Original Title: Notice on the Issuance of the "14th Five-Year Plan for the High-Quality Development of the Life and Health Industry in Xuhui District"

To meet the urgent health needs of the people and provide comprehensive solutions for maintaining, improving, and promoting public health, the strategic importance of the life and health industry has become increasingly prominent.During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, Xuhui’s life and health industry proactively served national and Shanghai-level strategies. By building an innovation ecosystem with global influence, it accelerated the aggregation of high-quality domestic and international resources. By integrating into Shanghai’s “5+X” health and medical service industry layout, it advanced the clustered and specialized development of the regional health service sector. Through the continuous optimization of industrial spatial layout, it promoted the overall enhancement of the Fenglin brand image, making steady progress in expanding the scale and elevating the level of the life and health industry.This plan has been formulated to accelerate the high-quality and high-level development of Xuhui’s life and health industry.

I. Background and Current Situation

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the scale of Xuhui’s life and health industry continued to expand, its spatial layout was continuously optimized, the health service sector developed rapidly, the Fenglin brand image gradually gained prominence, and the innovation ecosystem was continuously improved.

(1) Development Foundation

1. Accelerated Clustering of Leading Domestic and International Enterprises and Continuous Expansion of the Industry Scale

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, Xuhui accelerated the introduction of headquarters, leading enterprises, and innovative companies, driving the continuous expansion of the life sciences and health industry. Over the past five years, the region has attracted more than 2,700 life sciences and health enterprises, including seven regional headquarters of multinational corporations such as Merck and Johnson & Johnson, seven leading domestic enterprises such as Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group and Shijiazhuang Pharmaceutical Group, 12 listed companies, 10 enterprises approved under the Shanghai Science and Technology “Little Giant” Project,and 65 high-tech enterprises. Five new innovation and commercialization platforms have been established—covering molecular nanotechnology, immunotherapy, biomanufacturing and reactors, molecular function realization, and medical-engineering convergence—to accelerate the implementation of innovation outcomes. Furthermore, Xuhui is vigorously promoting the integration of life sciences and health with information technology, the integration of spatial and industrial layouts, and the integration of innovation factors with financial and other industrial elements, thereby accelerating the diversified and integrated development of the life sciences and health industry.

2. Industry Development Mechanisms Are Becoming More Refined, and Spatial Layout Is Continuously Optimized

At the end of 2015, the District Party Committee and District Government approved the establishment of Shanghai Fenglin Life and Health Industry Development (Group) Co., Ltd. In 2016, the Xuhui District Life and Health Industry Management Committee was established, thereby forming a framework where the Management Committee makes decisions, the Fenglin Alliance provides coordinated support, and the Group serves as the primary implementer. This structure promotes an industry-wide collaborative development model characterized by government guidance, professional coordination, and entity-based operations.During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, Xuhui supported a total of 32 innovative life and health products, accelerating the market launch process for regional enterprises.In terms of spatial layout, with the Fenglin International Center—a subsidiary of the Fenglin Group—at its core, multiple radiation zones have been formed, including the Fenglin Science and Technology Innovation Park, the Juke Bio-Park, and the Guangan Industrial Park. A total of approximately 600,000 square meters of specialized space for the life and health industry has been constructed, serving the full-chain development functions ranging from innovation incubation and enterprise cultivation to industrial clustering.Meanwhile, the functional framework of the West Bund Life Blue Bay has been largely defined, aiming to build an integrated life sciences and health industry ecosystem that combines clinical services, R&D, and manufacturing.

3. Integration into the Citywide Industrial Development Framework and Accelerated Development of the Health Services Sector

The "Several Opinions of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government on Promoting the High-Quality Development of the City’s Health Service Industry and Accelerating the Construction of a First-Class Medical Center City" (Shanghai Municipal Government Document [2018] No. 25), issued in 2018, explicitly states: "The Xuhui Fenglin Life and Health Industry Park, as a key cluster within Shanghai’s ‘5+X’ health and medical service industry layout for building a first-class medical center city, will focus on health technology R&D and the commercialization of research outcomes, accelerating the clustering and development of health technology innovation enterprises."In 2019, the Xuhui Fenglin Health Services Innovation Demonstration Zone was selected as part of Shanghai’s third batch of service industry innovation and development demonstration zones, establishing a health services layout comprising “one core zone and two expansion zones.” In 2020, the Xuhui Life Science Park, centered on the Fenglin International Center, was incorporated into the “X” category of the city’s “1+5+X” specialized industrial park layout.

4. Steady Enhancement of the Fenglin Brand Image and Continuous Development of the Innovation Ecosystem

The Xuhui Fenglin brand has been formally incorporated into the “Shanghai Plan” for the National Biomedical Industry Innovation Hub, representing Shanghai’s central urban area in participating in the Yangtze River Delta integration strategy and regional industrial synergy within the biomedical sector. The “Fenglin HUB” has been approved as a major project within the Zhangjiang National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone, actively building a world-class innovation chain for technology transfer that integrates the “concentration of life and health innovation” with the “speed of commercializing research outcomes.”The Fenglin Alliance brings together diverse innovation entities and promotes a philosophy of collaborative innovation, aiming to break down communication barriers among member institutions and establish long-term mechanisms for information sharing and mutual benefit. Over the past five years, as an open, collaborative innovation network alliance driven by a “dual-engine” approach, the Fenglin Alliance has facilitated collaborative innovation between the Shanghai Clinical Research Ethics Committee and local universities and research institutes, initially forming an innovation ecosystem characterized by the virtuous interaction of resources such as talent, capital, clinical expertise, technology, and services.

(2) Development Bottlenecks

Compared to the requirements for high-quality development of the life sciences and healthcare industry, Xuhui currently faces several issues and challenges.

1. Limited High-Quality Space Resources

Located in Shanghai’s central urban area, Xuhui faces tight land resources, resulting in limited space for manufacturing and R&D offices. The scale of the life sciences and health industry must expand within these constrained physical boundaries. While Xuhui’s central location offers convenient transportation, business operating costs are relatively high, placing significant financial pressure on startups.

2. Industry-Specific Policies Require Improvement

Compared to the specialized biopharmaceutical policies in places like Pudong, Lingang, and Suzhou, Xuhui does offer policy support for project implementation and the market launch of innovative products. However, from the perspective of the overall industrial chain, these support policies are relatively scattered and have not yet been consolidated into a comprehensive policy framework. Further refinement is needed to enable synergistic effects among policies promoting project implementation, R&D innovation, and industrialization.

3. The structure of sub-sectors needs optimization

Currently, the structure of Xuhui’s life sciences and healthcare industry is characterized by a “high proportion of services and a low proportion of manufacturing.”Statistics from 2020 indicate that healthcare services accounted for 55.3% of the life sciences and health industry, health affairs, health environment management, and scientific research and technical services accounted for 24%, health management and promotion services accounted for 9.4%, and pharmaceutical manufacturing accounted for only 2%. The sectoral structure requires further optimization: the proportion of pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing needs to be increased, and within the health services sector, the share of high-end medical services, smart health technology services, and health management services needs to be expanded.

4. Untapped Potential of Advantageous Resources

Xuhui has gathered a large number of advantageous life science and healthcare resources; however, the institutional mechanisms of innovation entities—such as universities, research institutes, and medical institutions—still need to be revitalized. Issues such as “information asymmetry” between research, clinical practice, and industry remain to be resolved, the integration between the innovation chain and the industrial chain needs to be deepened, and a virtuous ecosystem for continuously driving scientific and technological innovation requires further refinement.

(III) Development Trends

Against the backdrop of the deepening development of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, life sciences are giving rise to a large number of disruptive technologies with significant potential for industrial transformation. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, 5G, and blockchain are deeply integrating with biomedicine and health services, empowering the digital transformation of the life and health industry. Xuhui’s development of the life and health industry has thus ushered in new opportunities.

1. The Life Sciences and Health Industry Has Become a Global Focus

The life and health industry is a focal point for countries worldwide. In developed nations and regions, the industry’s layout is shifting from physical expansion within industrial and high-tech parks toward an integrated “industry-city” development model that leverages urban innovation functions to create innovation clusters—particularly those centered around universities, research institutes, or areas with high concentrations of medical resources.At the same time, the global industrial chain layout in the life sciences and healthcare sector is undergoing restructuring, and the division of labor within the industry is being reshaped. Domestically, many regions are positioning the life sciences and healthcare industry as a new growth driver, leading to increasingly fierce competition among industries.

2. The “Healthy China” Strategy Drives a New Round of Development

The “Healthy China” strategy proposed at the 19th CPC National Congress is a major strategic initiative formulated by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, based on long-term development and cutting-edge trends. While presiding over a symposium with scientists, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that the development of science and technology must adhere to the “Four Orientations”—toward the frontiers of global science and technology, toward the main battlefield of the economy, toward major national needs, and toward the health and well-being of the people—and continuously advance into the breadth and depth of science and technology.This has charted the course for China to promote innovation-driven development and accelerate the pace of scientific and technological innovation. Innovation and development focused on the health and well-being of the people present new opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship in addressing challenges such as shifts in the disease spectrum and population aging, as well as in meeting the public’s demand for a high-quality healthy life.

3. Shanghai is making every effort to build a world-class biopharmaceutical industry cluster

Shanghai has long been one of China’s most influential hubs for biopharmaceutical innovation, boasting a well-developed industrial system, a concentration of innovative resources, a high degree of internationalization, and R&D capabilities that lead the nation.Currently, building on its solid industrial foundation, Shanghai is focusing on breakthroughs in key sectors, fostering innovation hubs, developing priority regions, improving the ecological environment, and cultivating leading enterprises. The city is establishing a comprehensive policy support system covering the entire industrial chain—"R&D + clinical trials + manufacturing + application"—and refining the "1+5+X" biopharmaceutical industry framework to fully build a world-class biopharmaceutical industrial cluster.

4. Xuhui Bears the Important Mission of Promoting High-Quality Development in the Life and Health Industry

Xuhui possesses a solid foundation in the life and health industry, a concentration of major research institutions, and a robust innovation ecosystem, making it one of the key regions for Shanghai’s biopharmaceutical industry development. The reputation of Xuhui’s “Fenglin Brand” continues to rise; in 2019, it was officially incorporated into the “Shanghai Plan” for the National Biopharmaceutical Industry Innovation Hub, representing Shanghai’s central urban area in the Yangtze River Delta integration strategy and regional industrial synergy within the biopharmaceutical sector.In 2020, the “Fenglin HUB” was approved as a major project within the Zhangjiang National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone. It is actively building a world-class innovation chain for technology transfer that integrates the “concentration of life and health innovation” with the “speed of commercializing research outcomes.”

II. General Requirements

(I) Guiding Principles

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will fully implement the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth plenary sessions of the 19th CPC Central Committee, and thoroughly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches during his inspection of Shanghai. We will focus on enhancing four core functions: global resource allocation, the origin of scientific and technological innovation, leadership in high-end industries, and serving as an open hub and gateway. Aligning with the overarching direction and trends of the global bioeconomy’s vigorous prosperity,seizing the critical opportunity presented by Shanghai’s role as a central node in the domestic economic circulation and a strategic link in the dual circulation of domestic and international economies; focusing on six key pillars—enterprises, platforms, clinical applications, research bases, ecosystems, and funds; adhering to the coordinated development of six chains—industry, spatial planning, innovation, services, talent, and policy; further strengthening independent innovation at the source and international cooperation and exchange; enhancing the high-quality development of industrial chains and global market competitiveness; and building a leading district within the Asian Medical Center City and a life sciences and health industry cluster with international influence.

(2) Basic Principles

1. Elevate Our Perspective and Uphold National Strategies

Addressing major national needs and proactively undertaking national strategies, we will proceed from critical missions such as national security, industrial competitiveness, and public health to effectively fulfill Shanghai’s role as a “top contender” in the national team of science and technology innovation.

2. Take the Lead and Drive High-End Development

Leverage the leading role of scientific and technological innovation in industrial development. Focus on key areas such as basic research, clinical medicine, and technology transfer; integrate regional innovation resources; and establish new hub platforms. Achieve high-quality industrial development through breakthroughs in key technologies and major products.

3. Embrace Integration and Foster Open, Collaborative Innovation

Embrace the philosophy of open cooperation and collaborative development, strengthen interconnected growth, leverage the industry’s radiating and driving effects, accelerate integration into the global innovation network, and enhance industrial competitiveness.

(III) Development Goals

Strengthen the Fenglin brand, closely align with Shanghai’s overarching goal of building a world-class biopharmaceutical industry cluster, and develop a 100-billion-yuan life sciences and health industry cluster in Xuhui. We will establish Xuhui as a hub for life sciences and health innovation, a hub for corporate headquarters, a hub for high-end R&D and manufacturing, and a hub for health services. We will strive to become a leading region within Asia’s medical hub cities and cultivate a life sciences and health industry cluster with international influence.

——A Continuous Flow of Outstanding Original Achievements, with Technological Innovation Unleashing Core Strength

By focusing on the global frontiers of science and technology and accelerating the implementation of major life sciences and health platforms and projects, we will achieve significant research progress in fundamental research and applied technologies—including innovative drug R&D, novel in vitro diagnostics, intelligent medical imaging, and high-end medical equipment—and produce a series of major achievements with international influence.By 2025, we will have produced a series of original achievements in the life and health sector, with the number of applications for new drugs and Class III medical devices reaching 40. We will have established no fewer than six innovation and transformation platforms in the life and health sector, become global leaders in multiple sub-sectors, and built a “hub of innovation” for the high-quality development of the life and health sector.

— The capabilities of innovation entities are continuously improving, and the driving force behind industrial development is steadily growing

We will possess globally recognized technological advantages in new drug R&D, medical devices, contract outsourcing services, and health services; accelerate the clustering of corporate headquarters; support and lead the development of internationally competitive innovative industrial clusters; and become a fertile ground for international capital.By 2025, we will focus on attracting 3–5 regional headquarters of multinational corporations or leading domestic and international enterprises, cultivate and attract 5 listed companies, add 10 “Science and Technology Little Giants” enterprises (including those in the incubation stage), and add 100 high-tech enterprises (including those in the incubation stage). The total output of the life sciences and health industry will grow by an average of 10%, with the industry scale reaching 100 billion yuan, creating a “hub for corporate headquarters” that drives high-quality development in the life sciences and health sector.

— Continuously extending and strengthening industrial chains, with innovation driving the development of advantageous industries

We will possess world-class technical expertise, equipment, and production capacity in areas such as new drug R&D and medical devices. The industrial and value chains will be comprehensively upgraded, giving rise to a number of major achievements and innovative products with international influence and global competitiveness, and building an innovation base and innovation network with global influence.By 2025, the number of life and health-related clinical studies will exceed 200. A high-quality biopharmaceutical park, featuring over 1 million square meters of industrial space and supporting facilities, will be newly constructed. This will further establish the “Xuhui Model” for high-end R&D in the central urban area and create a “hub for high-end R&D and manufacturing” supporting the high-quality development of the life and health sector.

——The health service system will be gradually improved, and the industrial ecosystem will be revitalized

Supported by a steady supply of forward-looking basic research and guided by the deep integration of life sciences and health with information technology, new industries, business models, and operational paradigms will continue to emerge in response to the public’s growing needs for health maintenance, disease treatment, and wellness and elderly care. This will establish a demonstration zone for a market-oriented, high-end, and international health service industry.By 2025, the share of output from the health service sector will be maintained at 50%. We will establish an innovative “Internet+Healthcare” service model, develop a set of comprehensive nutritional and health evaluation standards, and build a “health service hub” for the high-quality development of the life and health sector.

Key Indicators for High-Quality Development of the Life and Health Industry During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period

III. Development Priorities

Building on life science research, guided by health needs, and driven by internet information technology, we will propel the traditional biopharmaceutical industry toward expansion into the modern life and health sector.During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the development of Xuhui District’s life and health industry will focus on four key sub-sectors: innovative drugs, medical devices, contract outsourcing services, and health services. Efforts will concentrate on achieving breakthroughs in 10 specific areas, including high-end biological products, novel drug design and development, novel in vitro diagnostics, intelligent medical imaging, high-end medical equipment, CRO, CMO/CDMO, high-end medical services, nutritional health services, and health management services.

(1) Innovative Drugs

1. High-End Biologics

Vigorously develop biotechnology-based drugs such as immunotherapy, proteins and peptides, and antibody-drug conjugates, as well as novel vaccines. Actively advance research and the commercialization of results in related fields such as antibody drugs, cell therapy, and gene therapy. Accelerate the development and implementation of technologies and related products such as immunotherapy and gene editing. Actively build a full-industry-chain platform for high-end biological products that integrates research, clinical trials, and commercial production.

2. Novel Drug Design and Development

Strengthen capabilities in novel drug design and development; accelerate the R&D and commercialization of innovative drugs and improved new drugs with significant clinical value; vigorously promote the development of innovative drugs based on new mechanisms, new targets, new biomarkers, and new molecular structures; and encourage the development of various platforms, such as drug safety evaluation systems and regional clinical research ethics services, to provide support for drug design, development, and clinical research.

(II) Medical Devices

1. Novel In Vitro Diagnostics

Vigorously develop new in vitro diagnostic devices such as point-of-care testing, molecular diagnostics, and high-throughput gene sequencing. Focus on breakthroughs in key equipment or systems for high-throughput clinical testing and molecular diagnostics, and research and manufacture diagnostic reagents that meet high international standards to drive sustained rapid growth among leading enterprises in the industry.

2. Intelligent Medical Imaging

Prioritize support for core technological breakthroughs in new imaging technologies and high-end large-scale imaging equipment. Focus on developing high-level medical imaging hardware and software products based on AI-assisted diagnosis. Encourage research into innovative products such as medical imaging-assisted diagnosis and clinical decision support systems, accelerate the commercialization of research outcomes, and further advance the application of artificial intelligence in the healthcare sector.

3. High-End Medical Equipment

Accelerate the domestic production and industrial-scale manufacturing of biomaterials, titanium alloys, and other materials. Prioritize the development of high-end medical equipment such as digital diagnostic and therapeutic devices, implantable and interventional medical devices, and MRI and ultrasound therapeutic equipment to fill domestic gaps and break international monopolies.

(III) Contract Research and Development Services

1. CRO

Develop high-quality R&D contract outsourcing services. Building upon existing clinical research outsourcing services of a certain scale, accelerate the development of new R&D institutions such as regional clinical science and technology innovation platforms. Further attract a cluster of renowned domestic and international clinical and preclinical research outsourcing service providers to offer services including new drug screening, preparation, and safety evaluation.

2. CMO/CDMO

Advance the implementation of the Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) system for pharmaceuticals and medical devices, fostering mutual promotion between the development of CMO/CDMO services and the implementation of the MAH system. Support the growth of globally leading CDMO enterprises in Xuhui, providing professional services such as contract manufacturing, process optimization, custom development, contract manufacturing, and shared production facilities. This will create full-cycle empowerment across the industrial chain and accelerate the commercialization of innovative products.

(IV) Health Services

1. High-End Medical Services

Support medical institutions within the region in sharing resources and exchanging data, encourage the integration of high-end medical resources, and establish full-cycle services covering physical examinations, consultations, treatment, follow-up, and prognosis to promote the development of high-end healthcare.

2. Nutrition and Health Services

Addressing national priorities such as the lack of nutrition and health standards tailored to the Chinese population and the scarcity of technical methods for chronic disease prevention and health promotion, we will focus on precision nutrition, aging, and chronic disease prevention. We will establish a system for functional evaluation and risk assessment of food ingredients. We will promote a dietary nutrition product development system integrating scientific formulation, nutritional evaluation, and clinical trials to achieve precision nutritional interventions and foster the development of the nutrition and health industry.

3. Health Management Services

Centered on the prevention and control of major chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and respiratory diseases, we will develop a system of wearable devices and data analysis capable of novel health sensing, identification, intervention, and management. We will prioritize enhancing the technological support for dynamic identification of health imbalances, health risk assessment, and self-directed health management, thereby realizing a new model of medical services aimed at promoting health for all.

IV. Key Tasks

Aligning with the development goals for the life and health industry during the 14th Five-Year Plan period and the construction of the “Four High-Grounds,” we will establish a “One Core, Two Bases” golden triangle industrial development framework centered on Fenglin and supported by Caokai and West Bank Life Blue Bay. We will implement the “4C” plan, striving to become creators (Creator) of major technological breakthroughs and key products, and establish a clinically validated platform (Clinic) of international significance.attract a group of leading enterprises in key sectors (Company), build a full-cycle (Circle) service system in the life sciences and health sector, and create a life sciences and health industry cluster with international influence.

(1) Optimizing Spatial Layout to Build a “Golden Triangle” for High-Quality Industrial Development

Aligning with Xuhui’s overall urban development framework of “dual-polar drive, east-west circulation, and north-south linkage” during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, and integrating the characteristics and priorities of the life sciences and health industry, we will adjust and optimize the functional layout of the regional life sciences and health industry. This will form a “One Core, Two Bases”“Golden Triangle” industrial development framework. We will construct a “T”-shaped spatial layout for the life and health industry where the three major areas complement, integrate, and interact with one another, creating a complete industrial chain covering original innovation, R&D incubation, clinical validation, production and manufacturing, and management and distribution. This will form an industrial development pattern characterized by distinct specializations, tiered distribution, and coordinated advancement.

Focusing on the high-quality development framework of the “Golden Triangle,” the first priority is to establish a 30-minute transportation circle. Leveraging the transportation advantages of the central urban area, we will realize a “30-minute transportation circle” to promote close communication, knowledge exchange, and project collaboration within the “Golden Triangle,” with Fenglin, Caokai, and West Bund Life Blue Bay serving as its three poles.Second, we will concentrate efforts on integrating the industrial value chain. By linking the “One Core, Two Bases,” we will address the shortcomings in Xuhui’s manufacturing sector through the development of West Bund Life Blue Bay, thereby integrating the innovation chain and industrial chain of the life sciences and health sector to realize the value chain.Third, we will accelerate the construction of an industrial ecosystem. The clustering of major research institutes and top-tier medical institutions within the “Golden Triangle” enables frequent interaction between R&D, production, and investment activities and clinical practice, achieving high-density interaction among industry, academia, research, and medical applications. The high concentration of knowledge, technology, and talent within the “Golden Triangle” will attract high-growth enterprises and industry leaders to establish operations in Xuhui.

1. Fenglin Innovation Hub

As the area with the highest concentration of basic life science research and clinical medical resources in Shanghai, Fenglin serves as the primary source of original innovation and a vital pillar for clinical validation for the district’s life and health industry.During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the Fenglin area will continue to expand cooperation with the Chinese Academy of Sciences system, Fudan University’s School of Medicine, and top-tier hospitals, accelerating the transformation and extension of innovation outcomes to the Caode Development Zone and West Bund Life Blue Bay bases; it will expedite the establishment of the Shanghai International Medical Science and Innovation Center, enhance the capabilities and influence of Shanghai’s pharmaceutical clinical science and technology innovation platforms, and leverage clinical resources to accelerate industrial development.

2. Caode Development Base

As a hub for multinational corporate headquarters and technology enterprises, the Caode Development Zone is home to the headquarters of multinational companies such as Merck and Johnson & Johnson, as well as innovative enterprises like Fuhong Hanlin and GenX Biotech. It houses national-level technology incubators such as Caode Sci-Tech and Juke,as well as new R&D institutions such as the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Center for Innovation and Translation in Molecular and Nanomedicine, the Huari Center for Innovation and Translation in Biomanufacturing and Reactors, and the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Translation in Medicine and Engineering. The concentration of factors related to the life sciences and health industry is relatively high.During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, efforts will focus on accelerating the renewal and upgrading of development platforms within the Cao Development Zone, effectively facilitating the transformation and implementation of innovation initiatives originating from the Fenglin area, while simultaneously prioritizing high-quality R&D. The zone will expedite the introduction of innovative enterprises in specialized fields such as drug development and smart medical devices, expand common technology platforms for the life sciences and health sector, and enhance the outreach impact of public laboratories.

3. West Bund Life Blue Bay Base

In conjunction with the strategic planning study for the Huajing area, we will coordinate the spatial layout and planning adjustments for the West Bund Life Blue Bay across the Huajing, Guangan, and Yangzi sites. We will construct over 1 million square meters of industrial facilities and supporting infrastructure to build a high-quality, integrated industrial-urban complex. This initiative aims to establish a biomedical manufacturing base that embodies the high standards of “Shanghai Manufacturing” and to form a life sciences and health industry ecosystem integrating R&D, clinical trials, and manufacturing.

(II) Focusing on Innovation Origins to Accelerate Breakthroughs in Life and Health Technologies (Creator)

Building on the characteristics and strengths of Xuhui’s life sciences and health industry, we will strengthen cutting-edge basic research and the commercialization of research outcomes, intensify efforts to tackle key core technologies, and establish a hub for innovation with international influence and a primary platform for technology commercialization.

1. Strengthening Cutting-Edge Basic Research

Aligned with global scientific frontiers and public health needs, and closely tied to national strategic priorities and socio-economic development requirements, we will leverage universities and research institutions such as Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Fudan University School of Medicine, East China University of Science and Technology, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences system. Focusing on Xuhui’s key development areas—including antibody drugs, immunotherapy, in vitro diagnostics, and medical imaging—we will support the establishment of a number of national, ministerial, and municipal-level key laboratories to accelerate the enhancement of the region’s innovation capabilities.Support various regional innovation entities to lead or participate in major national initiatives such as the “Key Research and Development Program” and the “Major New Drug Innovation Program,” achieving significant breakthroughs in basic and applied basic research.

2. Establish Innovation and Commercialization Platforms

Accelerate collaborative innovation among major research institutions, enterprises, and universities. Focus on fields such as molecular nanotechnology, biomanufacturing and reactors, immunotherapy, molecular function realization, and medical-engineering convergence to build specialized innovation and commercialization platforms. Establish fully functional public laboratories serving the entire district to facilitate the engineering-scale up and commercial application of key technologies and products, achieve breakthroughs in a range of cutting-edge, disruptive core technologies, and create an innovation ecosystem that deeply integrates industrial, innovation, value, and supply chains.

(3) Strengthening Clinical Capabilities to Support Industrial Development and Enhance Quality and Efficiency (Clinic)

Further leverage Xuhui’s advantages in the concentration of clinical resources to enhance the capabilities of pharmaceutical clinical innovation platforms, support the construction of the International Medical Innovation Center, promote the commercialization of research outcomes, accelerate product market entry, and support the industrial sector in improving quality and efficiency.

1. Enhance the Capabilities of Clinical Science and Technology Innovation Platforms

Taking the Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Medicine as a focal point, we will explore in-depth cooperation with leading enterprises and others. Adhering to the requirements of “aligning with international standards, national strategies, and market demands,” and benchmarking against the highest international standards, we will build a core institution for innovative clinical pharmaceutical research and a public resource service platform with global influence. We will elevate the level of Shanghai’s clinical research capabilities, advance the construction of a clinically research system with international competitiveness, and provide professional support for Shanghai’s accelerated development into a globally influential hub for biomedical industry innovation.Actively collaborate with research institutions, universities, hospitals, and innovative pharmaceutical enterprises. Leverage the clinical center’s flexibility in connecting various entities across the technology transfer chain to stimulate and unleash the innovative vitality and potential in the region’s life sciences and health sector, thereby driving further improvements in Shanghai’s clinical research capabilities.

2. Support the Development of the International Medical Innovation Center

Support Zhongshan Hospital in focusing on cutting-edge scientific and technological innovation in medical technology, medical engineering, and artificial intelligence to establish an International Medical Science and Innovation Center with functions including frontier research, technological innovation, clinical validation, product incubation, and technology transfer. This will promote the widespread and in-depth application of medical technology innovation achievements, thereby supporting and leading the innovation of clinical diagnosis and treatment technologies and the high-quality development of Shanghai’s biopharmaceutical industry.In terms of functional layout, efforts will be concentrated on establishing a clinical trial service platform as well as platforms for talent exchange and technology transfer. Priority will be given to building a Medical-Engineering Interdisciplinary Technology Innovation Center, a Center for Cutting-Edge Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Innovation, a Clinical Research Center for Major Diseases, and a Smart Hospital Research Center.

(4) Strengthening Enterprise Clustering to Expand the Overall Scale of Industrial Development (Company)

Implement targeted policies to attract leading enterprises, leverage the guiding and supporting role of industry leaders, cultivate high-growth enterprises, enhance the specialized capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), drive the digital transformation of the life sciences and health industry, promote integrated development among large, medium, and small enterprises, and expand the scale and capacity of industrial development.

1. Implement Targeted Policy Measures

Focusing on key areas such as innovation origination, industrial space, and the application of innovative products, we will provide targeted support in resource allocation, technological upgrades, breakthroughs in key technologies, the development of innovation platforms, the construction of public service platforms, the cultivation of enterprise tiers, and the development of quality and brands. This support will cover multiple stages—from basic research to clinical research to technology transfer, and from the startup phase to the early establishment phase to the growth phase—as well as various services including R&D, intellectual property, finance, talent, and regulatory review and approval. By implementing targeted policies, we will achieve a “closed-loop” policy system.

2. Attracting and Clustering Leading Enterprises

Support the introduction of global top-tier, internationally leading, and domestically renowned life sciences and healthcare enterprises’ headquarters and R&D institutions to leverage the leading and driving role of these flagship enterprises in industrial development.Strengthen investment promotion efforts to attract globally renowned pharmaceutical and medical device companies to establish operations in Xuhui, further enhancing the industry’s internationalization. Encourage high-quality domestic enterprises of all types to establish commercial headquarters, R&D centers, and production bases in the district. Support leading enterprises in strengthening capital operations and digital transformation, reinforcing R&D leadership, and advancing global expansion strategies. Encourage leading enterprises to collaborate with universities, research institutes, and upstream and downstream industry partners to jointly build innovation platforms such as National Industrial Innovation Centers and Technology Innovation Centers, working together to achieve breakthroughs in key common industry technologies.

3. Enhancing the Competitiveness of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Vigorously promote the deep integration of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and big data technologies with the R&D, production, and services of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Support the construction of digital transformation empowerment platforms focused on specific sub-sectors to advance the digital transformation of SMEs and effectively stimulate corporate innovation. Encourage the implementation of the Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) system, facilitating early-stage collaboration between MAHs and production bases starting from the early phases of clinical trials to accelerate the R&D and market launch process. Support regional life sciences and healthcare industrial parks in establishing integrated development models for large, medium, and small enterprises, fostering a cohort of specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative enterprises as well as “tech small giants.”

(V) Optimizing the Industrial Ecosystem and Providing Full-Cycle Services (Circle)

Focusing on the needs of industrial development, we will optimize service mechanisms and innovate service models around core resources such as talent, capital, and intellectual property. We will provide full-lifecycle services to enterprises and foster a favorable ecosystem for the life sciences and healthcare industry.

1. Advance the Talent Aggregation Initiative

Identify and track high-level talent in cutting-edge life sciences and health fields both domestically and internationally, and attract and cultivate talent urgently needed by the industry. Prioritize the recruitment of talent and teams capable of bringing projects to fruition or possessing advanced technologies and core patents. In line with the needs of technology transfer, establish a team of chief scientists led by academicians and chief technology transfer officers centered on platform leaders to play a leading role. Cultivate a talent pool that is proficient in scientific research—such as technology R&D and clinical trials—while also possessing the ability to integrate professional service resources, including intellectual property and fintech.Optimize service mechanisms for high-level talent. Explore a “tailored approach for each individual” based on different talent tiers to enhance the precision of talent services. Leverage the roles of academician expert workstations and postdoctoral innovation practice bases to build bridges for talent development and create cultivation platforms.

2. Improve the Capital Support System

Fully leverage the respective strengths of state-owned investment platforms and market-oriented capital to enhance the role of financial capital in incubating, guiding, fostering, and upgrading the biopharmaceutical sector, thereby driving enterprises to grow larger and stronger. Strengthen the guiding role of venture capital funds such as angel investment and venture capital, improve financing guarantee mechanisms for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and encourage commercial banks to extend credit to small and medium-sized biopharmaceutical enterprises with appropriate interest rate concessions, providing financing services to establish a reliable financial support system for the development of the life sciences and health industry.Support eligible life sciences and healthcare enterprises in accessing capital markets through multiple channels, including equity transactions and domestic and international listings. Cultivate hybrid incubators with comprehensive functions such as entrepreneurial guidance, venture capital, market application, and industrial chain integration to provide all-around incubation support for innovation and entrepreneurship entities, particularly innovation teams and startups in the life sciences and healthcare sector.

3. Strengthen Intellectual Property Operations

Leverage the clustering advantage of intellectual property service institutions in Xuhui to support intellectual property analysis and evaluation, optimize patent portfolio planning, cultivate high-value patents, and build key patent pools that provide support and safeguards for industrial development.Focus on key sub-sectors such as high-end biopharmaceuticals, in vitro diagnostics, and smart medical devices to implement industrial patent navigation, and enhance analysis and forecasting of industrial development trends. Support the construction of life sciences and health industry operation centers and intellectual property operation service platforms, aggregate domestic and international intellectual property resources, and provide comprehensive, one-stop intellectual property operation services for the life sciences and health industry.

V. Spatial Layout

Under the “Golden Triangle” framework for high-quality development of the life sciences and health sector, we will establish a “T-shaped” spatial layout for the industry that integrates horizontal and vertical development.

The “horizontal axis” refers to the Fenglin-Caokou Development Innovation Axis, which primarily aggregates high-level resources and elements for original innovation and major technological innovation in the life sciences and health sector. The Fenglin area will focus on building hubs for innovation origination, clinical translation, corporate headquarters, and health services.The Caokai area will aim to become a hub for R&D and manufacturing, deepening cooperation with Jiaotong University and East China University of Science and Technology. It will focus on building public laboratory service platforms in specific life sciences and health sectors, promoting the commercialization of high-quality research outcomes, and fostering a cluster of R&D enterprises and high-growth companies.

The "One Vertical Axis" refers to the Fenglin-Huajing Integrated Development Corridor, which primarily runs through the Fenglin International Center, Ruichuang Valley, Juxin Park, the Southern Medical Center, and the West Bund Life Blue Bay.Through the integrated development of Fenglin and Huajing, the initiative will prioritize connecting relevant facilities along the route from Longwu Road to the Huajing area. This will drive these facilities to focus on the life sciences and health industry for investment promotion and business clustering, thereby systematically enhancing the industrial development capacity along the “One Vertical” corridor;Through the integrated development of Fenglin and Huajing, and by leveraging the clustering advantage of artificial intelligence enterprises in the Binjiang area, we will promote cross-sectoral innovation between the two key industries—artificial intelligence and life sciences—to create new economic growth points.

VI. Support Measures

(1) Strengthening Organizational Leadership

Strengthen top-level design by establishing and refining a leadership mechanism for the life sciences and health industry. This mechanism will coordinate resources including industrial planning, projects, land, industrial parks, investment promotion, and policies to drive resource integration. It will organize task allocation and conduct oversight and inspection to establish a framework of vertical coordination and horizontal collaboration. Explore the establishment of an advisory expert committee to pool expertise from government, industry, academia, research, and medical sectors, fully leveraging the committee’s role in providing decision-making advice on life sciences and health industry planning and the implementation of major projects.

(2) Strengthening Industry Analysis

Strengthen monitoring and analysis of the life and health industry to enhance the capacity for evaluating development across its various sub-sectors and improve the level of scientific decision-making. Closely monitor the latest developments in leading domestic and international regions within the life and health sector, and intensify tracking and analysis of new technologies, business models, and operational paradigms in the industry. Focus on high-potential development areas and implement forward-looking strategic planning. Facilitate communication between the government and key life and health enterprises, and optimize liaison mechanisms with high-level talent and leading enterprises in the sector.

(3) Expand Policy Support

Leverage the guiding role of fiscal funds to focus on key areas such as biopharmaceutical R&D and innovation, platform construction, enterprise attraction, project implementation, and the cultivation of an industrial ecosystem. Strengthen the scope and depth of support for the life and health industry through industrial, science and technology, and health policies, as well as special funds, providing enhanced support for innovative drugs, technology commercialization, and industrial implementation. Encourage and facilitate the listing of eligible enterprises, and provide relevant policy and financial support to those that successfully go public.

(4) Enhancing Service Capabilities

Establish “one-on-one” task forces for key enterprises and projects. For innovative life sciences and health enterprises with substantial financing and promising development prospects, establish dedicated liaison and service mechanisms to provide one-stop, personalized services. Targeted improvements will be made to public infrastructure to precisely and effectively meet enterprise development needs, promptly resolve pain points and challenges, and comprehensively elevate management service standards and development capabilities.