Fearless Walkers, Endless Journey: VB100 2023 Annual Series Overview

2023 was a year of arduous global economic recovery amid adversity and resilience, a year of turbulence and upheaval in the healthcare industry as it navigated disruption and reconstruction, and a year in which all healthcare professionals strove to pierce through the fog in search of light.Many have described “cold” as the defining tone of 2023. As uncertainty grew increasingly pronounced across the healthcare industry, how to navigate the path forward became a central topic of discussion within the sector, while establishing a firm foothold amid chaos and turbulence emerged as the main theme driving countless entrepreneurs and innovators. In 2023, we lamented the decline of many once-glorious companies, yet we also genuinely celebrated and cheered for the rise of numerous new stars in the healthcare field. Despite the market downturn, throughout the year, countless innovators in the healthcare industry continued to seek certainty, casting their stones into various segments of the sector, seizing opportunities, facing challenges head-on, and creating ripples in the long river of healthcare development.

Amidst the surging tides of our era, we are ushering in a new chapter and witnessing the dawn of a rising new age!In 2023, VCBeat continued to advance along the path of healthcare innovation in China, acting as a witness, companion, and facilitator. By consistently focusing on emerging trends, gaining insights into industry dynamics, and encouraging free exploration, we hosted over 100 events covering more than 10 specialized sectors. Collaborating with over 10 provinces and municipalities and more than 100 enterprises, we jointly unleashed strong vitality in the healthcare field. Through these events,“Cooperation” “Future” “International”These are the primary keywords; so, what have we actually done behind these keywords?

March 18, 2023The inaugural Yinchuan Summit on Digital Health, hosted by the Yinchuan Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Yinchuan Municipal People’s Government, and organized by VCBeat, was successfully held in Yinchuan. The onsite event attracted over 500 participants, including 24 academicians and experts from relevant national ministries and commissions as well as the digital health sector, along with leaders from 136 enterprises. Attendees engaged in discussions on the future trends of digital health, the high-quality development of “Internet + Healthcare,” and digital innovation in smart healthcare, jointly exploring new pathways, approaches, and models for the innovative and high-quality development of digital health.

From March 24 to 26, 2023, the 4th National Graduate Academic Forum on Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics and Medical Laboratory Technology was successfully held at the Yuzhou Hotel in Chongqing. The event was hosted by the Inter-University Collaboration Council for Medical Laboratory Science Programs of Higher Education Institutions in China, organized by the School of Laboratory Medicine of Chongqing Medical University and VCBeat, and co-organized by Zhongyuan Huiji Biotechnology Co., Ltd. More than 200 master’s and doctoral students as well as scholars in clinical laboratory diagnostics and medical technology from higher education institutions across China participated in academic discussions and exchanges through conference presentations and poster sessions.

On March 24, 2023, the 2023 Zhongguancun Life Science Park Technology Platform Industry-Research Innovation Summit, hosted by Zhongguancun Life Science Park Co., Ltd. and multiple technology platforms and organized by VCBeat, was successfully held. The event attracted over 300 attendees. Focusing on core themes such as “AI-Enabled New Drug R&D,” “Breakthroughs in Undruggable Targets,” “Biologic Drug Evaluation,” and “Clinical Biospecimen Banking and Utilization,” the summit gathered industry leaders, investment experts, and entrepreneurs from leading and innovative companies. By integrating industry, academia, research, and application, the event aimed to promote the development of a multi-level, broad-spectrum, functional, and open new-type innovation technology platform support system.

On May 1, 2023, the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the School of Laboratory Medicine at Chongqing Medical University and the Laboratory Medicine Forum were successfully held at the Yuzhou Hotel in Chongqing. The event was hosted by the Inter-University Collaboration Council for Medical Laboratory Science Programs of Chinese Higher Education Institutions, organized by the School of Laboratory Medicine of Chongqing Medical University and VCBeat, and co-organized by Zhongyuan Huiji Biotechnology Co., Ltd. More than 400 attendees, including leading industry figures, experts, scholars, and corporate guests from the field of laboratory medicine, gathered for the occasion.

On May 21, 2023, the 2023 Healthy China Industry Leaders Forum, hosted by PBC School of Finance at Tsinghua University, co-organized by the School of Medicine at Tsinghua University, and undertaken by VCBeat and Yifang Health Valley, was successfully held in Tongzhou, Beijing. More than 300 academicians, experts, entrepreneurs, investors, and healthcare professionals from the broader health sector gathered in Tongzhou to share insights and explore new patterns and developments in the health industry, focusing on the innovative integration of cutting-edge technology with medical health, as well as the development of the biotechnology and smart healthcare industries.

From May 23 to 24, 2023, the “4th Healthcare Industry CEO Summit – Shushan Discourse on ‘Health’,” hosted by Legend Capital, co-hosted by Bio-Town Group and Ceyuan Capital, and organized by VCBeat, was successfully held in Chengdu. The summit brought together nearly 300 guests from various sectors, including government, industry, academia, research, healthcare, and investment, who shared insights and engaged in discussions on hot topics such as innovation trends in the medical industry, with the aim of identifying optimal solutions in the field of life sciences.

On July 27, 2023, jointly hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in China and the China Committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with Legend Capital and the Chinese-Indonesian Chamber of CommerceThe China-Indonesia Healthcare and Biotech Investment Forum, hosted by VCBeat, was successfully held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Chengdu. A total of 120 attendees, including leading enterprises from China’s healthcare sector as well as Indonesian government officials, scholars, and business leaders, gathered to jointly explore the directions and opportunities for the development of healthcare and biotechnology in both countries.

July 28, 2023 – December 23, 2023, co-hosted by the Administrative Committee of Changzhou National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone and Medtronic KanghuiUnder the guidance of the Artificial Intelligence Professional Committee of the China Computer Industry Association and the Office of the Changzhou Innovation Committee, with academic guidance from the Basic and Clinical Neurosurgery Branch of the Chinese Society for Neuroscience, and co-organized by VCBeat, the “Digital Intelligence Future, Radiating Brilliance” 2023 Medical Technology Innovation Challenge was successfully held. For this competition, VCBeat received a total of 87 registrations for innovative projects in the fields of neuroscience and brain science, covering medical devices, intelligent equipment, surgical robots, artificial intelligence, and big data.

On October 22, 2023, the 1st China-Europe International Forum on Healthcare Industry was successfully held in Shanghai. Guided by the Shanghai Biomedical Industry Promotion Center, hosted by CEIBS (China Europe International Business School), and organized by VCBeat, the forum served as one of the key events during Shanghai Biomedical Industry Week. Under the theme “Deepening Integration in China, Leading Global Innovation,” the event brought together more than 500 distinguished guests from government, industry, academia, research institutions, and the investment community. As pioneering forces in China’s healthcare sector, they jointly explored viable pathways for global healthcare innovation and development, and worked to accelerate the upgrading and high-quality growth of China’s healthcare industry.

On November 1, 2023, hosted by the CPC Wuxi Xishan District Committee and the People’s Government of Xishan District, Wuxi City, and co-organized by VCBeat, the 2023 Wuxi Xishan (Shanghai) Precision Medicine Industry Development Forum, hosted by the Administrative Committee of Wuxi Xidong New City Business District and Wuxi Precision Medical Industrial Park, was successfully held in Shanghai. The event featured targeted invitations to 100 industry leaders and guests, who gathered to provide insights and recommendations for the development of Wuxi’s precision medicine industry and to explore a development path tailored to Xidong.

From November 16 to 17, 2023, the 4th Guangming Brain Science Conference—Bay Area Brain Science Industry Innovation and Cooperation Conference 2023, the 2nd Annual Meeting of the Shenzhen Society for Brain Science, and the Annual Meeting of the Neuroscientific Research Technology Branch of the Chinese Neuroscience Society was successfully held at the Guangming Culture and Arts Center in Shenzhen. Co-organized by the Shenzhen Society for Brain Science, the Shenzhen Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Industry Alliance, VCBeat, VB100, and Eggshell Research Institute, the two-day event featured one main forum opening ceremony, two academic annual meetings, and seven industry-specific sub-forums. It brought together more than 500 industry leaders to build a collaborative innovation platform integrating government, industry, academia, research, medicine, and capital, and to explore and foster a new ecosystem for the brain health industry.

On November 18, 2023, the 2023 Future Healthcare Equity Investment Forum and the 5th Future Healthcare Fund Partners (LP-GP) Summit, hosted by VCBeat, were successfully held at the Taikang Research Institute in Changping, Beijing. The event brought together more than 30 guests, including experts in healthcare research, consulting, and industry, representatives of regional healthcare funds, and partners from top-tier global investment institutions. It featured ten projects spanning pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, advanced intelligent manufacturing and medical devices, upstream pharmaceutical and device supply chain services, and early-stage innovation and technology transfer. With over 200 industry professionals in attendance, the forum explored market trends under the new economic landscape and facilitated discussions on cutting-edge investment concepts and logic in the current market.

On December 28, 2023, the 6th Huaxi International Smart Medical Valley Industry Development Conference was successfully held in Wuhou District. Co-hosted by Sichuan University, the Wuhou District Committee of the Communist Party of China, and the People’s Government of Wuhou District, Chengdu, and organized by VCBeat, the conference focused on digital health innovation. Centered on the theme “Aggregating Digital Momentum to Create an Innovation Core,” the event featured an offline conference, innovative project roadshows, and online live streaming. More than 300 industry professionals attended onsite, fostering integrated innovation among government, universities, hospitals, and enterprises. Together, they aimed to promote high-quality development of the digital health industry, leveraging digital health innovations to provide new momentum for economic growth and establish a new innovation core.

From May 5 to 7, 2023, the “7th Future Healthcare 100 Conference,” organized by VB100, VCBeat, and Eggshell Research Institute, with strategic cooperative support from Shanghai Zhangjiang Group, was grandly held. The conference gathered top academicians from home and abroad, industry leaders, leading researchers, and representatives from flagship enterprises, attracting a total of 10,000 attendees. Centered on venture capital relationships with companies at their core, the Future Healthcare 100 Conference has been successfully held for seven editions and is currently the largest and most information-rich summit in China’s medical and health innovation industry, fostering the integration of industry and capital. Over the past five years, the conference system has continuously upgraded, gradually establishing an innovative ecosystem that links innovative enterprises, industrial capital, healthcare service institutions, research universities, and industrial parks. It serves as a bellwether for development, investment, and clustering trends in China’s medical and health innovation sector for the current year and the foreseeable future.

From June 28 to 29, 2023, the inaugural Future Medical Achievements Transformation and Cooperation Conference, hosted by VB100, VCBeat, Zhongguancun Development Group, and the Administrative Committee of Tianjin Binhai–Zhongguancun Science Park, was successfully held. The conference featured China’s first early-stage innovation solutions competition dedicated to specific medical specialties and the nation’s first award system focusing on key forces in achievement transformation. It attracted more than 20 representatives from academia and government, including academicians, scientists, corporate representatives, investors, clinical experts, and scholars from associations and research institutes, as well as over 300 industry representatives, thereby establishing a critical link in the transformation ecosystem.

On October 18, 2023, the 2023 Future Medical Imaging Innovation Forum, jointly organized by VCBeat, VB100, and the Endoscopy Industry Alliance, and supported by Deepwise Technology, concluded successfully at the Yangtze River International Conference Center in Nanjing. The forum brought together approximately 150 research experts and distinguished entrepreneurs from China’s medical imaging sector to discuss pathways for innovation and strategies for integration, aiming to identify replicable models and approaches for industrial convergence and innovative development, thereby providing broader perspectives and greater scope for the industry’s high-quality upgrading and growth.

2023 Pharmaceutical Innovation Compass Conference · Investment & BD Partnership was successfully held in Suzhou on October 21. Approximately 150 biopharmaceutical experts and industry professionals attended the event. The conference adopted a “1+3” format, comprising one main forum dialogue and three mini-forums focused on cutting-edge niche sectors. It is dedicated to facilitating integration and exchange among Biotech firms, Pharma companies, capital investors, and new infrastructure stakeholders, providing scarce networking value and deeply exploring further possibilities for “collaboration.” The event has become an authentic barometer for venture capital investment and business development (BD) partnerships in China’s innovative drug sector. 

From November 30 to December 1, 2023, the “2023 Future Medical Technology Conference,” hosted by VCBeat, was successfully held in Hefei. The event attracted more than 800 industry professionals.The two-day conference featured 13 events, attracting over 100 global biopharmaceutical companies. It brought together nearly 100 distinguished guests from government, industry, academia, research, healthcare, and investment sectors, who shared insights and engaged in discussions on hot topics such as innovation trends in the medical industry, aiming to identify the future direction of medical technology development.

On July 1, 2023, the 2023 China Medical Device Global Expansion Conference was successfully held at the InterContinental Hotel in Yujiapu. Guided by the Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Commerce, hosted by VB100 and VCBeat, and supported by the Administrative Committee of Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area, the conference focused on medical device exports with “Empowering Global Trade” as its core theme. Integrating international trade cooperation, medical device industry exchanges, institutional technical dialogues, and corporate product exhibitions, the event attracted nearly 500 participants. It further built a multi-dimensional ecosystem for medical device exports, promoted the transformation and upgrading of medical device trade, and facilitated the innovative global expansion of domestic enterprises.

On August 12, 2023, the 2023 Medical Device Product Innovation and International Cooperation Summit, hosted by VCBeat and VB100 with support from the International Exchange and Cooperation Center of the National Health Commission, was successfully held at the China National Convention Center in Beijing. Focusing on the import and export trade of medical devices, the conference centered on “Global Innovation and International Cooperation” from a global perspective,Featuring 20+ Exhibitors,An in-depth exploration of trade trends, innovative applications, and industrial collaboration under the influence of global policies, economics, and markets.

On August 26, 2023, the 2023 World Digital Therapeutics Conference was successfully held in Hainan. The event was hosted by Beijing Danhuang Technology Co., Ltd., organized by Chongqing Dongmaicheng Technology Co., Ltd. and Hainan Danhuang Technology Co., Ltd., and supported by the Digital Therapeutics Professional Committee of the China Association for Medical Device Industry, the UK Department for Business and Trade, and the Australian Trade and Investment Commission. Under the theme “Leading a New Future for the Industrial Ecosystem and Jointly Building a Global Community of Health for All,” the conference attracted over 1,000 participants, including academicians from China and abroad, executives from multinational pharmaceutical and medical device companies as well as leading domestic healthcare enterprises, CEOs of listed companies, renowned experts and scholars, and industry professionals. Attendees convened to discuss, co-create, and share insights on the global development direction of digital therapeutics, explore their potential applications in specific medical scenarios, and uncover their greater market potential.