Chongqing Medical Science and Technology Innovation Achievements Transformation Competition Advances to Final Round with 46 Projects

Recently, Semifinals of the Chongqing Medical Science and Technology Innovation Achievement Transformation Competition and Closing Ceremony of the Innovation Achievement Training CampAtHeld in the Chongqing High-Tech Zone. After a day of fierce competition,46 projects advanced to the finals, including 13 in the pharmaceutical category, 21 in the medical device category, and 12 in the medical technology category.

The Innovation Achievement Training Camp is an innovative initiative of this competition. Since the launch of the competition in September, 84 achievements have stood out from 376 registered projects and been included in the training camp. Most members of the shortlisted teams come from clinical frontlines and lack experience in achievement transformation. In response to this situation, the competition organizing committee has prepared three major measures to “safeguard” the smooth transformation of these achievements.

First, experts were invited to deliver lectures. Ten senior experts from the fields of clinical practice, industry, and investment carefully prepared ten online and offline courses to help teams clarify key steps in achievement transformation and accelerate project incubation. Second, technology transfer managers were invited to participate throughout the process. Sixteen technology transfer managers with profound backgrounds in the pharmaceutical sector were matched with the shortlisted teams. Through offline discussions and online consultations, they provided resource matchmaking services in technology, market access, and investment/financing, thereby enhancing the teams’ commercialization capabilities and helping them clarify the workflow for implementation. Third, understanding of achievement transformation was deepened through field visits and case sharing. Official organizers led the shortlisted teams to conduct research and study at facilities such as the State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Medical Engineering, the Western (Science City) International Exchange and Cooperation Center, and the Jinfeng Laboratory. By listening to case studies and policy presentations, participants gained a deeper understanding of achievement transformation through real-world examples and sharpened their sensitivity to market demands.

The semi-finals were conducted in the form of project roadshows, where shortlisted teams simulated real-world scenarios to present the highlights, market potential, and business plans of their entries to the panel of judges. The experts attentively listened to each presentation, provided detailed comments and guidance, and expressed optimism regarding the commercialization prospects of many projects.

VCBeat has noted that the projects advancing to the semi-finals largely focus on livelihood issues. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death among adults worldwide, with coronary microvascular disease (CMVD) accounting for approximately 50% of CHD cases. However, there is a lack of simple and cost-effective diagnostic methods for this condition. The project led by Professor Zhang Zhihui, Director of the Department of Cardiology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, titled “Construction and Application of a Non-invasive Diagnostic Technology System for Coronary Microvascular Disease,” can enhance the precision of diagnosis and treatment for CHD and further improve patient prognosis.

To address the challenges in identifying and intervening in depression and anxiety among children and adolescents, as well as the scarcity of professional psychiatric resources, a team led by Dr. Zhou Xinyu, Deputy Director of the Department of Psychiatry at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, has developed the “MOCA Intelligent Platform for Mental Health in Children and Adolescents (Digital Therapeutics),” enabling full-cycle psychological services encompassing “screening, early warning, assessment, treatment, and prognosis.”

NHWD-870, a Class 1.1 novel innovative drug developed by the team of Yin Mingzhu, Vice President of Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, is currently undergoing Phase II clinical trials. Promising efficacy has been observed in indications such as hematologic malignancies, lung cancer, and NUT midline carcinoma, offering new hope for patients with advanced-stage cancer.

On November 29, the competition will hold its finals, where several first-, second-, and third-prize winners will be selected. According to the organizers, winning teams will receive not only cash awards but also various forms of support and incentive policies. The organizing committee further provides an industry exchange platform for participating projects, building bridges for communication and collaboration among clinical practice, scientific research, and the market. By leveraging the competition’s support and policy empowerment to promote “translation through competition,” the initiative aims to help more innovative achievements move out of the laboratory to serve patients and benefit public welfare.