The Taihu (Mashan) Life Science and Healthcare Forum kicks off at the Wuxi Taihu International Expo Center on April 12. [Photo by Lyu Yihan/chinadaily.com.cn]
The Taihu (Mashan) Life Science and Healthcare Forum kicked off at the Wuxi Taihu International Expo Center on April 12. Among the 3,000 guests who attended, over 200 were scholars from home and abroad, while a number of famous medical companies such as GE, ThermoFisher and WuXi AppTec were present as well.
The forum featured keynote speeches, sub-forums and high-level talks. The 4th Global Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Summit and China (Wuxi) International Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Exhibition were held simultaneously in a bid to promote the digitalization of the biopharmaceutical industry.
Promoting coordination and exchange may be nothing more than a truism, but it has slowly begun taking form after in-depth discussions regarding international exchange, academic development, and business cooperation.
Dr. Sara Medina (center) is a member of the board of SPI - Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação, a science and technology consulting company and coordinator of the ENRICH in China project. [Photo by Lyu Yihan/chinadaily.com.cn]
Dr. Sara Medina, a member of the board of a science and technology consulting company SPI, and coordinator of the ENRICH in China project, was present along with a delegation of about 20 European organizations. Medina pointed out that the health care industry in China is quickly advancing due to its use of new technologies. However, due to cultural and linguistic differences, it is still challenging for Europeans to do business with Chinese companies. Therefore, communication platforms like the Taihu (Mashan) Life Science and Healthcare Forum which offers international enterprises a chance to talk directly with professional individuals and groups in China is quite significant, she noted.
Qiu Guixing (right), a 77-year old academician, gives an interview in which he discussed arthropathy and spondylosis. He will later deliver a keynote speech at the forum in his hometown of Wuxi. [Photo by Lyu Yihan/chinadaily.com.cn]
The forum also serves as a conduit for international academic exchange. From the perspective of academician Qiu Guixing, a 77-year old orthopedics specialist, events like this can serve as windows into the future of the industry. "The forum and relevant campaigns should continue to be held annually, because it's beneficial for the entire industry", said Qiu. He also noted that theory should serve practice, "Compared with developed countries, we still have a long way to go in the medical sphere", which is why researchers should broaden their horizons and keep up with the latest developments in the field.
In the 15,600-square-meter exhibition area, the hustle and bustle never let up. As the exhibit taking up the largest amount of space, Boyalife, a global biopharmaceutical holding company founded and headquartered in Wuxi, took full advantage of this opportunity. Its three booths display its latest achievements in automated cellular processing, stem cell banking, and clinical application. "We are looking forward to cooperating with different businesses during this three-day event, and we are glad that many visitors have found our products intriguing", said Xiao Hairong, vice president of Boyalife.
It is worth mentioning that the Wuxi Cell Therapy Industry Alliance was established at this year's forum, which created a closed loop for the industry of cell therapy. This will promote the integration of industrial resources in Wuxi and boost the development of cell industrialization.
The Boyalife booths display the company's latest achievements in automated cellular processing, stem cell banking, and clinical application. [Photo by Lyu Yihan/chinadaily.com.cn]
