Johnson & Johnson Vision and China Eye Valley Establish 'J&J Eye Valley Innovation Chain' to Advance Global Eye Health

Wenzhou, Zhejiang, November 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, at the opening ceremony of the 2021 China Eye Valley Optometry Innovation and Development International Forum and the Third Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Challenge, Johnson & Johnson Vision and China Eye Valley jointly announced that the two parties would further solidify their cooperation based on the Johnson & Johnson Boao Innovation Chain and Zhejiang Province's Johnson & Johnson Optometry Innovation Chain to establish a third cooperation chain -- the "Johnson & Johnson Eye Valley Innovation Chain." The aim is to create an industrial innovation platform and contribute to the global public eye health cause. Wang Chi, Vice Mayor of Wenzhou Municipal People's Government, and Professor Qu Jia, Chairman of China Eye Valley Council and General Director of Wenzhou Medical University Eye Hospital Group, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.

Christoph Vonwiller, Vice President of Johnson & Johnson Vision Asia-Pacific, sent a congratulatory message via video for this event: "We are delighted to join hands with the China Eye Valley to gradually realize our shared vision for the ophthalmology sector and promote the healthy development of the eye care industry." He stated, "Innovation is a core element of the 21st century and has become an indispensable driving force in our lives today. As one of the global leaders in the eye health industry, Johnson & Johnson Vision has always been committed to leveraging innovation and research and development to address various unmet healthcare needs. We look forward to collaborating with China Eye Valley, centered in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, to lead the development of eye health and widely promote industry standards."

During the forum, Johnson & Johnson Vision's three major ophthalmic training bases -- the Femtosecond Laser Corneal Transplant Cooperation Base, the Refractive Cataract Training Base, and the Eye Valley Asia-Pacific Demonstration Base -- were successfully established in China's Eye Valley. Xia Yu-jian, the mayor of Longwan District, Wenzhou City, and the director of Wenzhou High-tech Zone Management Committee, Professor Qu Jia, the chairman of the China Eye Valley Council and the general president of Wenzhou Medical University Eye Hospital Group, and Mr. Wang Li-ping, Vice President of Johnson & Johnson Vision for Greater China, Australia, and New Zealand, jointly participated in the unveiling ceremony.

Launch Ceremony of Johnson & Johnson Vision's Three Major Ophthalmic Training Bases Settling in China Eye Valley. From left to right: Professor Jia Qu, Chairman of the Board of China Eye Valley and Chief Executive Officer of Wenzhou Medical University Eye Hospital Group, Liping Wang, Vice President of Johnson & Johnson Vision for Greater China, Australia, and New Zealand, and Yujiao Xia, District Chief of Longwan District, Wenzhou City, and Director of Wenzhou High-tech Zone Management Committee.

Professor Jia Qu, Chairman of the China Eye Valley Council and General Director of the Wenzhou Medical University Eye Hospital Group, stated: "The friendship and cooperation between Johnson & Johnson Vision and the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University has spanned 30 years, always moving forward together and growing side by side. This renewed collaboration with Johnson & Johnson to build the 'Johnson & Johnson Eye Valley Innovation Chain' will become a new starting point for our friendship and progress. In the future, China Eye Valley and the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University will spare no effort in supporting Johnson & Johnson’s presence in China, connecting with Wenzhou in Zhejiang, and linking with Boao in Hainan, accelerating new technology R&D and clinical research, new product registration, and promotion, creating a new landscape for the development of ophthalmology."

During the forum, the 2021 Annual Expert Committee Appointment Ceremony of China Eye Valley was also held. Mr. Wang Liping, Vice President of Johnson & Johnson Vision for Greater China, Australia, and New Zealand, accepted the appointment certificate as an industry representative. Looking ahead to the "Johnson & Johnson Eye Valley Innovation Chain," Wang Liping stated: "China Eye Valley is a leading ophthalmic optics industry innovation service complex platform, with its unique eye health innovation ecosystem that deeply integrates scientific research, healthcare, and government. Through this collaboration with China Eye Valley, we hope to fully leverage the comprehensive platform advantages of China Eye Valley in specialized ophthalmology development, high-tech industrial incubation, and academic exchange in optometry and ophthalmology. By utilizing Johnson & Johnson Vision's innovative capabilities in refractive cataract surgery, femtosecond laser treatment, and the introduction of new technology products, we aim to combine our strengths to jointly advance the construction of the 'Johnson & Johnson Eye Valley Innovation Chain' and contribute to the thriving development of China’s eye health initiatives."

2021 Annual Expert Committee Inauguration Ceremony of China Eye Valley - Mr. Liping Wang (fourth from the left), Vice President of Johnson & Johnson Vision for Greater China, Australia, and New Zealand

As one of the most influential series of events in China in the field of optometry and ophthalmology, the "International Forum on Innovative Development of Optometry and Ophthalmology at China Eye Valley" is not only a key branch activity of the "2021 World Young Scientists Summit," but also a major event for the concentrated debut of new technologies, trends, concepts, and achievements, as well as academic exchange in ophthalmology. The conference features nine sub-forums, where experts from various fields will conduct research and discussions on optometry, pharmaceuticals, optics, artificial intelligence, big data, and cutting-edge analysis. After the opening ceremony, the Johnson & Johnson Vision team was also invited to attend the "3rd Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Challenge at China Eye Valley," to witness the birth of high-quality projects in the global eye health sector and to create a better future together with China Eye Valley.

Johnson & Johnson Vision is always committed to bringing global innovative technologies, solutions, and advanced manufacturing experience to China, benefiting more ophthalmic patients. In the future, Johnson & Johnson Vision will continue to deepen its development in China, collaborate with the government and industry partners, promote the convergence, integration, and collaborative innovation of multi-party resources in the industrial chain, accelerate the transformation and implementation of world-class ophthalmic technologies and products in China, and drive the high-quality development of China's eye health initiatives, contributing to the realization of the grand goal of Healthy China.