of local resources, including research, early development, and commercialization. The new accelerator building will provide advanced laboratory and office spaces for start-ups, accelerating the transformation of cutting-edge results and supporting China's R&D efforts in reaching the global stage.

Roche China Accelerator Building Completion Ceremony
Participating in the completion ceremony was one of the key itineraries for the Roche Group's Board of Directors and leadership team during their visit to China. During their time in China, the board and leadership team conducted government visits and engaged in in-depth exchanges with partners and internal talent. "I have personally experienced the innovative vitality and enormous potential here. We not only regard China as an important market but are also committed to transforming China into an innovation hub through open collaboration, bringing better healthcare solutions to patients in China and around the world," said Dr. Severin Schwan, Chairman of the Roche Group’s Board of Directors. "The Roche China Accelerator is a testament to empowering the local innovation ecosystem, and we hope to work hand-in-hand with partners in the ecosystem to accelerate innovation and benefit more patients."

Dr. Severin Schwan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Roche Group
The brand-new Roche China Accelerator building, crafted with dedication over two years, is located in the core area of the Zhangjiang High-Tech Park in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, covering a total area of more than 5,000 square meters. As Roche's first self-built and operated accelerator globally, the Roche China Accelerator has invested nearly 300 million RMB, integrating Roche’s own resources and strengths to provide targeted support for startups through agile and flexible cooperation methods. This includes access to funding channels, collaboration opportunities, R&D experience, advanced laboratory equipment, and other resources tailored for startups in innovative drugs, diagnostics, personalized healthcare, artificial intelligence, and other fields, helping transform scientific research achievements into practical applications. Since its launch, more than ten companies have been selected from hundreds to become accelerator member enterprises, and ten early-stage R&D collaborations have been established with the Roche China Innovation Center, jointly exploring new scientific directions and technology platforms.
The accelerator building ingeniously connects laboratories, office areas, and public spaces to meet the flexible needs of research and office work for start-up companies. The building achieves green energy savings through efficient envelope structures, lighting systems, energy recovery, temperature control, and other environmentally friendly technologies. After the completion of the Roche China Accelerator building, which combines excellent laboratory design quality and sustainable architectural features, it will help start-ups overcome challenges and incubate innovative scientific research results that will occupy a high ground globally. This will promote the development of Zhangjiang's new innovation ecosystem and Shanghai's science and technology innovation center, contributing to the establishment of a world-class medical industry cluster with international influence.
Notably, the Accelerator Building was upgraded and constructed on the original site of Roche's Shanghai R&D Center. As early as 2004, Roche established an R&D center in China, the first R&D center set up by Roche in an emerging market and the first independently built R&D center by a multinational pharmaceutical company in Shanghai. In 2019, Roche invested an additional 863 million RMB to upgrade the R&D center into the brand-new Roche Shanghai Innovation Center. In 2021, the Roche China Accelerator, with an investment of 300 million RMB, was launched in Shanghai with the support of the government and partners. In 2022, to further promote innovation in China and increase R&D investment, the Roche Shanghai Innovation Center (RICS) was officially upgraded to the Roche China Innovation Center (CICoR), which has independent decision-making authority for new drug research and early development. Covering new drug R&D in disease areas such as immunology and oncology, it continuously develops innovative medicines for patients in China and worldwide.
Dr. Shen Hong, Head of Roche China Innovation Center, stated: "As a pharmaceutical company driven by innovation, Roche has always maintained continuous investment in R&D. The completion of the Roche China Accelerator building represents the continuation and inheritance of Roche's innovative DNA in this land. In the future, we will continue to spare no effort in providing practical assistance to local startups. We hope that under the leadership of Dr. Tang Qi Song, the Accelerator can inspire more innovative ideas through collaboration with outstanding startups, leading to more breakthrough innovations. While benefiting more patients in China, we aim to help Chinese R&D reach the global stage."

Dr. Hong Shen, Head of Roche China Innovation Center
Roche's ties with China date back nearly a century. As one of the earliest multinational companies to establish operations in China, Roche has consistently upheld its long-term commitment to the Chinese market and patients by providing top-tier differentiated medicines and diagnostic solutions. It also empowers the development of China’s healthcare innovation ecosystem. Among large multinational pharmaceutical companies, Roche was the first to build a complete pharmaceutical value chain in China, encompassing research, development, production, and marketing, addressing unmet needs of Chinese patients. Ms. Bian Xin, General Manager of Roche Pharma China, stated: "Roche has always adhered to the principle of 'acting on patients’ needs first,' delivering cutting-edge innovative solutions to patients in China. We look forward to the completion of the Roche China Accelerator, which will enable more innovative achievements to be born here and benefit patients in China and globally at the earliest opportunity. We will also continue to collaborate with multiple partners to create an innovative, cooperative, and diverse local healthcare ecosystem, jointly contributing to the grand vision of 'Healthy China 2030.'"