Driving force from authorities: the evolution of innovation system for biomedical industry in China

ABSTRACT

Over the past 30 years, China has fully exploited its advantage to steadily foster an innovation system for the biomedical industry with Chinese characteristics, that is, ‘Government-guided, resource-integrated and long-term planning.’ The system originated from historically famous ‘863 program’ in the 1980s, evolved with a series of favourable policies in the different periods, and eventually has taken shape in the industrial clusters across the country. It features with a systematic and integrated R&D infrastructure (or public platform) at different levels. In this study, China’s biomedical innovation system will be examined and the leading role of Chinese authorities will be explored from the perspective of Triple Helix theory. As the ‘highland of innovation’, Shanghai case is highlighted with plentiful information gathered from primary sources in the involved agencies for the first time, including the Shanghai Biopharma Service Platform.

KEYWORDS:

• Innovation system
• Triple Helix theory
• biomedical industry
• Chinese characteristics
• R&D infrastructure

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Tong Shi, M.D., Ph.D., Associate manager, Department of Platform Service, Shanghai Center of Biomedicine Development. Graduated from Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, she has been engaged in medical research work in research institute and company for several years, including two years of postdoc training in Baylor College of Medicine, USA, and had several papers published in international journals, and patents filed. As an administrative personnel in the government agency targeting the biomedical industry at the moment, she has the chance to contact enterprises, universities and policy-makers in person, making her fully understand how the government has involved itself in the biomedical industry in China.

Xiaoshi Chang, B.S., Department of Platform Service, Shanghai Center of Biomedicine Development. Graduated from China Pharmaceutical University, she has worked in Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry for several years. She has experienced the birth of Shanghai Biopharma Service Platform since she worked in Shanghai Center of Biomedicine Development, and was in charge of the Department of Platform Service.

Jun Tang, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Official (CSO), Shanghai Center of Biomedicine Development. Graduated from East China University of Science and Technology, she has worked in Shanghai Center of Biomedicine Development for more than 20 years. As the CSO of the centre, she contributes herself to promoting Shanghai’s biomedical industry.

Zhongmin Zheng, M.S., Director, Department of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality. Graduated from Department of Health Administration, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, he has worked as the director of Department of Science and Technology in the hospital and university for several years. Now he is the head of the Department of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, participating in shaping up policies, planning clusters or platforms, and financially supporting enterprises.

Notes

1. See <http://www.nmp.gov.cn/gzxgz/zdxy/201302/t20130227_3118.htm> accessed 9 January 2015. Project of Major New Drug Creation is one of 13 National Science and Technology Major Projects, supporting R&D of new drugs in the therapeutic field of some serious diseases such as tumour, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, psychological diseases, and autoimmune diseases.

2. See <http://www.863.gov.cn> accessed 16 November 2013.

3. See <http://www.ctp.gov.cn/> accessed 16 November 2013.

4. 3211: 3 centers, 200 billion RMB of economic aggregate, 100 products with 100 million RMB of sales revenue. Shanghai would be developed into the manufacture centre, commerce centre and R&D centre for biomedical innovative products in China; Industry economic aggregate would reach 200 billion RMB; 100 innovative enterprises with annual output value over 200 million RMB would be supported; 100 medical products with more than 100 million RMB sales revenue would be developed.

5. See <http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/nw2/nw2314/nw2319/nw11494/nw12331/nw12343/nw22597/u26aw19228.html> accessed 1 December 2015.

6. See <http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/nw2/nw2314/nw2319/nw10800/nw11407/nw29273/u26aw30523.html> accessed 1 December 2015; See <http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/nw2/nw2314/nw2319/nw10800/nw11407/nw29273/u26aw33090.html> accessed 1 December 2015.

7. See <http://www.stcsm.gov.cn/gk/ghjh/336089.htm> accessed 1 December 2015.

8. See <http://data.ccidconsulting.com/ei/bps/swyy/H681101index_1.htm> accessed 11 April 2013.

9. See <http://www.bjcbp.com.cn/web/cbp/> accessed 16 November 2013. See <http://www.gzbio.net/web/jidi/> accessed 16 November 2013. See <http://www.medmax.cn/Index.asp> accessed 16 November 2013.

10. See <http://www.zjpark.com/> accessed 16 November 2013.

11. See <http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2004/content_62878.htm> accessed 16 March 2013.

12. See <http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2010-04/21/content_1588478.htm> accessed 20 March 2013.

13. The data are collected annually from all the platform members by Department of Platform Service, Shanghai Center of Biomedicine Development and managed through specially designed software.