On the afternoon
of yesterday (October 7), the Information Office of Shanghai Municipality held
a press briefing. Wu Jincheng, director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of
Economy and Informatization, introduced the details of the International
Biopharma Industry Week Shanghai (IBIWS) 2023. Liu Ping, deputy director of the
Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, Hu Hongyi, deputy
director of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Zhao Jian, chief engineer
of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission, Zhang Qing, deputy
director of the Shanghai Municipal Medical Products Administration, and Wu
Qiang, deputy chief of Pudong New Area, attended the press briefing and
answered questions from reporters.

The IBIWS 2023 is scheduled to take place from October 16 to
20 this year. This event marks a significant stride in Shanghai’s commitment to
implementing the vision outlined in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important
address during his inspection of the city. It also aligns with recent crucial
directives aimed at advancing new industrialization efforts and is a pivotal
component of the comprehensive agenda set forth by the third plenary session of
12th CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee. The primary objective of this initiative
is to establish a robust international platform for collaboration and knowledge
exchange within the biopharmaceutical industry. Building upon the successes of
the past two sessions held since 2021, the response from both domestic and
international stakeholders has been overwhelmingly positive. These gatherings
have consistently showcased remarkable innovations, underlining their pivotal
role in driving forward the high-quality development of the biopharmaceutical
sector. As of now, preparations for the diverse array of activities planned for
the IBIWS
2023 are well underway.

I. Overall considerations for holding
the IBIWS 2023

Biopharma
stands as one of Shanghai’s paramount industries earmarked for development,
firmly anchored as a cornerstone sector dedicated to safeguarding the
well-being and health of people. As the cradle of China’s modern pharmaceutical
endeavors and the epicenter of the nation’s burgeoning biopharmaceutical
sphere, Shanghai boasts a comprehensive industrial infrastructure, a thriving
ecosystem, and an ever-expanding global footprint. This remarkable journey
commenced in 1993, under the visionary leadership of the CPC Shanghai Municipal
Committee and Shanghai Municipal Government, when the modern biological and
pharmaceutical sectors were earmarked as pivotal high-tech industries for
advancement. Over the past three decades, and notably within the context of the
new era, Shanghai has relentlessly championed the cause of fostering
high-quality evolution within the biopharmaceutical domain. Presently, it
resembles a veritable “tropical rainforest,” rapidly coalescing into a
world-class biopharmaceutical industry cluster. In light of this dynamic
backdrop, three central considerations underscore the significance of hosting
the IBIWS 2023:

Firstly,
the IBIWS 2023 serves as a powerful testament to Shanghai’s unwavering
commitment to nurturing the growth of the biopharmaceutical sector. It serves
as a pivotal global exchange platform, amplifying Shanghai’s stature as a
leading hub of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit within the
biopharmaceutical domain. Through this event, we aim to showcase Shanghai’s
top-tier industrial ecosystem, igniting the enthusiasm of various market
participants, and instilling confidence among domestic and international
investors. The second objective centers on further propelling the advancement
of Shanghai’s strategic emerging biopharma industry. During the IBIWS, we
aspire to draw upon global excellence, enticing valuable resources to converge
in Shanghai. Our aim is to entice groundbreaking and transformative projects to
establish a foothold here, thereby elevating the level of industrial clustering
and fortifying the synergy within the entire biopharmaceutical value chain. Lastly,
our third aim revolves around leveraging Shanghai’s identity as a beacon of
openness and collaboration. Building upon the achievements of the previous two events,
we are dedicated to deepening the establishment of a world-class communication
platform for the biopharma industry. We aspire to construct an open and
integrated industrial landscape that fosters global collaboration and knowledge
sharing, facilitating the dissemination of visionary ideas and cutting-edge
technologies within the global biopharma arena right here in Shanghai. Our
emphasis lies in the fusion of diverse perspectives, integration of resources,
and continuous innovation to shape the future of biopharma.

II. Overview and highlights of
the IBIWS 2023

The overarching theme of the
IBIWS 2023 is “Striving Together for a Thriving Industry.” “Striving Together” signifies
the collective global effort to shape a healthy and promising future, while
“For a Thriving Industry” underscores the thriving trajectory of the
biopharmaceutical industry in Shanghai.

The IBIWS 2023 adheres
steadfastly to the principles of being high-end, distinctive, and
international. It aims to establish industry benchmarks through innovative
achievements, chart industry pathways with leading enterprises, enhance
industry appeal through diverse activities, and fulfill its conference objectives
through profound exchanges. The event encompasses a high-profile inaugural
ceremony and an extensive lineup of nearly 40 concurrent activities. To ensure
a continuous impact, the activities will extend beyond its designated dates,
creating a dynamic “5+360” model — comprising 5 days of concentrated activities
during the IBIWS 2023 and 360 days of ongoing engagements throughout the year.
The highlights of the IBIWS 2023 can be categorized into four key aspects.

Firstly, it’s a global
confluence of biopharma thought leaders. The IBIWS 2023 serves as a nexus for
world-renowned experts, uniting more than a thousand luminaries from the global
biopharma sphere. Distinguished figures such as Paul Sinclair, President of the
International Pharmaceutical Federation, Karl Barry Sharpless, a two-time Nobel
Prize laureate, and academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, including
Chen Kaixian and Jin Li, alongside academicians of the Chinese Academy of
Engineering, including Chen Saijuan and Yang Shengli, as well as nearly 30
academicians and experts including Professor Lu Bai from the School of
Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, who will be actively engaged in
exploring the cutting-edge frontiers of the biopharma field. Moreover, over a
hundred iconic biopharma executives from both domestic and international
arenas, including Severin Schwan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Roche
Group, and Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, will actively contribute their
insights on global opportunities. Additionally, leading investment, financing,
and ecosystem service institutions, including E Fund, Boston Consulting Group,
McKinsey, JPMorgan Chase, Frost & Sullivan, and the world’s four major
accounting firms, will track industry trends and hot topics.

This year marks a milestone as
the IBIWS ventures abroad for the first time. The International Science and
Practice Conference and Central Asia-China High-end Biomedicine Exhibition will
be held in Kyrgyzstan with an aim to spotlight biomedicine and high-end medical
devices This pioneering event will facilitate the sharing of the latest
scientific and technological achievements and academic research insights with a
global audience, while fostering collaboration between Chinese enterprises and
their counterparts in Central Asia, promoting the internationalization of
Chinese biopharmaceutical firms and amplifying the overseas influence of the IBIWS.

Secondly, the IBIWS aims to
provide a holistic perspective on Shanghai’s biopharmaceutical landscape, often
likened to a thriving “tropical rainforest.” Anchored by an array of nearly 40
concurrent activities, this event is intricately woven into the fabric of the
biomedicine ecosystem. These activities span the innovation chain, industrial
chain, capital chain, talent chain, and spatial chain, constructing a robust biopharma
industry “rainforest” ecosystem. A five-chain integration theme matrix has been
devised, extending across the entire life cycle of the biopharma industry and
encompassing the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors, ensuring a
comprehensive and multidimensional portrayal of Shanghai’s biopharmaceutical
industry.

The 6th Pujiang
Healthcare Industry and Finance Integration and Innovation Summit 2023 will
delve deep into the Chinese pharmaceutical sector’s role in pioneering global
cutting-edge technologies and the philosophies and advantages in shaping core
competitiveness for future product commercialization.

Moreover, the JP Morgan Global
Healthcare Conference Shanghai Forum and the 2023 BioShanghai Healthcare
Investment Conference & Advance Healthcare Industry Forum will serve as
pivotal bridges between capital and industry. These forums are poised to foster
collaboration between the financial and biopharmaceutical realms, guiding
industry direction and contributing invaluable insights to the high-quality
evolution of the biopharma sector.

The Shanghai Biopharma
Industry Talent Development Forum and the Spring Hope Medical Innovation
Championship Award Ceremony and Shanghai Medical Innovation Forum will
collaborate to establish a dynamic exchange platform, bridging the worlds of
biopharmaceutical talent and enterprises. This synergy will invigorate the
interaction and collaboration among biopharmaceutical experts and
practitioners.

Furthermore, the Forum on
Innovating the Medical Insurance System to Support the High-Quality Development
of the Biopharma Industry will delve into the imperative task of constructing a
more superior, equitable, sustainable, and efficient medical security system.
This discussion aims to propel the medical security framework towards a future
marked by enduring sustainability.

Lastly, the “1+5+X” initiative
will spotlight key areas and parks, unveiling their cutting-edge endeavors,
latest achievements, and strategic orientations. These efforts, firmly rooted
in Shanghai yet positioned to impact the global stage, will be showcased to
inspire innovation and collaboration within the biopharmaceutical landscape.

Thirdly, the IBIWS is set to
trace the path of high-quality development in Shanghai’s biopharmaceutical
industry. In a remarkable tribute to Shanghai’s enduring commitment to the
biopharmaceutical sector, this year commemorates the 30th anniversary of the
city’s dedicated focus on biopharmaceutical industry development. Over these
three decades, China’s biopharmaceutical industry, epitomized by Shanghai, has
evolved from its nascent stages into a formidable force, making the “Shanghai
International Express” a reality. This transformative journey has seen Shanghai
take a pioneering role in global engagement and has been instrumental in
propelling the local biopharmaceutical industry from a modest total output
value of less than 5 billion yuan to an emerging powerhouse with an industrial
output value of nearly 200 billion yuan and an overall scale nearing 900
billion yuan. During the IBIWS 2023, a captivating series of interviews with
key figures who have shaped the 30-year history of Shanghai’s biopharmaceutical
industry will be unveiled on BioShanghai WeChat account. Together, they will
provide a comprehensive narrative of the high-quality development trajectory of
Shanghai’s biopharmaceutical industry, spanning past, present, and future
horizons.

Fourthly, the IBIWS envisions limitless horizons
for the biopharma industry in Shanghai. At the inaugural event of the IBIWS, we
are unwaveringly attuned to the ever-evolving global trends in innovation and
development by unveiling the action plans for three cutting-edge sectors:
synthetic biology, gene therapy, and medical robotics, as well as the strategic
blueprint for the establishment of a biopharma intelligent manufacturing space.
This proactive approach strengthens our commitment to harness scientific and
technological innovation as a driving force, thereby expanding the spatial and
productive dimensions of Shanghai’s biopharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, we
remain steadfast in our resolve to execute the “Zhangjiang R&D plus
Shanghai Manufacturing” initiative, fostering investment opportunities and
collaboration spaces for all stakeholders. By expediting the translation of
groundbreaking innovations into tangible outcomes within the Shanghai
landscape, we are dedicated to sharing and materializing the boundless
development prospects that the biopharma industry in Shanghai has to offer.