Innovative Cooperation, Achieving the Future: 2023 China-Europe Biopharmaceutical Innovation and Cooperation Conference
To further promote technological exchanges and industrial cooperation between China and Europe in the field of biopharmaceuticals, the '2023 China-Europe Biopharmaceutical Innovation and Cooperation Conference' was successfully held in the morning of September 4 at the Zhongguancun National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone Exhibition Center in Haidian District. The conference was hosted by the Haidian District People's Government of Beijing, organized by the Haidian District Commerce Bureau and BRICH Technology Co., Ltd., with the Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau and the Beijing International Trade Promotion Committee as supporting units.
The conference, themed 'Innovative Cooperation, Achieving the Future', featured exciting segments including opening speeches, keynote speeches, international roadshows, and on-site signings. Keynote speeches focused on cutting-edge technologies and development trends in the biopharmaceutical field, while multiple international project roadshows were arranged to match corporate needs and promote industry-academia-research cooperation.
The conference brought together enterprises and institutions from several advanced European biopharmaceutical countries such as Ireland, Belgium, France, Germany, the UK, and Italy, focusing on the healthcare industry to drive deep development in industrial innovation and international cooperation. It established a cooperation platform for European biopharmaceutical companies and Haidian enterprises, cultivated entry projects for the Zhongguancun Comprehensive Bonded Zone, attracted project landings, and assisted Haidian enterprises in 'going global'.
At the conference, Xue Haitao, the Second Inspector of the Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau, delivered the opening speech. Then, Joseph Keating, Science and Technology Counsellor of the Irish Embassy in China, gave a speech. Mr. Keating comprehensively introduced Ireland's biopharmaceutical policies, industry development status, and future drug development trends. As one of the fastest-growing developed economies in the world, Ireland's Investment Motive Doctrine (IMD) ranks first globally, with approximately 1,700 multinational companies choosing to land in Ireland. Biopharmaceuticals are a key pillar of Ireland's economy, directly accounting for 62% of the country's total exports. Mr. Keating also emphasized that to stand firm in biopharmaceutical innovation, it is essential to win the 'war for talent'. Having a diverse talent pool and a wide range of interdisciplinary skills is crucial for the future successful development of the biopharmaceutical industry. He said the synergy between China and Ireland is significant. Over the past five years, companies, universities, and research institutions from both countries have actively developed new models of cooperation. The Zhongguancun Life Science Park has also opened a new R&D center in Ireland.
Subsequently, Didier Denayer, Economic, Commercial, and Technological Advisor of the Walloon Region of Belgium, stated in his speech: 'Innovation is extremely critical.' Especially in the biopharmaceutical field, the role of innovation is even more important. Mr. Denayer pointed out that Belgium is the European country with the most life science activities and researchers, which is why the World Health Organization chose Liège Airport as its only designated medical emergency center in the EU. He also said that the greatest significance of innovation is to drive progress. Only on the basis of effective cooperation can the goal of harmonious development be achieved.
Finally, Wu Kai, Deputy District Mayor of Haidian District, Beijing, spoke at the conference. Deputy District Mayor Wu introduced Haidian from four major advantages: policy support, industrial development space, high-end industries, and talent services. He said that in recent years, Haidian's biopharmaceutical industry has continued to flourish, thanks to its abundant scientific research resources, excellent innovation ecosystem, and comprehensive industrial support policies. Haidian District will fully utilize its advantages of concentrated innovation elements, a deep scientific and technological industrial base, active foreign economic exchanges, and overlapping innovation strategies to provide high-quality services and a broader, more favorable development space for incoming enterprises.
In the keynote speech, Dennis Wilkens, Representative of the German Federal Office for Foreign Trade and Investment in Beijing, shared with us the trends and opportunities in the German biopharmaceutical field. In recent years, the income and investment in Germany's biotechnology industry have also grown rapidly. Mr. Wilkens said he believes that China and Germany will discover more cooperation and investment opportunities in the future.
Wang Cong, Vice President of Public Affairs for Novozymes Asia-Pacific, also delivered a keynote speech at the conference, sharing with guests the exciting journey of Haidian biopharmaceutical companies growing in Haidian. Novozymes landed in Haidian in 1997, becoming the first foreign biotechnology company to establish an R&D center in China, and it was also the first multinational regional headquarters to settle in Beijing. From a biotechnology perspective, Ms. Wang pointed out six pathways to accelerate China's green transformation, namely: achieving carbon capture and utilization; promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries; optimizing the energy structure of transportation; reusing organic waste to achieve a circular economy; transforming food processing systems and reducing food waste; and reducing the use and pollution of chemicals. It provided a brand-new biotechnological solution for the corporate guests present.
In the international project roadshow session, company representatives from Italy, Ireland, Germany, and France introduced their respective advantageous projects to the participants, and conducted product promotions at the venue, allowing guests with cooperation intentions to intuitively understand the project and product details. Among them, the Italian digital rehabilitation platform roadshow company Physiokey even brought its product 'Digital Rehabilitation Electronic Screen' to the on-site exhibition area for display.
The final part of the conference was the on-site signing of overseas projects in Haidian's biopharmaceutical field. Four biopharmaceutical enterprises in our district intending to go global, Zhidao Biology, Xingfu Probiotics, Yihe Jiaye, and Natalon Group, signed strategic cooperation agreements with the Irish Investment Development Agency Beijing Office and the China-Britain Business Council respectively; the Beijing Haidian District Commerce Bureau signed a cooperation memorandum with the Irish Investment Development Agency Beijing Office and the Walloon Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Agency Beijing Office; the Beijing Haidian Service Trade and Service Outsourcing Enterprise Association signed a cooperation memorandum with the Irish Investment Development Agency Beijing Office and the China-Britain Business Council. This built a bridge of communication and cooperation between enterprises and third-party institutions intending to go global and European investment promotion agencies, facilitating enterprises in 'going global'.
This conference established a cooperation platform for Haidian enterprises and European biopharmaceutical companies. Enterprises and institutions in Haidian District related to pharmaceutical engineering, biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other fields gathered with European enterprises and institutions for in-depth exchanges. It is believed that through open and mutually beneficial cooperation, technological innovation and application in the China-Europe pharmaceutical industry will bring new breakthroughs, jointly promoting the internationalization and development of the biopharmaceutical industry.