Global Call for Health Innovation Projects Launched Following China's Initial Success in Pandemic Response

On March 23, the Central Leading Group for Responding to the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Epidemic issued a new assessment of the current domestic prevention and control situation: the transmission of locally acquired infections across China, with Wuhan as the main battlefield, has been basically interrupted; however, the risk of sporadic cases and localized outbreaks still persists. On the 58th day of Wuhan’s lockdown, we finally welcomed the most heartening news of this spring.

One week ago, the Manual for COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment: Clinical Experience of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, a systematic guide on COVID-19 prevention and control urgently prepared by the Jack Ma Foundation, Alibaba Foundation, and Alibaba Cloud in collaboration with the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (hereinafter referred to as “FAHZU”) for other countries severely affected by the pandemic, was officially released globally.

During the pandemic, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (FAHZU) achieved a cumulative cure rate of 98%. Through pioneering treatments and the adoption of new technologies, it accomplished the “Three Zeros” miracle: zero infections among medical staff, zero missed diagnoses among suspected cases, and zero deaths among confirmed patients. It is reported that FAHZU’s experience has gained international recognition; institutions such as the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in the UK and Yale University in the US have connected with FAHZU to learn from its expertise, thereby providing effective professional guidance for local treatment efforts.

Behind this miracle lies the technological advantage that The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (FAHZU) has built through its long-term active exploration in scientific and technological innovation and translation. In the “2019 China Hospital Science and Technology Evaluation Metrics (for 2018)” released at the end of 2019, FAHZU ranked fourth nationwide in overall comprehensive ranking; it ranked first in Infectious Diseases and General Surgery, second in Gastroenterology, and entered the top ten nationally in Hematology, Emergency Medicine, Nephrology, Plastic Surgery, and Psychiatry.

In December 2019, the Innovation and Translation Center of The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (FAHZU), established and managed by FAHZU, was launched in the Pharmaceutical Port Town of Hangzhou Qiantang New Area. The Center focuses on basic and translational medical research into new technologies, methods, and applications in fields such as cell therapy, gene editing, innovative drug development, clinical diagnostics, and innovative medical devices. Since its establishment, the Center has undertaken extensive work to advance FAHZU’s scientific and technological achievements translation, including talent development, disciplinary team building, platform construction, and institutional mechanism reform.

Hangzhou Medicine Port Town, home to the Innovation and Translation Center of The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, serves as a pivotal gateway for Hangzhou’s biopharmaceutical industry. Currently, the town has gathered 950 biopharmaceutical enterprises, with seven of the top ten global pharmaceutical companies—including Pfizer and Merck & Co.—establishing their presence there. Its output value accounts for nearly 50% of Hangzhou’s total, fostering robust industrial, innovation, ecological, talent, capital, and service chains that safeguard the growth and development of innovative biopharmaceutical enterprises. As one of the first batch of municipal-level characteristic towns in Hangzhou, located at the core of the Hangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, it is benchmarked against the Boston area in the United States and is emerging as a source hub for medical technology innovation.

It is reported that Hangzhou Medicine Port Town focuses on four key sectors—biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, biomedical engineering, and healthcare big data—and has cultivated a comprehensive industrial ecosystem supporting the entire chain of technological achievement transformation, from early-stage exploration, preclinical research, and clinical trials to regulatory approval and market launch, drug manufacturing, and commercialization. The specialized industrial development platform currently under construction, with a total floor area of 1.2 million square meters, will provide industrial space catering to all stages of incubation, acceleration, and industrialization.

Effective immediately, the global call for innovative healthcare and medical entrepreneurship projects, jointly hosted by the Administrative Committee of Hangzhou Qiantang New Area, the Talent Office of the Hangzhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Hangzhou Investment Promotion Bureau, and The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine (FAHZU), and co-organized by Hangzhou Medical Port Town, Hangzhou Dachuang Town, the Innovation and Translation Center of FAHZU, and VCBeat, has officially launched.

This event extends a broad invitation to innovative projects from medical institutions, medical research organizations, and university laboratories at all levels, both domestic and international, as well as innovative projects at various stages in the health and healthcare sector. Selected projects will be awarded honors such as the Shortlist Award, the Crested Ibis Award, and the White Rhino Award, and will receive innovation empowerment across multiple dimensions, including policy support, technical assistance, ecosystem integration, capital investment, and brand building.

Award-winning projects may receive: comprehensive policy support and guarantees from Hangzhou and the Qiantang New Area; access to 11 innovation service platforms jointly established by Hangzhou Medical Port and prestigious global universities, providing technological empowerment for innovative projects; full-chain ecosystem empowerment through public service platforms such as the Innovation Translation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, the Clinical Trial Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine at Hangzhou Medical Port, the Public Service Platform for Biopharmaceutical R&D at Hangzhou Medical Port, and the Zhejiang Institute for Medical Device Testing; financial support from a RMB 5 billion industrial fund-of-funds, in collaboration with top-tier domestic and international pharmaceutical funds; and extensive resource matrices, including media communication services provided by over 100 leading global media outlets.

The award categories for this event are as follows:

Shortlisted Award:For projects that meet the eligibility criteria and have submitted application materials as required, a reward of 2,000 yuan will be granted to each participating project, with no limit on the number of recipients.

Crested Ibis Award:Projects certified by the expert review panel are eligible for the landing policies of Hangzhou Qiantang New Area: project startup funding ranging from 200,000 to 1 million yuan; a rental subsidy of 200,000 yuan; with no quota restrictions.

White Rhino Award:Projects reviewed and approved by the expert judging panel are eligible for the landing policies of Hangzhou Qiantang New Area, with no quota limits: up to RMB 10 million in project startup support and R&D funding; rental subsidies for up to 1,000 square meters of space for three years; interest subsidies on loans of up to RMB 10 million for two years; and up to RMB 10 million in grants to accelerate entrepreneurial development. (Specifically, this includes a grant of up to RMB 5 million, calculated at 15% of actual financing investment, plus an additional grant of up to RMB 5 million for companies whose annual main business revenue reaches RMB 10 million for the first time.)

Clinical projects include, but are not limited to:

Global medical practitioners, researchers, and other high-level talents/teams involved in the innovative development and translation of clinical applications or diagnostic and therapeutic technologies for complex diseases, as well as those engaged in interdisciplinary projects integrating non-clinical medical specialties, are all eligible to register.

Innovation Project Areas Include, But Are Not Limited To:

Participating entities must be innovation-related enterprises registered or intended to be registered in China. Joint applications by research institutions and enterprises are encouraged.

Pharmaceuticals: Biopharmaceuticals, including nucleic acid-based drugs, biotechnology therapies, protein-based drugs, and biological products; Chemical pharmaceuticals, covering processes for chemical drug intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), drug formulations, and R&D and manufacturing of chemical drugs; Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), encompassing TCM herb cultivation and processing, TCM decoction pieces, and proprietary Chinese medicines.

Medical Devices: Large-scale medical equipment such as pathology, imaging, and MRI systems; medical consumables including cardiovascular implants, orthopedic materials, ophthalmic materials, dental materials, implantable stents, interventional devices, and surgical and anesthesia disposables; in vitro diagnostics (IVD) covering biochemical diagnostics, immunodiagnostics, molecular diagnostics, and POCT.

Others: Artificial intelligence, big data, and other industrial sectors

Please firstDownload Registration MaterialsAfter completing the form, please compress and package the registration materials and send them to the event organizing committee’s email address: GIPHI_hdt@vcbeat.net. Name the file in the format “Project Name + Submission Date.” The organizing committee staff will contact you for confirmation within three business days of receiving your email.

Official Event Website:https://vcbeat.top/Forum/GIPHI