Setting Sail: 2022 China Medical Device Global Expansion Summit Concludes Successfully
September 16–17, 2022 – The “2022 China Medical Device Global Expansion Conference,” co-hosted by VCBeat VB100 and Eggshell Research Institute, concluded successfully in the second-floor ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Beijing Lido. Focusing on medical device exports and centered on “trade relations,” the conference interpreted the industrial ecosystem of medical devices from an international perspective, and explored global trends, innovations, and industrial cooperation in overseas expansion amid the current economic, policy, and market landscapes.
AtAt the opening ceremony of the conference, Wang Jian, Deputy Director of the International Exchange and Cooperation Center of the National Health Commission, and Li Datao, Founder of Danhuang Technology, delivered addresses. Deputy Director Wang Jian stated that the innovative development of medical equipment must adhere to a people-centered approach focused on health, be guided by health needs, and promote health equity. He emphasized that the global expansion of Chinese medical equipment must be underpinned by a scientific attitude, as well as a commitment to openness, sharing, and mutual benefit. The International Exchange and Cooperation Center of the National Health Commission is willing to work with partners both domestically and internationally to uphold the principles of “self-reliance through innovation, openness and sharing, and mutual benefit for all,” thereby facilitating the overseas expansion of Chinese medical devices, as well as the global dissemination of Chinese experience, capabilities, and services. In doing so, it aims to contribute Chinese wisdom and strength to the building of a Healthy China and the Health Silk Road.
Mr. Li Datao noted that the current wave of “going global” in the new era represents a spillover of momentum generated by the rapid growth of numerous innovative cases. It also marks an evolution from exporting manufacturing capabilities to exporting business practices and ideas. VCBeat is keen to identify future trends within these subtle shifts and is committed to observing the emergence of a new business civilization and new structures grounded in Chinese practices.
The conference brought together numerous industry leaders for in-depth interpretation and discussion on topics such as policy directions for the global expansion of medical device companies, overseas market demands, and strategic planning for internationalization. Hu Yunfu, CMO of Genetron Health and a former senior FDA expert in device registration and approval, delivered a thematic presentation on export strategies and regulatory requirements for in vitro diagnostics (IVD) from a regulatory approval perspective. He highlighted that entering the U.S. market is a key pathway for global expansion and introduced the fundamental principles of the FDA’s regulatory framework.
Richard Cowin, Trade Counsellor at the British Embassy in China; Paul Cheyne, Head of the Mainland China Investment Team, Commercial Section, Australian Embassy in China; Esti Ayalon-Kovo, Economic Counsellor at the Israeli Embassy in China; and Peter Tanghe, Technology Counsellor at the Flanders Investment & Trade Agency, respectively introduced the current state of medical technology innovation in their respective countries and regions, seeking new opportunities for cooperation.
At the conference’s Capital Roundtable, Xiong Shuirou, Partner at Yuyin Medical Fund; Fan Wenjing, Executive Partner at GTJA Investment; Gu Leimin, Partner at Yuansheng Venture Capital; Song Longtao, Partner at Huimei Capital; and Zuo Lin, Partner at Hongrun Health, jointly explored the topic of “How Capital Can Empower Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Companies to Thrive Overseas.” The panelists engaged in an insightful exchange on hot-button issues, including the prerequisites for medical device companies going global and the challenges facing the sector. In conclusion, Mr. Xiong Shuirou stated that the ultimate goal of expanding overseas is to facilitate the global circulation of the best products, bringing high-performance, cost-effective solutions to benefit patients worldwide.
Mapping the Industrial Landscape, Embracing a Future Poised for Takeoff
Jiang Tianjiao, Dean of VCBeat Institute, released the “Industry Research Report on the Global Expansion of Medical Device Companies” at the conference, offering a profound analysis and interpretation of the entire process of going global by addressing ten key issues. He began with a macro-industry perspective, emphasizing that international expansion is an inevitable path for China’s medical device industry. He then delved into specific details, including patent protection and overseas layout strategies, factory establishment abroad, and partner selection, providing a layer-by-layer, in-depth examination.
Ms. Meng Zhu, CEO of PureCert and recipient of the Soochow Technology/Gusu Innovation and Entrepreneurship Leading Talent Program, together with Mr. Sun Daguang, Vice President of PureCert and a global regulatory expert in medical devices and IVD, and Mr. Li Datao, Founder of Danhuang Technology, jointly released the 2022 China Medical Device Companies’ Global Expansion Index and announced the top 100 companies shortlisted for the 2022 China Medical Device Companies’ Global Expansion Index.
Ms. Meng Zhu also introduced the background of the Overseas Expansion Index, the five key screening dimensions, and PureCert’s proprietary GRIP platform. The 2022 Overseas Expansion Index for Chinese medical device companies is based on data collected and aggregated by PureCert’s independently developed Global Regulatory Intelligence Platform (GRIP). It regularly publishes rankings of overseas expansion performance for all medical device manufacturers listed on China’s A-share market. The index evaluates multiple dimensions, including annual sales reports, overseas clinical trial status, registered products, and granted patents, with a focus on corporate R&D capabilities, overseas sales capabilities, and estimated target market size (i.e., the total number of patients affected by a specific disease in a given region). All such data are sourced from publicly accessible databases.
In July 2022, VCBeat and Eggshell Research Institute jointly launched the “2022 Call for Innovative Case Studies in Medical Device Global Expansion,” inviting applications from Chinese innovative medical device companies with overseas market presence as well as service providers facilitating medical device exports. Over a two-month period, 20 innovative case studies emerged through rigorous screening. The final selection yielded three awards: “2022 Best Innovative Product Case for Medical Device Global Expansion,” “2022 Best Strategic Layout Case for Medical Device Global Expansion,” and “2022 Best Service-Enabled Case for Medical Device Global Expansion.” The 2022 Innovative Case Studies in Medical Device Global Expansion were announced at the conference, and representatives from the award-winning companies were invited to attend the award ceremony and participate in interactive sessions.
Breaking Waves, Leading the Way: Main Forum Discusses Strategic Planning for Global Expansion
How Should Chinese Domestic Enterprises Steer Their “Global Expansion”? What Does an Innovation Path Based on a Global Perspective Look Like? At the main forum of the conference, multiple guests—including Liu Zhiqing, Head of the International Trade Comprehensive Department at Andon Health; Pu Fei, Board Director of Lepu Medical and Head of its International Business Division and IVD Segment; Zhang Jindi, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of SinoMicro MedTech; Shi Yonghui, Executive Director and Senior Vice President of MicroTech Medical; Liu Jin, International Product Director at Fapon Biotech; Chen Bingshu, Vice President of Infervision; Song Keqing, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Vanzyme Medical; and Li Bin, Founder and CEO of Biomere Medical—shared their experiences in global expansion from the perspective of corporate practice, covering fields such as in vitro diagnostics, high-value consumables, minimally invasive surgical devices, diabetes care devices, and life science tools.
Under the new circumstances, how can diverse overseas expansion enablement services help companies set sail? Zhang Feng, Deputy Director of the Investment Promotion Bureau of Suzhou Industrial Park and Director of the Yangtze River Delta Overseas Investment Promotion Center; Wang Lunmao, Director of the Investment Promotion Bureau of the Beijing Daxing International Airport Economic Zone (Daxing); Jin Xiangdan, Director of Regulatory Consulting Business at Haihe Biopharmaceutical Technology Group; Huang Pengfei, Technical Director of the Public Sector for Greater China at Amazon Web Services; Zeng Hui, Deputy General Manager and Chief Digital Strategy Officer of Lianyi Group; and Sun Xiaojian, Founder and CEO of Overseas Registration Network and Founder and Asia-Pacific President of H&W Biotech, were among the many guests who discussed topics such as new trends in cross-border investment, supply chain services, trends and challenges in global regulatory changes, digital solutions, C2M digital cross-border expansion, and overseas localization experience. They shared insights on how CRO companies and industrial park institutions can empower medical device enterprises to expand globally.
Intelligent Leadership in Global Expansion: Deep Focus on Digital Intelligence Innovation for Global Market Access
Concurrently with the conference, VCBeat VB100, in collaboration with Purui Chunzheng, a global SaaS + Data life sciences service provider, hosted the “Forum on Digital and Intelligent Innovation for Global Market Access.” Ren Fang, Director of the Medical Device Department and Secretary-General of the International Cooperation Branch of Medical Devices at the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Medicines and Health Products, attended the event and delivered a keynote speech titled “Opportunities and Challenges for the Internationalization of Chinese Medical Devices under the New Situation.” She elaborated on these opportunities and challenges from the perspectives of the current state of China’s medical device industry, trade dynamics, and the international development of Chinese medical devices in the new context.
Sun Daguang, Vice President of PureCert and a global regulatory expert in medical devices and IVD, delivered a speech on how medical device companies can overcome overseas market entry barriers. Drawing on real-world case studies of international product registrations, he analyzed the key factors for market access and the core drivers of growth in overseas markets.
Meng Zhu, CEO of PureCert and a recipient of the Dongwu Technology/Gusu Leading Talents in Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program, delivered a keynote speech titled “SaaS + Data: Empowering Medical Device Companies to Expand Globally through Digitalization.” He primarily addressed topics such as digital strategies for global expansion, timing market entry, establishing overseas operations, and resolving key pain points associated with going global. Furthermore, he provided an in-depth analysis and interpretation of the top 20 companies featured in the “Top 100 Index for Overseas Expansion in China’s Niche Medical Device Sectors.”
Zhou Quan, Managing Director at Legend Capital, discussed the global expansion of medical device companies from three perspectives: consensus, challenges, and pathways. Finally, speaking from an investor’s perspective, he offered three recommendations for medical device enterprises going global: 1. Focus on multiple regional markets; 2. Adopt flexible, region-specific strategies; 3. Partner with a reliable CRO.
As a typical high-tech and knowledge-intensive industry, the medical device sector features high entry barriers and fierce competition. Digital and intelligent transformation serves as a key to unlocking overseas markets, paving the way for new growth opportunities in the global medical device industry. Addressing this topic, Meng Zhu, CEO of PureCert and recipient of the Dongwu Technology/Gusu Innovation and Entrepreneurship Leading Talent Program; Yang He, Co-founder and CEO of Vimai Medical; Wu Jie, Co-founder and Deputy General Manager of Weituo Biology; and He Ti, Head of Overseas Business at WeGene, engaged in a cutting-edge discussion. Drawing from their respective fields, they shared insights on selecting overseas markets, implementing specific digital and intelligent transformation initiatives, and navigating pathways for product innovation and global brand expansion.
Linking Global Resources, Identifying Overseas Markets: On-Site Promotion of 10 Innovative Projects
The Global Expansion Promotion Conference, held concurrently with the main event, aims to provide a public platform for high-quality Chinese enterprises and projects seeking international expansion to comprehensively showcase their core competitiveness through high-caliber presentations. Representatives from the embassies of over ten countries and regions, including Quebec (Canada), the United Kingdom, Australia, Namibia, Mongolia, Israel, Finland, and the Netherlands, were invited to attend. Ten innovative enterprise projects were promoted, including Rainmed Medical, Yuewei Genomics, Pobo Medical, Rosenbot, Markoface, Vmai Medical, Tangji Medical, UninTech GmbH, Boercheng, and Kesaier. The on-site interaction was vibrant; representatives from the Israeli Embassy and the Quebec Government Office in China engaged in live Q&A sessions with Vmai Medical, Pobo Medical, and Rosenbot. Most embassy representatives conducted in-depth discussions with the companies after the conference, resulting in successful offline matchmaking for over 30 enterprises.
The 2022 China Medical Device Global Expansion Conference, marked by two days of continuous exchange and intellectual engagement, has concluded successfully. The conference established a platform for collaborative innovation and mutual progress among innovative enterprises, foreign embassies in China, capital investors, and industrial park institutions, documenting innovations in the healthcare industry from an international perspective in the new era. Global expansion is the answer provided by entrepreneurs of this era—embracing diversity, riding the waves against the current, and setting sail toward distant horizons.
Registration for the Conference Replay Is Now Open
