2024 Inaugural West China Proof-of-Concept Accelerator Officially Launched!

On November 8, the launch ceremony of the “1st West China Concept Verification Accelerator Camp,” jointly organized by West China Hospital of Sichuan University, the Western China Medical Technology Transfer Center, and the Sichuan Provincial Medical Science and Technology Education Center, was successfully held in the conference hall on the first floor of the Huanhuaxi International Smart Medical Valley Concept Verification Center. More than 60 representatives from government-affiliated institutions, innovation and commercialization platforms, leading enterprises, top-tier investors, and innovative project teams participated in the event.

This Accelerator Camp aims to bring together key innovation elements—including policy, capital, high-level talent, innovative culture, leading enterprises, and academic and research institutions—to explore the establishment of mechanisms for sharing medical innovation resources and accelerating collaborative outcomes, as well as proof-of-concept service models. The initiative seeks to bridge the “first mile” from laboratory to market, thereby accelerating the commercialization and industrial application of scientific and technological achievements.

The successful holding of this acceleration camp kickoff meeting marks a critical phase of the competition, providing stronger support for the translation of medical innovation achievements. It is expected to foster more outstanding projects in the field of medical innovation and further promote the innovative upgrading of the “West China Model for Achievement Translation.”

Zhao Ziling, Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Medical Science and Technology Education Center; Huang Hai, Director of the Achievement Transfer and Transformation Service Division of the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology; Li Dengwei, Deputy Director of the Management Committee of Huaxi Medical Aesthetics Health City in Wuhou District; and Ms. Chen Liangyu, Business Innovation and Solutions Manager at Boston Scientific, delivered opening remarks. Qu Guanglin, Deputy General Manager of Wuhou Development Group; Shen Yaling, Deputy Department Head of Wuhou Development Group; and representatives of industry experts participating in the re-evaluation attended the meeting.

IVZhao Ziling, Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Medical Science and Technology Education CenterIt was stated that the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China clearly emphasized the need to deepen reforms in the mechanism for transforming scientific and technological achievements, thereby providing robust scientific and technological support for Chinese-style modernization. Proof of concept is a critical step in this transformation process, playing a vital role in enabling science and technology projects to achieve the “three-stage leap” from “scientific research” to “experimental development” and finally to “market commercialization.” It is hoped that this acceleration camp will foster mutual benefit and win-win outcomes for all parties involved, allowing the vibrant flowers of science and technology to bear fruitful industrial results.

Mr. Huang Hai, Director of the Achievement Transfer and Transformation Service Division, Chengdu Municipal Science and Technology BureauIt was stated that in recent years, the Chengdu Municipal Government has attached great importance to scientific and technological innovation, consistently prioritizing it and vigorously promoting the development of concept verification centers and pilot-scale testing platforms. A series of highly targeted and effective support policies have been successively introduced, including the “Chengdu Administrative Measures for Funding Concept Verification Centers and Pilot-Scale Testing Platforms (Trial).” It is expected that this accelerator program will further promote the integration and synergistic efforts of various factors, continuously injecting strong momentum into the translation of medical innovation achievements, thereby fostering the emergence of more projects with innovative potential and market viability.

Deputy Director Li Dengwei, Management Committee of West China Medical Aesthetics Health City, Wuhou DistrictIt was mentioned that the competition aims to deepen the sharing and collaborative mechanisms for medical innovation resources, accelerate the translation of achievements from the laboratory to the market, and promote the commercialization and industrialization of scientific and technological outcomes. In recent years, Wuhou District has leveraged resources such as the “One University, Four Hospitals” model to focus on the big health industry, strengthen scientific and technological innovation and achievement translation, and build a collaborative innovation system characterized by “R&D in universities, application in localities.” Looking ahead, Wuhou District will rely on its Concept Verification Center to improve the mechanism for translating scientific and technological achievements, support the growth of new projects, and foster high-quality development of the big health industry.

Ms. Chen Liangyu, Business Innovation and Solutions Manager at Boston ScientificIt was stated that West China Hospital is a key strategic partner of Boston Scientific. Leveraging West China Hospital’s leading disciplinary resources and clinical translation platform, both parties are jointly advancing medical-engineering translation. This competition represents another initiative by Boston Scientific at West China Hospital, aiming to establish a communication platform among clinical researchers, medical institutions, and enterprises, thereby promoting collaboration between medicine and industry as well as between medicine and engineering, and building a collaborative innovation ecosystem integrating industry, academia, and research. In the future, Boston Scientific will support projects selected for the accelerator program to foster innovative development, with the expectation that participating teams will lay a solid foundation for subsequent R&D and commercialization through the accelerator’s multifaceted evaluation process.

Director Lei Juan, Western Sichuan Medical Technology Transfer CenterA detailed report was presented to the attendees on the preliminary preparations and pre-research work for the competition, covering stages from mobilization and call for entries, recruitment of industry partners, and organization of review experts, to discussions on evaluation metrics. After intense competition, 30 projects emerged as finalists, and preliminary in-depth interviews for some of these projects were completed this week. The next step will focus on fully promoting the inaugural West China Proof-of-Concept Accelerator Camp, providing a comprehensive growth platform. Through practical training and interactive on-site learning, along with case-based guidance and customized project analysis, the program aims to empower scientific teams, significantly increase the success rate of commercializing achievements, and facilitate the smooth translation and implementation of high-quality scientific research outcomes. Finally, the Director further promoted the West China International Smart Medical Valley Proof-of-Concept Platform and outlined the future development blueprint for the big health industry in Wuhou District, emphasizing the construction of a collaborative ecosystem spanning the entire chain of innovation and translation.

Under the joint witness of representatives from all parties, the Accelerator Program for the 1st West China Innovation Achievement Proof-of-Concept and Innovation Translation Competition was officially launched!

It is reported that the “1st West China Proof-of-Concept Acceleration Camp” aims to provide a comprehensive growth platform for research teams on the cusp of industrialization who have achieved breakthroughs in technical principles. The organizers closely integrate commercial proof-of-concept for scientific achievements with patent portfolio strategy, empowering scientist teams through hands-on training and interactive on-site learning, guided by case studies and customized project analysis. This approach significantly increases the likelihood of successful commercialization and facilitates the smooth translation and implementation of high-quality scientific research outcomes.

During the session, Mr. Zhang Han, General Manager of Jusi Rui International Technology Transfer Investment Consulting, a core partner of this accelerator program, provided a comprehensive overview of the program to the participating project teams. The presentation covered preliminary project research and interview summaries, enabling participants to master methods for validating commercial feasibility, learn five key business tools and intellectual property tools, and establish a visualized approach to lean innovation learning.

Following the conference, General Manager Zhang Han delivered a keynote address titled “Challenges in the Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements: Ownership Issues in Collaboration with Enterprises,” delving into the core challenges inherent in this process. Through multiple case studies, he emphasized the importance of understanding key intellectual property (IP) considerations during project advancement. Mr. Zhang further explained that the transfer and commercialization of patents represent a critical transition from technology and IP to marketable products. He highlighted pivotal issues in this process, noting that ambiguous agreements on ownership rights have become one of the key factors hindering the smooth progress of industry-academia-research collaborations.

We are confident that, through the joint efforts of all parties, the Accelerator Program will serve as a bridge connecting scientific innovation with clinical needs, enabling more outstanding medical innovations to emerge and flourish. Let us look forward to the impressive performances of the participating companies during the Accelerator Program, welcome the accelerated incubation of batches of high-potential projects, inject fresh vitality into the vigorous development of healthcare, and jointly write a new chapter in the translation of medical scientific and technological achievements!

1. Carefully formulate a roadmap for the commercialization of research outcomes.

2. Precise Positioning for Validation Application Scenarios.

3. Facilitate the design of innovative business models.

1. Extensive connections to industry resources.

2. Deep integration with top-tier venture capital resources.

1. Inbound Management: Enjoy End-to-End Service Management.

2. Provide end-to-end tracking and timely answers to questions, ensuring comprehensive support.

1. In the course “Reshaping the Origin of Research Value: How Scientific Achievements Address Practical Needs,” the team will learn how to keenly identify commercial opportunities within scientific research outcomes.

2. Use the Value Proposition Canvas, a practical tool, to scientifically evaluate and screen potential business opportunities.

3. Conduct commercial opportunity validation discussions to stimulate team innovation and unlock the maximum commercial value of scientific research achievements.

1. The course “Product Development Planning for Scientific and Technological Achievements” will guide teams to gain an in-depth understanding of the theories and tools spanning from customer needs to product functional design.

2. Master the key elements of Product-Market Fit and precisely position within niche market segments.

3. Construct the Whole Product Concept (WPC), develop a Minimum Viable Prototype (MVP), and continuously optimize product development planning through validation and discussion.

1. The course “Industrialization of Scientific and Technological Achievements: Business Model Deduction and Technology Transfer Planning” will enable the team to master methods for competitive market analysis and differentiated design.

2. Learn the methodology for designing business models in hard technology—specifically, the Business Model Canvas—and engage in practical exercises for business model design.