Boston Scientific Accelerates Western China Expansion Strategy to Drive High-Quality Medical Industry Development

CHENGDU, China, Sept. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) officially inaugurated its "Second Headquarters" in China and its Innovation Training Academy in Chengdu. Together with the Western China Logistics Center that recently became operational, these initiatives enable Boston Scientific to leverage Chengdu's radiating influence and driving role to better integrate into the local healthcare ecosystem, promote high-quality medical solutions for grassroots communities in western China, and enhance access to premium healthcare services. On the same day, the "Huaxi-Boston Scientific Joint Innovation Center," co-established by Boston Scientific and West China Clinical Medical College/West China Hospital of Sichuan University (hereinafter referred to as "West China Hospital"), was officially unveiled. The center aims to accelerate the translation of innovative achievements and foster talent development in western China.

The development of western China has always been a core national development strategy. To promote coordinated development between the eastern and western regions, the State Council officially issued the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Formation of a New Pattern in the Large-Scale Development of Western China in the New Era" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions") this May. The "Opinions" put forward requirements for healthcare construction in the western region, including enhancing medical infrastructure and equipment conditions, improving the professional technical level of medical staff, and accelerating the standardized construction of primary healthcare institutions.

"As the world's most innovative medical technology company"One of“Boston Scientific will aim to ‘establish its base in Chengdu and serve the Western region,’ adhere to open cooperation, stimulate market vitality through innovation, and make medical resources more timely and accessible,” said Ms. Zhang Jun, President of Boston Scientific’s Greater China Region. “We will leverage Chengdu’s strategic location and collaborate with partners across all sectors to build an innovative healthcare ecosystem with reach across the Western region, bringing cutting-edge medical technologies to more patients at the grassroots level and fully supporting the construction of a ‘Healthy China.’”

Launch of the “Second Headquarters” in China to Support the Development of the Western Medical Ecosystem

Upholding its mission of “Innovating for Life,” Boston Scientific is actively engaged in the development and construction of western China, designating Chengdu as a strategic hub in the central and western regions. As a key node city in the Belt and Road Initiative, Chengdu boasts a favorable business environment, a robust industrial foundation, abundant talent resources, and a series of supportive policies that guide the medical industry toward scaled, intensive, and park-based development, while promoting deep integration and collaborative innovation across government, industry, academia, research, and healthcare sectors.

Strong government support and strategic location advantages have facilitated the establishment of Boston Scientific’s China “Second Headquarters” and its Innovation Training Academy in Chengdu. Looking ahead, the company will leverage 5G technology to build a telemedicine system, enabling cross-regional collaboration. This initiative aims to cultivate high-caliber medical talent in western China, enhance the service capabilities of primary healthcare institutions, and empower Chengdu to become a smart healthcare hub for western China and the international community.

Boston Scientific’s Western China Logistics Center leverages the efficient logistics system of the Chengdu-Europe Railway Express and air freight, along with the “one warehouse, two systems” management model that integrates bonded and non-bonded warehouses at the Chengdu Tianfu International Bio-town. This approach shortens transportation turnaround time and enhances the diversity and timeliness of the supply chain. As the first company to benefit from the Bio-town’s “one warehouse, two systems” management policy, Boston Scientific completed customs clearance for its first batch of cardiac intervention products within just one day after their arrival in Chengdu. The “Chengdu Speed” has provided greater convenience for Boston Scientific’s supply chain operations in central and western China.

Boston Scientific established its China headquarters in Shanghai in 1997, accumulating extensive local operational and management experience over the past two decades. With the official completion of its “Second Headquarters” and Western Logistics Center in Chengdu, Boston Scientific is replicating its mature operational expertise in Chengdu, leveraging the regional advantages of both Chengdu and Shanghai to achieve complementary strengths, thereby contributing to the accelerated development of the new “dual circulation” paradigm.

“Currently, healthcare has been included in Chengdu’s ‘5+5+1’ key industries, serving as a crucial driver for promoting high-quality economic development in Chengdu. We look forward to deepening our cooperation with Boston Scientific to spur the growth of the medical device industry in the Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone (Chengdu HTIDZ), Chengdu city, and even the broader western region,” said Yu Hui, Director of the Administrative Committee of Chengdu HTIDZ. “The Chengdu HTIDZ will continue to uphold the principles of innovation-driven development and mutual benefit, creating a broader development platform for enterprises across the upstream and downstream of the medical industry, and striving to establish Chengdu as a global center for biomedical innovation and creation.”

Partnering with West China Hospital to Accelerate the Translation of Innovative Medical Achievements

West China Hospital is a key strategic partner for Boston Scientific’s development in Western China, with a collaboration history spanning over 15 years. The jointly established “West China–Boston Scientific Joint Innovation Center” aims to leverage the disciplinary strengths of Sichuan University West China Hospital in basic research and its clinical translational medicine platform, effectively integrating international innovation experience with local R&D practices. This initiative seeks to promote the integrated development of industry, academia, research, and healthcare, while supporting West China Medicine of Sichuan University in achieving its grand vision of “comprehensively reaching world-class standards.”

On that day, Professor Huang Yong, Executive Vice President of West China School of Clinical Medicine, Sichuan University, and West China Hospital, and Ms. Zhang Jun, President of Boston Scientific Greater China, unveiled the plaque for the Joint Innovation Center on behalf of both parties.

FutureBoth parties leverageLeveraging their respective strengths in clinical practice, scientific research, and innovation, they conduct clinical and management training to cultivate outstanding talents in medical device innovation and hospital management for the western region.AroundTopics such as medical innovation, integration of medicine and engineering, and technology translation, along with transnational academic exchanges, seminars, training, and collaborations with top-tier universities, research institutions, and healthcare organizations abroad.

Following the establishment of the West China–Boston Scientific Joint Innovation Center, efficient collaboration with primary care hospitals and medical consortia was achieved through information technologies such as AI, 5G, and big data. This initiative established a discipline-based innovation center for interventional therapy and training, helping hospitals in Western China enhance management efficiency and the quality of medical services.

About Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific Corporation is committed to innovating for life. We are dedicated to developing innovative medical solutions that improve the lives of patients worldwide. For more than 40 years, Boston Scientific has been a leader in the global medical technology industry, offering a broad portfolio of high-performance medical solutions to meet the urgent therapeutic needs of patients and reduce healthcare costs. For more information, please visit our corporate website:www.bostonscientific.cn  

About Boston Scientific Greater China

Boston Scientific established its China headquarters in Shanghai in 1997 and currently maintains branch offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The company’s core business areas include interventional cardiology, structural heart disease, cardiac rhythm management and electrophysiology, endoscopic interventions, peripheral and oncology interventions, urology and pelvic health, and respiratory products. Upholding its tradition as an innovation leader, Boston Scientific is committed to becoming a patient- and physician-centric, innovative, and respected medical technology company by providing high-quality medical products and services for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. For more information, please visit the company’s website:www.bostonscientific.cn