Recruiting Digital Health Innovators: AstraZeneca-Backed Challenge Competition Launches with Focus on AI and Decentralized Clinical Trials
A Major Transformation Is Underway in the Pharmaceutical Industry.
Since the dawn of the new century, digital technologies—exemplified by artificial intelligence (AI), big data, 3D printing, wearable devices, and robotics—have been accelerating their penetration into the pharmaceutical industry. Through their ongoing integration, these technologies are driving the entire pharmaceutical sector into a fundamentally new landscape.
Amid this trend, continuous policy support and capital investment are attracting a growing number of innovative enterprises to enter this high-growth sector, thereby bringing greater imagination and possibilities to the unfolding new landscape of future healthcare.According to data from the Artery Orange database, China’s digital healthcare sector saw 533 financing events in 2020, with total funding reaching RMB 102.6 billion, ranking second only to biopharmaceuticals.
However, it is important to recognize that the path to innovation is arduous and long, requiring collaborative efforts from all stakeholders across the industry. Therefore,How to better support project growth has become a key focus of industry concern and reflection.
In response to this, under the guidance of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission, and hosted by the AstraZeneca Global R&D China Center, with co-organization by the Shanghai International Life Science Innovation Park, the National Technology Transfer East Center, and the Shanghai International Technology Trading MarketThe 6th China Innovation Challenge (Shanghai) - Special Competition on Integrated Development of the Yangtze River Delta Region & The 4th Yangtze River Delta International Innovation Challenge - AstraZeneca Special Session (hereinafter referred to as the "Innovation Challenge") is currently actively recruiting participating projects.
It is reported that the themed competition, driven by the innovation needs of the AstraZeneca Global R&D China Center, has issued a global call for innovative solutions from startups, research institutes, and medical institutions, aiming to promote the implementation and development of artificial intelligence, digitalization, and other technologies in pharmaceutical R&D.
The development of a technology or industry often requires support and impetus from resources across various stakeholders, including upstream and downstream enterprises, local governments, investment institutions, and industrial parks.
Therefore,For innovative projects and enterprises, the ability to align with resources from all parties within the industrial ecosystem is key to their accelerated growth.
It is worth noting that,The guiding organization for this Innovation Challenge is the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission.As a government agency driving technological advancement, the participation of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission can provide policy support and guidance, while also facilitating synergy within the Yangtze River Delta’s sci-tech innovation ecosystem.
As the host, AstraZeneca’s Global R&D China Center is one of the nine global R&D centers of AstraZeneca, a world-renowned pharmaceutical company, and an important member of AstraZeneca’s global R&D network.As a continuously innovative global pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca has been at the forefront of digital healthcare innovation, serving as a key leader and driver in commercializing innovations and reshaping the healthcare industry. Notably, AstraZeneca’s Smart Healthcare Innovation Center and International Life Science Innovation Park are important platforms empowering healthcare innovation.
Additionally,The participation of the National Technology Transfer Eastern Center and the Shanghai International Technology Trading Market also brought support and guidance in areas such as technology transfer and commercialization to this Innovation Challenge., providing greater support for the continued development of innovative enterprises.
Based on high-quality industrial ecosystem partners,This Innovation Challenge is open globally, broadly soliciting innovative solutions from innovative enterprises, research institutes, and medical institutions, with a focus on the following eight key needs.
*Project content must comply with China's national data management regulations.
· Decentralized Clinical Trial System: Conduct remote medical follow-ups and monitoring through software systems, remotely collect data using wearable devices, and directly provide investigational drugs and materials to patients’ homes.
·Big Data Screening Platform for Medical History Information:By leveraging the big data query and analysis capabilities of the hospital’s Hospital Information System (HIS), hidden medical history information can be identified from extensive patient records to confirm appropriate subject cohorts. This is particularly relevant for the systematic management of medical history reports from several years ago, which requires a substantial accumulation of data.
· Clinical Research Database:Establish a database tailored for clinical research to facilitate the screening of clinical sites; provide pharmaceutical companies with information on the qualification filings of each research center, their track record in undertaking previous clinical projects, the geographic locations of the clinical centers, and the status of surrounding hospitals; collect and enter data on the research interests and published literature of Principal Investigators (PIs), as well as the research profiles of Sub-Investigators (Sub-PIs).
· An Integrated Solution to Enhance Clinical Operations Efficiency:Enhance clinical operational efficiency through digital operations management, optimizing project management, communication management tools, and electronic documentation solutions. Features include project progress tracking, workflow reminders, and electronic document management.
·Rare Disease Clinical Phenotype Recognition System:Optimization of Clinical Trial Enrollment for Patients with Rare Diseases. Information Management for Expert Networks in Rare Diseases. Mining and Processing of Historical Data, Such as Differentiated Documentation of Early Clinical Signs and Intelligent Processing.
· Digital Biomarkers:Novel biomarkers, including the development of digital biomarkers, supported by clinical evidence across six major therapeutic areas—respiratory, oncology, cardiovascular, renal, metabolic, and digestive—enable early disease prediction for patients.
· Digital Clinical Efficacy Endpoints:Development of novel, clinically evidence-based surrogate endpoints across six major therapeutic areas—respiratory, oncology, cardiovascular, renal, metabolic, and gastrointestinal—including digital surrogate endpoints, to enable more efficient monitoring and tracking of disease progression by patients and healthcare providers, thereby continuously refining and optimizing personalized treatment regimens.
·Digital Therapeutics:In the six major therapeutic areas of respiratory, oncology, cardiovascular, renal, metabolic, and digestive diseases, evidence-based therapeutic interventions are provided to patients for disease management or treatment, based on algorithms and software programs, including:
1) Optimization of Diagnostic and Treatment Information: Provide data-driven, digitally enabled tools to facilitate the optimization of diagnostic and treatment plans for patients and healthcare professionals.
2) Innovative Therapies: Development of innovative treatment models validated through clinical trials, including the development of digital therapeutics to complement new drugs and optimize clinical efficacy.
Notably, this Innovation Challenge is exceptionally rigorous: it seeks out digital technology companies that can genuinely drive the development of the pharmaceutical industry. Leveraging multi-dimensional resources—including policy, R&D, talent, funding, technology, market access, and global networks—the program provides participating enterprises with comprehensive, full-lifecycle innovation incubation and acceleration in life sciences, spanning from R&D to incubation, and from demonstration to commercial implementation.
Specifically, the awards for winning this Innovation Challenge are:
· AstraZeneca Global R&D China Center Collaboration Project;
· Shanghai International Life Science Innovation Park (iCampus) services (venue, funding, policy support, accelerator programs, cloud resources, mentors, commercialization networks);
· Recommended for nomination in the Municipal Challenge Competition for the “Best Solution Award,” “Most Innovative Award,” and “Award with Greatest Promotion Value,” with a total prize pool of RMB 500,000.
In the pharmaceutical industry, technology and demand are like twin stars; without either, ultimate success is difficult to achieve.
This is precisely the significant value of the Innovation Challenge: to connect the needs of the AstraZeneca Global R&D China Center with innovative technologies, jointly building solutions based on real-world needs, thereby benefiting more patients.
Here, it is necessary to mention a background context. Since its official unveiling and establishment in Jing’an, Shanghai, at the 3rd China International Import Expo last November, the AstraZeneca Global R&D China Center has attracted significant attention from all sectors. The underlying reason is that this move signifies an upgrade in the strategic status of Chinese R&D within AstraZeneca’s global R&D landscape.
According to Dr. He Jing, President of the AstraZeneca Global R&D China Center, the establishment of the center in Shanghai reflects AstraZeneca’s confidence in the overall development of China and Shanghai, as well as the support for innovation provided by Chinese policy and regulatory frameworks, the enhancement of the R&D ecosystem, and the center’s own confidence and determination in organizational development and advancement. This marks a strategic evolution from “In China, For China” to “In China, For the World,” positioning it as a global R&D hub.
With 28 years of deep commitment in China, AstraZeneca has partnered with stakeholders to establish an integrated innovation ecosystem comprising the Center for Connected Care (CCiC), the International Campus of Healthcare Innovation (iCampus), and the AstraZeneca-CICC Healthcare Industry Fund. This ecosystem aims to help more patients achieve more accessible, precise, and higher-quality disease management. Furthermore, for innovative enterprises, the R&D ecosystem fostered by AstraZeneca’s Global R&D China Center in collaboration with multiple partners will receive full support from AstraZeneca’s iCampus innovation incubation platform. The newly established Shanghai International Campus of Healthcare Innovation, located within AstraZeneca’s Global R&D China Center, will provide comprehensive empowerment to innovative companies, facilitating their growth.
It is reported that, in addition to its focus on AI and digitalization, AstraZeneca will collaborate with innovative pharmaceutical research enterprises and precision medicine companies across multiple therapeutic areas—including respiratory diseases, oncology, cardiovascular conditions, renal disorders, metabolic diseases, and gastrointestinal disorders—to continuously tap into their early-stage R&D potential in China. Furthermore, the company will expand source innovation through partnerships with top-tier institutions such as national medical centers, clinical research centers, and key laboratories. By working hand in hand with Chinese institutions, AstraZeneca aims to explore pathways for developing innovative medical products tailored to the Chinese market, thereby accelerating the early-stage R&D and incubation of more local and global new drugs in China, ultimately benefiting patients both in China and worldwide.
It is believed that with the increasing participation of innovative forces, a new era in pharmaceuticals will dawn.
Finally, we welcome everyone to participate in the Innovation Challenge. Shortlisted candidates will deliver dedicated pitch presentations at a parallel session of the “International Summit on Innovative Pharmaceutical R&D,” to be held in Jing’an, Shanghai, on October 11. We look forward to joining you in experiencing and witnessing the new landscape of future pharmaceutical research and development.
Participation Method:
Please scan the QR code below, complete the required information, and register to participate in the “Innovation Challenge” recruitment.
