Remarkable Achievements Unveiled: China Eye Valley Showcases Latest Innovations at the 2022 International Forum on Ocular Health Science, Technology, and Industrial Development

On November 11, the 2022 High-Level Forum on Technological Innovation and Industrial Development in International Eye Health, together with the Opening Ceremony of the China Eye Valley Global Challenge for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Optometry, was grandly held amidst the beautiful singing of children. This annual flagship event of China Eye Valley also served as a highlight of the 2022 World Young Scientists Summit series.

Opening Ceremony

Jiang Changcai, First-Level Inspector of the Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology; Jia Ning, Director of the Hainan Provincial Healthcare Security Administration and Director of the Boao Lecheng Administrative Bureau; Mao Zhenbin, former First-Level Inspector of the National Medical Products Administration; Zhang Jian, Member of the Standing Committee of the Wenzhou Municipal Party Committee and Head of the Organization Department; Lü Yijun, Party Secretary of Wenzhou Medical University; Li Xiaokun, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of Wenzhou Medical University; Qu Jia, Director of the Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry at Wenzhou Medical University, Chairman of China Eye Valley, and Director of the Wenzhou International Innovation Center for Optometry and Ophthalmology; Lü Xiaolei, Deputy Director of the Boao Lecheng Administrative Bureau in Hainan; Zhou Yifu, Secretary of the Longwan District Party Committee and Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Wenzhou High-Tech Zone; Zhang Chunfang, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Standing Committee of the Longwan District People’s Congress; Zheng Feizhong, Director of the Party and Administration Office of Wenzhou Medical University; Zhou Xiangtian, Director of the Science and Technology Division of Wenzhou Medical University; Wu Wencan, President of the Affiliated Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University; as well as representatives from Fortune Global 500 companies and listed companies in the ophthalmology industry, enterprises stationed in China Eye Valley, senior ophthalmology experts, and renowned investors, attended the opening ceremony.

Jiang Changcai, Inspector; Zhang Jian, Minister; Lv Yijun, Party Secretary; Zhou Yifu, Party Secretary; and Wu Wencan, President, delivered speeches on behalf of the Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology, the Wenzhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Wenzhou Municipal People’s Government, Wenzhou Medical University, the Longwan District Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Longwan District People’s Government, and the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, respectively.

Address by Jiang Changcai, First-Level Inspector of the Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology

Address by Zhang Jian, Member of the Standing Committee of the Wenzhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and Head of its Organization Department

Address by Lü Yijun, Party Secretary of Wenzhou Medical University

Zhou Yifu, Secretary of the Longwan District Committee and Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Wenzhou High-Tech Zone, delivered a speech 

Address by Wu Wencan, President of the Eye Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University

Zhang Jian, Member of the Standing Committee of the Wenzhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and Head of its Organization Department, stated that the Wenzhou Municipal Committee and Municipal Government will continue to firmly support the construction and development of China Eye Valley. He expressed the hope to join hands with peers from all sectors to achieve “three concerted efforts,” further leading and attracting a wide range of talents in the field of eye health to innovate, start businesses, and seek common development in Wenzhou:First, make concerted efforts to advance the major national strategy of Healthy China, fully leverage advantages in intellectual resources, technology, and other assets, and work together to promote the agglomeration of high-end factors in medical services and industrial incubation.Second, make concerted efforts to accelerate breakthroughs in optometry and ophthalmology, build upon Wenzhou’s unique brand advantages in this field, achieve more original outcomes, and set more records that are unique nationwide and first globally.Third, make concerted efforts to position China Eye Valley as a peak source of innovation, fully unleash the fission effect of this forum and challenge competition, actively provide suggestions for the development of China Eye Valley, facilitate the implementation and commercialization of a batch of projects, and jointly establish China Eye Valley as a world-class base for popular science, research, and tourism in eye health.

What major developments and changes has China Eye Valley achieved this year? Qu Jia, Director of the Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry at Wenzhou Medical University, Chairman of China Eye Valley, and Director of the Wenzhou International Innovation Center for Optometry and Ophthalmology, released the Annual Work Report of China Eye Valley at the conference.

Professor Qu Jia, Director of the Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry at Wenzhou Medical University, Chairman of China Eye Valley, and Director of the Wenzhou International Innovation Center for Optometry and Ophthalmology, delivered the annual work report at the conference.

“From the signing of the co-construction agreement for China Eye Valley, to its official opening, and then to the groundbreaking ceremony for Phase A of the Science and Innovation Park and the unveiling and construction of the China Eye Valley Town last year... China Eye Valley has gradually developed. The official commencement of construction of the China Eye Valley Expo Center marks a significant elevation in the operational scope and strategic positioning of China Eye Valley,” stated Professor Qu Jia.

Over the past year, the number of registered enterprises introduced to China Eye Valley increased from 115 to 166, with 27 enterprise research institutes established and 63 cooperative investment and financial institutions engaged. This year, China Eye Valley has made greater efforts in attracting major projects and strengthening industry partnerships, successfully signing agreements with Fortune Global 500 companies and listed enterprises such as Huawei and China Resources, as well as renowned companies including Ocumension Therapeutics, KingMed Diagnostics, Gushengtang, Mingyue Optical Lens, and BOE. These achievements have been remarkable. The quality, scale, and comprehensive strength of newly settled enterprises have significantly improved.

At the opening ceremony, Inspector Jiang Changcai, Mr. Mao Zhenbin, Minister Zhang Jian, President Li Xiaokun, Professor Qu Jia, and Party Secretary Zhou Yifu jointly unveiled the China Eye Valley National “Science and Technology Innovation China” Innovation Base, one of the first batch of industry-academia-research collaborative innovation bases under the “Science and Technology Innovation China” initiative in China. This marks another national-level platform awarded to China Eye Valley, following its previous designation as a Key Laboratory of the National Medical Products Administration. This year, China Eye Valley has added one national-level scientific and technological innovation platform and two provincial-level scientific and technological innovation platforms.

“Sci-Tech China” National Innovation Base Officially Launches Construction

In terms of financial support, China Eye Valley provides robust capital financing assistance. The Eye Health Industry Guidance Fund, jointly established by the government and investment institutions, raised RMB 700 million in its initial phase, completed due diligence on eight pilot investment projects, and committed a total investment of RMB 250 million. Regarding policy support, a series of industry-specific and China Eye Valley–targeted incentives have been successively introduced, including 12 new policies for the biopharmaceutical sector, 40 new talent initiatives, and the “Ten New Measures for China Eye Valley.” In talent acquisition, China Eye Valley has not only attracted numerous high-level professionals but also hosted multiple influential forums and academic exchange activities on professional academic platforms such as the International Forum on Innovative Development of Visual Health (VISION CHINA).

Following Professor Qu Jia’s summary report, a series of new highlights were unveiled.

For example, the list of the first cohort of participants in the “Hope Stars” Elite Program for Chinese Ophthalmologists was officially announced at the conference. Dr. Shun Chiu Lam, Chairman of the Board of C-MER Eye Care and Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (UK), delivered a video congratulatory message to the conference, extending his congratulations to the 31 inaugural participants of the “Hope Stars” Elite Program.

Prof. Lin Shunchao’s Online Address

In the presence of distinguished guests, Inspector Jiang Changcai, Minister Zhang Jian, Professor Qu Jia, and Party Secretary Zhou Yifu jointly inaugurated the China Eye Valley Expo Center. Li Dan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Longwan District Committee of the Communist Party of China and Executive Deputy District Mayor, together with Xu Liangde, Secretary-General of China Eye Valley and Executive Director of the Wenzhou International Innovation Center for Optometry and Ophthalmology, presided over a centralized signing ceremony with Fortune Global 500 companies and multinational corporations—including Johnson & Johnson Vision, Bausch + Lomb, Novartis, Alcon, Zeiss, EssilorLuxottica, Huawei Optical Display, Menicon, and Santen Pharmaceutical—as well as listed companies and industry leaders such as Xingqi Eye Medicine, Mingyue Lens, Ocumerix, and moody.

Move-in upon completion, full occupancy upon opening—the “China Eye Valley Expo Center, Open 365 Days a Year” has become a new showcase window for leading enterprises in the global eye health industry. Currently, the exhibition halls on floors 1–3 host 23 exhibiting companies, while floors 4–11 accommodate 15 business office tenants, including 11 Fortune Global 500 and multinational corporations, as well as 8 publicly listed companies. China Eye Valley continues to unleash robust momentum, with a brilliant future already in sight.

China Eye Valley Expo Center Officially Opens

Signing Ceremony for Enterprises Participating in the “365 Days, Never-Ending” Eye Health Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Exhibition at the China Eye Valley Expo Center

Zone A of China Eye Valley Science and Innovation Park, which focuses on attracting life and health industry projects primarily in optical instruments, pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical devices, lighting fixtures, smart consumer electronics, and ophthalmic eyewear, has also signed centralized agreements with well-known enterprises such as Qingda Optometry, Jino Optics, Taixin Eyewear, Wobosen Biotechnology, Lidong Eyewear, Yetongren, Jintan Kangda, and Chuangshi Optics.

Centralized Signing of Industrial Projects at China Eye Valley Science and Innovation Park

At the meeting, Director Jia Ning, Deputy Director Lv Xiaolei, Minister Zhang Jian, Professor Qu Jia, Dean Wu Wencan, Secretary-General Xu Liangde, Deputy Dean Chen Wei of the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, and Chairman Mao Lei of Boyan Company officially launched the Hainan Boao Lecheng Medical-Engineering Platform of China Optometry Valley. Deputy Dean Liang Yuanbo of the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and Director Sun Xin of the Chinese Evidence-Based Medicine Center signed strategic cooperation agreements on behalf of the NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Ophthalmic Drugs and Devices, and the NMPA Hainan Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Real-World Data, respectively.

China Eye Valley Hainan Lecheng Medical-Engineering Platform Officially Launched

Signing of Strategic Cooperation Agreement between the NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Ophthalmic Drugs and Medical Devices and the NMPA Hainan Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Real-World Data

Mao Zhenbin, Qu Jia, Su Jianzhong from the Ophthalmic Rehabilitation Committee, and Yang Junning from the China Illuminating Engineering Society jointly unveiled the plaques for the Eye Health Lighting Professional Committee of the China Illuminating Engineering Society, the Eye Health Professional Committee of the China Food and Drug Enterprise Quality Safety Promotion Association, and the Ophthalmic Rehabilitation Professional Committee of the China Rehabilitation Technology Transformation and Development Promotion Association.

Director Zhang Chunfang, Executive Dean Chen Hao of the School of Ophthalmology and Optometry at Wenzhou Medical University, and representatives from eight leading enterprises, including MicroVision and Jinhuangguang, jointly launched the Joint Research Institute.

The Illuminating Engineering Society of China, Committee on Eye-Healthy Lighting

Eye Health Professional Committee of the China Association for Quality and Safety Promotion of Food and Drug Enterprises

Ophthalmic Rehabilitation Professional Committee of the China Association for the Promotion of Rehabilitation Technology Transformation and Development

Launch Ceremony

Joint Launch of the China Eye Valley Enterprise Research Institute in 2022

Furthermore, China Eye Valley emphasizes the integration of culture and the arts to build a comprehensive innovation ecosystem. To demonstrate cultural confidence, promote the spirit of scientific humanism, and advance public aesthetic education, master’s and doctoral candidates from the Department of Calligraphy and Seal Cutting at the Academy of Fine Arts, East China Normal University, contributed nearly 100 meticulously crafted works in the forms of calligraphy and seal carving. Centered on the theme of “Eye Health,” these works were showcased at the “Window to the Soul” Calligraphy and Seal Carving Invitational Exhibition at China Eye Valley, presenting a captivating fusion of culture and technology for the conference attendees. During the opening ceremony, the large-scale public welfare campaign “Warmth of Light, Building Dreams for the Future,” focused on eye health for children and adolescents, was also held, featuring donations of smart campus eye health equipment.

East China Normal University Party Secretary Mei Bing Delivers Online Address

“Light and Warmth, Building Dreams for the Future” Large-Scale Public Welfare Campaign for Children and Adolescent Eye Health Launched

Donation Ceremony of Smart Campus Eye Health Equipment

During the keynote session, Academician Ouyang Zhongcan delivered an address, expressing his hope that the conference would continue to spark new ideas, share achievements, and jointly promote development. Vijay Paul Karwal, CFO of Aimu Medical; Wang Chenyu, Vice President at Sequoia China; and Yuan Chengfei, representative from PwC, respectively gave specialized presentations on the translation of technological innovations in ophthalmology, the current status and future development of the ophthalmic market, the current landscape and trends in investment in ophthalmic medical devices, and equity structure and tax-related issues for early-stage biopharmaceutical enterprises.

Address by Ouyang Zhongcan, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

 Sequoia China Vice President Wang Chenyu Delivers Keynote Address

Yuan Chengfei, Partner of Tax and Business Consulting at PwC, Delivered the Keynote Address