Industry-Academia-Research-Clinical Collaboration Rides Policy Tailwinds: China Pharmaceutical Innovation and Research Development Association Launches Innovative Medical Devices Committee
On March 29, 2023, the 7th China Pharmaceutical Innovation and Investment Conference (hereinafter referred to as the “Conference”) officially opened at the Suzhou International Expo Center. Government authorities, clinical research institutions, R&D enterprises, and investment firms gathered to interpret industry trends and explore directions for innovation. On the opening day of the Conference, the Innovative Medical Devices Professional Committee of the China Association for Pharmaceutical Innovation (hereinafter referred to as the “Medical Devices Committee”) hosted the Innovative Medical Devices Professional Forum. The forum featured lively discussions on topics such as the opportunities and development directions for innovative medical devices in China, aiming to promote high-quality innovative development of China’s medical device industry and support the Healthy China initiative.
Opening Ceremony of the 7th China Pharmaceutical Innovation and Investment Conference
In 2022, the market size of China’s medical device industry reached RMB 1.3 trillion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 17.5%. Both its market scale and growth rate led the world, while policy support for the medical device sector continued to intensify year by year. The year 2023 marked a pivotal juncture in the 14th Five-Year Plan period and served as the inaugural year for the comprehensive implementation of the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. During the “Two Sessions,” numerous delegates called for the establishment of collaborative innovation platforms centered on enterprises, with deep involvement from government, industry, academia, research, application, and healthcare sectors, to vigorously promote high-quality development in China’s healthcare industry. Recently, the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council issued the “Opinions on Further Improving the Healthcare Service System,” which requires strengthening the research and development systems and capabilities in clinical medicine, public health, and pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and accelerating efforts to address shortcomings in high-end medical equipment. The dual benefits of favorable market conditions and supportive policies have not only created opportunities but also spurred a stronger sense of responsibility. In this context, the Innovative Medical Devices Professional Committee of the China Association for Pharmaceutical Innovation was established, holding its founding conference on the eve of the congress.
The Special Committee on Medical Devices comprises 44 members, encompassing seasoned experts from various sectors of the industry to provide comprehensive experience and insights for promoting high-quality industry development. Wang Guangzhi, Director of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Tsinghua University School of Medicine, serves as the inaugural Chairperson of the Special Committee on Medical Devices. The Vice-Chairpersons include Li Jinming, Deputy Director of the National Clinical Laboratory Center under the National Health Commission; Gu Min, Vice President of Nanjing Medical University and President of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University; Wang Yilong, Vice President of Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University; Deng Jianmin, Global Senior Vice President and General Manager of Greater China at BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company); Gu Zhongze, Dean of the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering at Southeast University; Jin Zhengyu, Director of the Department of Imaging and Nuclear Medicine at Peking Union Medical College Hospital; and Tian Yuan, Founding Partner of Yuanming Capital and Chairman of Meisheng Medical Group. Wang Jingjing, Executive Director of the Global Health Industry Innovation Center, serves as the Secretary-General.
Song Ruilin, Executive President of the China Pharmaceutical Innovation Promotion Association (PhIRDA), stated that driven by factors such as deepening population aging, consumption upgrades, and heightened health awareness, coupled with supportive policies for medical devices, the medical device industry is poised to embrace greater development opportunities and broader growth prospects. PhIRDA has long been committed to promoting pharmaceutical innovation in China. By establishing professional committees across various fields, it provides policy recommendations to the government, pools extensive expert resources to empower industrial innovation, and safeguards the high-quality development of the biopharmaceutical sector. The establishment of the Medical Device Professional Committee will create a platform to foster innovation in the medical device industry, thereby contributing to the public’s health and well-being.
Song Ruilin, Executive President of the China Pharmaceutical Innovation Promotion Association
Medical devices constitute a high-tech industry characterized by multidisciplinary integration and intensive knowledge. Technologically, it converges with computer science and mechanical engineering; from an application perspective, it requires careful consideration of patient needs and clinicians’ feedback, thereby fully integrating three key dimensions: the market, emerging technologies, and clinical practice.
Professor Wang Guangzhi, Director of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Tsinghua University School of Medicine, stated that since the 1950s, advances in modern technology have spurred profound transformations in medical diagnosis and treatment. Innovative medical devices have thus become a vital driver of progress in modern medical technology. As a new hub for innovative collaboration, the Medical Device Professional Committee will organize and lead like-minded industry peers in research and exchange, deepen close cooperation among regulatory authorities, clinical institutions, universities, and enterprises, and play an active role in harmonizing standards and specifications, pooling talent and resources, and fostering integration across industry, academia, research, and clinical practice. These efforts will have a far-reaching impact on the development of the medical device industry.
Wang Guangzhi, Director of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University
Deng Jianmin, Senior Vice President of BD Worldwide and General Manager of Greater China, stated that the medical device industry has witnessed a "flourishing" landscape over the past three years, with accelerated approval and market launch of innovative medical devices. In the post-pandemic era, as an emerging market, China demonstrates strong demand for both the accessibility of mature products and the iterative innovation of new products. Leading global multinational medical device companies have maintained a steady increase in their R&D investment in China, focusing particularly on pioneering technology development and exploring external collaboration opportunities. As a leader in the medical device industry, BD also prioritizes business focus and agility, taking responsibility and leveraging its advantages in localized innovation. The company will fully utilize the platform of the Special Committee to deepen cooperation with elites across various fields, strengthen communication and coordination among diverse stakeholders from industry, academia, research, and healthcare, and promote open innovation and transformation in the industry through new technologies, scenarios, materials, designs, and channels, striving to build a collaborative and win-win industrial ecosystem.
Deng Jianmin, Senior Vice President of BD Worldwide and General Manager of Greater China
Li Jinming, Deputy Director of the National Center for Clinical Laboratories under the National Health Commission, stated that the in vitro diagnostics (IVD) industry has shown a trend of rapid growth in recent years. It is expected that the demand for IVD products will maintain this momentum as the volume of medical visits and patient consultations continues to rise. The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed higher requirements on testing accuracy, speed, and convenience. Over the past three years, laboratory testing capabilities and speed have undergone a “qualitative” improvement. As a technology-intensive industry, new technologies and products are being launched continuously. Innovation serves as the primary driving force for development, while evolving customer needs act as the engine of innovation. Therefore, strengthening communication and collaboration among all stakeholders is particularly important.
Li Jinming, Deputy Director of the National Center for Clinical Laboratories, National Health Commission
Gu Zhongze, Dean of the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering at Southeast University, stated that after a decade of dedicated effort, the team has achieved independent control over key core technologies, including high-precision cross-scale 3D printing for organ-on-a-chip systems, cellular force imaging, and artificial intelligence algorithms. Their research and development progress is now on par with leading teams in the United States and Europe. Organ-on-a-chip technology can be regarded as a “digital twin” or surrogate for patients, capable of accurately recapitulating the true physiological and pathological activities of human organs, as well as various biological behaviors and responses of the body. This enables the identification of better personalized and precise treatment regimens for patients with breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and other conditions. Furthermore, there is an expectation to leverage the platform of the Special Committee to extend the benefits of this technology to a broader patient population.
Gu Zhongze, Dean of the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University
At the concluding session of the Innovative Medical Devices Forum held during the China Pharmaceutical Innovation and Investment Conference, Tian Yuan, Founding Partner of Yuanming Capital and Chairman of Maisheng Medical Group; Gu Lixu, Deputy Dean of the Med-X Research Institute at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Professor at the School of Biomedical Engineering and the Institute of Medical Robotics; Yu Fang, Partner at Northern Light Venture Capital; and Peng Yifei, Senior Vice President of Hangzhou Tigermed Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd., jointly discussed the opportunities and innovative directions for the development of China’s innovative medical devices under the new circumstances. The discussion was moderated by Li Ping, Vice President of Greater China at Becton Dickinson (BD).
Discussion Session
Attendees unanimously expressed their commitment to leveraging resources in their respective areas of expertise and actively participating in the innovation of medical devices. Guided by national policies, the Innovative Medical Devices Professional Committee of the China Pharmaceutical Innovation Promotion Association will establish an open and innovative ecosystem that is expert- and enterprise-led, clinically oriented, market-centered, and user-demand-driven. This initiative aims to internationalize Chinese medical devices and achieve high-quality development in China’s medical device industry.
Forum Venue