Accelerating Forward: 'Taicang Pharma Valley · Sci-Tech Blue Bay' Unveils Ambitious Biopharma Hub Plan

Biopharmaceutical Industry

Known as the “evergreen sunrise industry”

This morning, the Taicang Biopharmaceutical Industrial Park Planning Launch Conference and the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Provincial Major Project “Smart Pharmaceutical Manufacturing” were held at the Taicang Biopharmaceutical Industrial Park.

Attending the event were Chimezieye Okoma Ogu, Consul General of the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Shanghai; Zhao Zilin, Chairman of the China Association of Medical Equipment; Hu Yidong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute; Zhao Zhiqiang, Director of Jiangsu Productivity Promotion Center; Wang Xiangyuan, Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee; Qian Wenhui, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People’s Congress; and Zhao Jianchu, Chairman of the Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Wang Xiangyuan pointed out:Our city is targeting top-tier industrial bases both domestically and internationally, accelerating the development of a distinctive biomedical industry cluster in the Yangtze River Delta, with the goal of exceeding RMB 50 billion in output value by 2025. Taicang, benefiting from its proximity to Shanghai and unique locational advantages, will comprehensively align itself with Shanghai across all sectors. The biomedical industrial park planning scheme released today outlines an ambitious blueprint for “Taicang Pharma Valley • Sci-Tech Innovation Blue Bay,” sounding the charge for accelerated construction and poised takeoff. Meanwhile, the provincial key project Congming Pharmaceutical has successfully commenced construction, a batch of key projects have been signed, a series of service platforms have been unveiled and become operational, and multiple major collaborations have been successfully finalized. These developments will strongly propel our city’s biomedical industry onto a “fast track” and achieve new leaps forward.

Wang Xiangyuan emphasized:Shaxi serves as the primary hub for the development of the biopharmaceutical industry in our city and has made positive contributions to Taicang’s industrial upgrading in recent years. Seizing the new opportunities presented by the growth of the biopharmaceutical sector, Shaxi Town must uphold high standards in constructing its Biopharmaceutical Industrial Park, improve supporting facilities such as scientific and technological innovation service platforms and talent apartments, refine market-oriented management systems, further optimize the industrial ecosystem, strengthen the industrial chain, and establish itself as a leading cluster for the biopharmaceutical industry adjacent to Shanghai. Relevant municipal departments must provide the highest quality services with maximum efficiency to fully ensure the progress of key projects, including Congming Pharmaceutical, and work collaboratively to create the most favorable comprehensive ecosystem for the development of the biopharmaceutical industry.

Release of the Master Plan for Taicang Biopharmaceutical Industrial Park

As planned, the Taicang Biopharmaceutical Industrial Park is positioned as a national-level economic and technological development zone, with its image branded as “Taicang Pharma Valley • Sci-Tech Innovation Blue Bay.” The total planned land area is approximately 6 square kilometers. The design incorporates the concept of “cells and biological tissues,” organizes a “2+1+X” biopharmaceutical industrial system, and builds an industry ecosystem conducive to scientific and technological innovation. The spatial structure of the plan features: two cores and one center, driven by key nodes; three axial belts, creating welcoming interfaces; three major clusters, fostering synergistic coexistence; and an integration of blue and green spaces, permeating vitality.

Next, the industrial park plans to cultivate and expand its biopharmaceutical industry into a RMB 50 billion-level cluster. It aims to accelerate the development of a holistic environment for its 6-square-kilometer biopharmaceutical industrial park, characterized by a virtuous ecological cycle, rational spatial layout, and harmonious landscape. The park strives to establish a model within two years and achieve a recognizable form within five years. Within this five-year period, it intends to attract a cohort of prestigious research institutes and major organizations in the biopharmaceutical sector, establish a series of biopharmaceutical industry funds, and nurture a group of unicorn, gazelle, and “Little Giant” enterprises. The ultimate goal is to host more than 500 biopharmaceutical companies and achieve total operating revenues exceeding RMB 50 billion, thereby building the “Taicang Pharma Valley” into a biopharmaceutical industry cluster adjacent to Shanghai and an international biopharmaceutical industry community in the Yangtze River Delta.

Wang Xiangyuan and other city leaders, together with guests including Chimezie Okoma Ogu, jointly participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Congming Pharmaceutical project.

SmartPharma (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. was established in December 2019 as a global, R&D-driven innovative biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development, and production of high-barrier macromolecular oral formulations and innovative poorly soluble small-molecule formulations.

The Congming Pharmaceutical New Drug R&D and Production Base Project, which commenced construction on the same day, is a key provincial project for 2021. With a total investment of RMB 3 billion, it covers an area of 95 mu, with Phase I featuring a floor area of 57,000 square meters. All production equipment in the project consists of imported high-end pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment and analytical instruments, enabling an annual production capacity of 10 billion tablets/capsules. The project is scheduled to be completed and put into operation in October 2024.

At the event, a number of important service platforms were unveiled, including the Taicang Biopharmaceutical Industry Association, the Temwei Photoacoustic Imaging Major Project Platform, and the Integrated Innovation Service Center of the Jiangsu Productivity Promotion Center (Taicang).

Taicang Municipal People’s Government and Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute signed a strategic cooperation agreement, with a number of institutions, research institutes, and key projects also entering into agreements. The key projects, with a total investment of RMB 5.2 billion, cover supporting facilities for the core area of the industrial park, urban parks, pharmaceutical preparations, drug research and development, pharmaceutical and medical equipment, and biotechnology.

Prior to the press conference, Wang Xiangyuan met with Chimezie Okoma Ogu and other distinguished guests.

Municipal leaders Xu Chaozhen and Wang Liping attended the event.