The battle against the pandemic is not yet over. This black swan event has impacted numerous industries, which continue to be frequently put on hold. However, the medical device industry is now facing tremendous opportunities and is even hitting the “fast-forward button.”
Bolstered by policies such as streamlined review and approval processes, innovation in high-value consumables, medical consortiums, tiered diagnosis and treatment, and the medical device registrant system, the medical device industry has been thrust onto the historical stage, ushering in a "golden" period of development.
Gaochun District in Nanjing—China’s first “International Slow City”—is steadily riding the wave of growth in the medical device sector. As a rising star in the industry, Gaochun may have started late, but it possesses a strong late-mover advantage in terms of growth speed and development potential.
In 2020, with the strong support of Guchuan United, Lingze Medical established itself in the Gaochun Economic Development Zone to invest in the construction of a production and R&D base, accelerating the development of the medical device industry within the “Slow City.”
Multiple Advantages in Place
Gaochun Cultivates a Fertile Ground for Industrial Development
The Gaochun Economic Development Zone chose to enter the “high-growth track” of the medical device industry partly because of its strong development potential, and partly because this sector aligns perfectly with Gaochun’s industrial positioning and environmental characteristics.
Since 2004, Gaochun has consistently integrated the “ecological county” strategy into its development philosophy (the county was upgraded to a district in 2013), giving full consideration to the integration of industrial development and ecological conservation. As an eco-friendly industry, the medical device sector aligns with Gaochun’s requirements for ecological protection.
Furthermore, Gaochun possesses abundant resources in scientific research, education, and talent. Nanjing is renowned as a hub for science and education, boasting 53 universities, as well as a large number of national-level laboratories, provincial key laboratories, and new-type R&D institutions hosted by these universities. Currently, the Gaochun Economic Development Zone is home to five new-type R&D institutions specializing in the medical and health sector, including the Zhejiang University Nanjing Health Industry Research Institute, the Nanjing Smart Health Research Institute of the Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology (CAS), and the CAS Youzi Biotechnology Research Institute.
Most importantly, Gaochun possesses a solid industrial foundation. The Yangtze River Delta is not only a major hub for China’s medical device industry but also boasts a robust consumer market. Nanjing’s 36 Grade A tertiary hospitals and 20 medical device clinical trial institutions provide an excellent development environment for the medical device sector.
From its external environment to its internal strengths, the Gaochun Economic Development Zone possesses significant advantages. With the arrival of wave after wave of high-quality enterprises, the area is rapidly becoming a prime destination for investment and business development.
Focus on the Medical Device Industry
Guchuan United Actively Pursues Targeted Investment Promotion
Founded in Beijing in 2001, Lingze Pharmaceutical is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the R&D and production of enteral and parenteral nutrition infusion products. It holds multiple domestic patents and expanded overseas in 2012 by establishing Lingze USA.
In 2020, Lingze Pharmaceutical planned to invest in the construction of a medical device R&D and production base in the Yangtze River Delta region. Guchuan United promptly assembled a professional localized service team to thoroughly assess the project’s site requirements. The team conducted research on key indicators—including the industrial environment, preferential policies, available sites, and labor costs —across various regions of the Yangtze River Delta, ultimately identifying feasible options that closely aligned with the company’s needs.
Subsequently, GuChuan United’s investment promotion team conducted frequent visits and outreach, facilitating efficient communication between the company’s senior management and development zone leaders. They provided full-process accompaniment during site inspections, building a bridge of communication between the government and the enterprise, and ultimately facilitated the project’s establishment in the Gaochun Economic Development Zone.
The Gaochun Economic Development Zone’s emphasis on the medical device industry may well be the fundamental reason Lingze Pharmaceutical chose to locate here. Several years ago, the Gaochun Economic Development Zone issued the “Special Support Measures for Promoting the Development of the Medical Device Industry,” encouraging product model innovation, professional services, the recruitment of major enterprises and industry leaders, and the introduction of high-level talent, using the “visible hand” of government to guide and accelerate industrial development.
Leveraging Practical Experience
Facilitating Precise Government-Enterprise Collaboration for Mutual Benefit
The successful establishment of Lingze Pharmaceutical in the Gaochun Economic Development Zone will also lay a solid foundation for its future development. It is reported that the favorable environment provided by the Gaochun Economic Development Zone in terms of supporting services, talent supply, and financial support serves as a strong guarantee for the development of the medical device industry.
As a trusted regional economic development service provider, Guchuan Lianhang will continue to ground its work in industrial positioning and employ breakthrough innovative thinking to attract investment. Drawing from practical experience and applying it back to the field, the company will promote the orderly transfer and cluster development of industries, contributing to the narrowing of regional, urban-rural, and income disparities.
