Launch of the 2024 Biopharmaceutical 'Innovation Star' Process Competition

On June 29, 2024, the first Biopharmaceutical “Innovation Star” Process Competition officially opened at the Suzhou International Expo Center. The event was guided by the China Pharmaceutical Equipment Engineering Association and jointly organized by DeepBlue View, the UK Chapter of the CBA, and the Shanghai Biomedical Industry Association.

Experts from industry associations, pharmaceutical companies, and equipment manufacturers convened to illuminate the grand event of bioprocessing innovation, offering new solutions for the efficient and high-quality development of China’s biopharmaceutical enterprises.

Liu Weizhan, Party Secretary and Vice President of the China Pharmaceutical Equipment Engineering Association, stated that as the biopharmaceutical industry is a crucial component of China’s high-tech sector, it is hoped that a broad platform for exchange will be established to promote technological advancement and industrial upgrading within China’s biopharmaceutical industry. While emphasizing frontier technologies and basic research in biopharmaceuticals, he also highlighted the need to prioritize enhancing the level of basic industrial applications and improving the competencies of frontline practitioners. This constitutes the foundation for the industry’s existence and development, serves as the basis for applied innovation, and underpins the conversion of cutting-edge technologies into production capacity and corporate profits.

Liu Weizhan, Party Secretary and Vice President of the China Pharmaceutical Equipment Engineering Association

Wang Yin, a board member of the New England Chapter of the Chinese Biopharmaceutical Association (CBA-NE), shared her insights on the development of innovative processes from an international perspective. She pointed out that process development, as a critical component of innovative drug projects, is also a key dimension for evaluating the global competitiveness of Chinese biopharmaceutical companies. She expressed hope that more such competitions will be held to cultivate a cohort of future leaders in the field of bioprocessing who possess an international vision and cutting-edge innovation capabilities, thereby further advancing the global expansion of Chinese enterprises.

Yin Wang, Board Member of the New England Chapter of the Chinese Biopharmaceutical Association (CBA-NE)

Chen Shaoxiong, Executive President and Secretary-General of the Shanghai Biopharmaceutical Industry Association, highlighted innovative bioprocessing technologies. He remarked that within the wave of technological innovation, every minor breakthrough has the potential to foster transformative power. Therefore, he expressed the hope that an innovation competition would pool the wisdom and strength of the entire industry to jointly explore new pathways in biomanufacturing, striving toward the goals of lower costs, reduced consumption, and higher output.

 Chen Shaoxiong, Executive President and Secretary-General of the Shanghai Biopharmaceutical Industry Association

Ke Ying, who is responsible for R&D at Shanghai Pharmaceuticals and also serves as Executive Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Pharma Frontier, as well as Vice Chair of the judging panel for this competition, shared her perspectives on innovative bioprocessing from the viewpoint of a pharmaceutical company. She noted that revolutionary improvements have been achieved in cell line antibody expression rates in recent years, the price of CAR-T therapy has dropped from one million yuan per dose to a level affordable for the general public, production efficiency has increased, and supply chains have become more stable—all of which are inseparable from optimization and innovation in the field of process development. It is hoped that this competition will inspire more frontline practitioners to think innovatively in their daily work, thereby promoting technological advancement and industrial upgrading in the field of bioprocessing.

Deputy Director, R&D Management Center, Shanghai Pharmaceuticals

Ke Ying, Director and Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Frontier, Vice Chairman of the Competition Jury

As a key link in the biopharmaceutical innovative process industry chain, Ren Xueyun, Head of Bioprocess Marketing at Sartorius China, shared that an innovation competition focused on process technologies can collectively raise industry awareness of more economical, efficient, and safe innovative processes. This aligns with the top-level design’s call to “develop new quality productive forces and drive progress through technological innovation.” Sartorius, from its perspective as a partner, will support research and development in the field of bioprocessing by providing high-quality products and services, along with more innovative solutions.

 Ren Xueyun, Head of Bioprocess Marketing, Sartorius China

In addition, Wang Haibin, CEO of Hisun-Pfizer Biologics and Co-Chair of the competition’s judging panel, shared her perspectives on the Innovative Process Competition. She noted that advancements in process technology can streamline the development steps for innovative molecules at the R&D stage, thereby accelerating new drug development; from the perspective of commercial manufacturing, it can enhance product quality and stability through greener and more efficient methods. She expressed hope that the competition would promote the advancement of cutting-edge process applications and lead the biopharmaceutical industry toward innovative development.

Wang Haibin, President of Zhejiang Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. and Chair of the Competition Jury

Finally, witnessed by all the experts present, the experts and consultants from various parties jointly announced the official launch of the inaugural Biopharmaceutical “Innovation Star” Process Competition.

We aim to encourage the industry-wide adoption of cost reduction and efficiency enhancement in manufacturing, raise awareness and recognition of innovative processes, jointly drive the development of China’s biopharmaceutical sector, and reshape the future of life sciences by hosting a pharmaceutical process competition targeted at biopharmaceutical companies both domestically and internationally.

FollowDeep Blue View Official Account, click the menu bar "Process Competition", submit the required materials and complete the registration.

From now until December 31, 2024

China Pharmaceutical Equipment Engineering Association

• New England Chapter of the Chinese American Biopharmaceutical Society (CABS)

• Shanghai Biopharmaceutical Industry Association

• DeepBlue View

• Shanghai Pharma Frontier Center

• Sartorius

• Shanghai Biomedical Science and Technology Development Center

• Shanghai Biopharmaceutical Fund

Application Requirements:

(1) Implemented by legal entities or other organizations legally registered within the People's Republic of China (including the Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions), in compliance with the laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China.

(II) The project represents the development direction of the biopharmaceutical industry. It demonstrates innovation and cost-effectiveness in process implementation, with key indicators—including quality, economic benefits, energy efficiency, environmental protection, and emission/carbon reduction—reaching a leading level domestically. As such, it serves as a model and driver for industry advancement.

• Innovation "Cost Reduction" Award

• Innovation “Efficiency Enhancement” Award

  
  

• Innovation "Green Low-Carbon" Award

  
  

• Innovation "Quality Enhancement" Award