Highlights and Key Takeaways from the 8th Shenzhen International Biopharmaceutical Industry Summit

The 8th Shenzhen International Biopharmaceutical Industry Summit Forum and the 2022 Shenzhen Biopharmaceutical Industry “Dual” Week officially opened on the morning of December 12, 2022, at the Yanzi Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center in Pingshan, Shenzhen.

The opening ceremony of this edition, themed “Bay Area Convergence for Development, Biotech Innovation for the Future,” promises a premier gathering with compelling highlights—here is a sneak peek:

At this high-level summit, Mr. Zhong Nanshan, recipient of the Medal of the Republic and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, was specially invited to deliver an address. He stated, “...As one of the core engines in the strategic layout of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen is also a city where innovation in the biopharmaceutical industry is most vibrant and development most rapid... Shenzhen is establishing a high-quality development framework characterized by industrial clustering, intensive allocation of factors, and coordinated collaboration... We encourage independent innovation in new drug research and development, transforming the pressure from ‘chokehold’ technologies into a powerful drive for achieving high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and strength, and actively promoting the clustered development of the biopharmaceutical industry. In this regard, Shenzhen is taking the lead... While ensuring precise prevention and control, we will stabilize growth, improve people’s livelihoods, and strive to write more ‘stories of spring.’”

The development of the industry requires self-discipline, mutual interaction, and assistance within the sector. Addressing challenges and seizing opportunities together cannot be achieved without industrial alliances. The “Shenzhen Biopharmaceutical Industry Alliance” and the “Shenzhen High-End Medical Device Industry Alliance” were officially established through plaque-awarding ceremonies. Mr. Ye Yuxiang, representative of Shenzhen Salubris Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., the chairing entity of the Biopharmaceutical Industry Alliance, and Mr. Zheng Hairong, representative of the National Center for High-Performance Medical Devices, the chairing entity of the High-End Medical Device Industry Alliance, accepted the plaques on behalf of their respective alliances. The establishment of these two industrial alliances will undoubtedly promote the high-quality development of Shenzhen’s biopharmaceutical industry.

Amid the financing winter facing biopharmaceutical enterprises, Shenzhen, as the economic and financial hub of the Greater Bay Area, has seen its biopharmaceutical industry thrive thanks to robust support from industrial funds. The Shenzhen Municipal Government established a dedicated biopharmaceutical industry fund and encouraged a series of social investment funds to set up operations in Shenzhen, jointly providing financial backing for the industry’s vigorous growth. The establishment of social investment funds focused on Shenzhen’s biopharmaceutical sector—including Xingping No. 1 Private Equity Venture Capital Fund, Shenzhen BGI Songhe Life Sciences No. 1 Private Equity Venture Capital Fund, China Resources Pharmaceutical Industry Investment Fund, Guosen Shenzhen Bay Pharmaceutical Industry Fund, and Dandelion Venture Capital Fund—has injected new momentum into Shenzhen’s biopharmaceutical industry.

Shenzhen’s uniquely attractive biopharmaceutical industry policies have drawn numerous outstanding biopharmaceutical companies to establish operations in the city. Shenzhen has organized and implemented support measures, including the development of major public service platforms, breakthroughs in core technologies, and market access facilitation for drugs and medical devices. These initiatives aim to support local enterprises in strengthening original innovation and accelerating the clinical translation of R&D outcomes. This year, 154 projects have received support, with total funding amounting to RMB 348 million. The companies receiving such support and awards at this summit are:Shenzhen Shengkang Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Yixinda Medical Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Tuwei Anchuang Technology Development Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Northcore Life Science & Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Medcaptain Life Sciences Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Suntaibio Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Tagrisso Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Fowo Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Acclarent Medical Devices (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., and Shenzhen InnoMicro Medicine Technology Co., Ltd.,The recipient of the highest award and support amounting to RMB 22.33 million is Shenzhen Aixin Dawei Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd.

To further establish a world-class hub for industrial agglomeration and accelerate the commercialization of cutting-edge innovations, Shenzhen will prioritize the construction of over 30 major projects in 2023, with total investments exceeding RMB 30 billion. These projects span the entire value chain, including headquarters development, production and R&D bases, public service platforms, and breakthroughs in core technologies, comprehensively strengthening, augmenting, supplementing, and extending the biomedical industry chain. At this summit,XtalPi Shenzhen Headquarters Project, Core Technology Breakthrough and Industrialization Project for High-Throughput Gene Sequencing Equipment, 10,000-Ton Smart Aquaculture Vessel Project, National Engineering Research Center for Key Generic Technologies in the Cell Industry Project, Jingfeng Medical Production Base Project, Industrialization Project for Core Components of Invasive Ventilators, Shenzhen Animal Resources and Technology R&D Base Project, Sinocellsea Marine Biopharmaceutical Company Headquarters and R&D Base Project, Shanghai Cell Therapy Group South China Headquarters Project, Xianrui Bioengineering Technology Center ProjectOn-site Signing.

Biopharmaceutical industrial parks differ from conventional industrial projects, as they are subject to more stringent and specialized requirements. Shenzhen has been vigorously supporting the development and upgrading of specialized biopharmaceutical industrial parks. In collaboration with “Dandelion,” a renowned national industry platform, Shenzhen Special Zone Construction Engineering Group jointly released China’s first Technical Guidelines for the Design of High-Quality Industrial Spaces for Biopharmaceutical Industry Clusters, thereby establishing the “Shenzhen Standard” for the construction of specialized biopharmaceutical industrial parks.

As of 2022, Shenzhen had established 29 biomedical and pharmaceutical industrial parks. In 2023, the city will prioritize the construction and upgrading of 22 such parks, which will add over 5 million square meters of high-quality space for the biomedical and pharmaceutical industry upon completion. Parks including the Hetao International Biomedical Industrial Park, Yantian High-Quality Space Supply Pilot Project, Nanshan District Medical Device Industrial Park, Baolong Biomedical Innovation and Development Pilot Zone, Yinxing Life Health Science and Technology Park Upgrade Project, Pingshan Biomedical Industry Accelerator, Weiguang Life Science Park, and Biohome have jointly launched their 2023 construction tasks. With technical guidance and effective technical standards in place, it is believed that future biomedical and pharmaceutical projects in Shenzhen will achieve substantial and high-quality development.

Academician Sun Yongkui, Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and Head of the Institute of Medicine at Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, delivered a keynote speech titled “The Future of Innovative Drugs in China”; Academician Chen Youhai, Member of Academia Europaea and Dean of the School of Pharmacy at Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, delivered a keynote speech titled “Opportunities and Challenges in the Development of China’s Biopharmaceutical Industry.”

Amid the dilemmas and transformations in the innovative development of biologics, what new opportunities await Shenzhen? How can the city embrace the new challenges facing the biopharmaceutical industry with a fresh approach? The high-level dialogue at this year’s summit featured an esteemed panel moderated by Mr. Zhang Jinwei, Founder of Puguoying (Dandelion), and including Mr. Tian Yuan, Founder of Yuanming Capital and Chairman of the Yabuli Forum; Professor Zhang Xumu, Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Engineering and Dean of the Institute of Biomedicine at Southern University of Science and Technology; Mr. Qiu Huawei, Chairman of Shenzhen China Resources Sanjiu Medical & Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Mr. Xu Xiping, Chairman of Shenzhen Ausa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Mr. Li Hongjian, Chairman of Puruijin (Shenzhen) Biotechnology Co., Ltd.; and Mr. Duan Jianxin, Chairman of Shenzhen Aixin Dawei Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd. Through engaging discussions and clashing perspectives, the panelists offered valuable insights and recommendations to help establish Shenzhen as a global hub for biotechnological innovation, delivering an extraordinary feast of knowledge.

Two days at the main venue, eight specialized forums: “Biologics R&D Forum,” “Forum on High-End Talent in Biopharmaceuticals,” “Greater Bay Area Collaborative Innovation Forum,” “Biopharmaceutical Policy and Regulatory Forum,” “Forum on Integrated Innovation and Development of High-End Medical Devices,” “Investment, Financing, and Industry Chain Integration Forum,” “Precision Medicine Industry Development Forum,” and “Clinical Collaboration and Development Forum for Biologics.” A diverse and unmissable lineup.

From December 14 to 29, Guangming District, Futian District, Pingshan District, Dapeng New Area, Longgang District, Luohu District, and Nanshan District in Shenzhen will separately host a series of events. Amid the winter chill, enthusiasm is surging as Shenzhen’s biomedical industry launches its first-ever “city-district coordinated” initiative, jointly creating an unprecedented industrial showcase. (Pugongying News)