On September 6, 2018, the grand opening of the first China Medical Device Design & Startup Competition & Global Device Week (hereinafter referred to as CMDDSC and GDW) was held in Suzhou International Expo Center.
CMDDSC, initiated by Department of Science and Technology for Social Development of Ministry of Science and Technology and China National Center for Biotechnology Development, is held to inspire the zeal of enterprises and medical staff for innovation, strengthen the link between innovation, clinical application and capital, deepen the cooperation between industry, university, research, application and supervision of medical device industry, build a more efficient and practical innovation service platform, and promote the sustainable innovation and development of China's medical device industry.
Other attendees include Major General He Kunlun, vice president of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Lin Xiaoming, member of the Committee and head of Organization Department, CPWDP, Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), Dong Zhifeng, deputy director of China National Center for Biotechnology Development, Zhang Zhaofeng, director of Division of Biotechnology and Medicine, Department of Science and Technology for Social Development of Ministry of Science and Technology, Su Yue, deputy director of Division of Chemical Medicine and Medical Devices, China National Center for Biotechnology Development, Zhao Yixin, president of CAMDI, and heads of Foreign Affairs Office of Suzhou Municipal Government, Bureau of Science and Technology of Suzhou and SIP.
On behalf of CPWDP, Qu extended sincere congratulations to the convening of CMDDSC and GDW. He indicated that while centering on industrial development and innovation, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) pioneered in advocating and promoting this design and startup competition themed on medical devices. Such trail-blazing event holds profound significance to the improvement of China’s medical device industry, and the upgrade and transformation of industrial innovation as a whole. Qu added that no efforts will be spared in motivating the CPWDP members into the innovation and manufacturing of clinical medical devices, in a bid to promote the innovation and development of China’s medical and health industry.
According to Wu Yuanbin, the crucial objective of the plan for scientific and technological innovation of medical devices in “13th Five Year Plan” is to improve the system of industry-university-research-medicine-test collaborative innovation, strengthen the cooperation between hospital, research institute and enterprise, and accelerate the transformation of the medical device industry into an innovation-driven sector. It is hoped that this competition will highlight innovation, lay stress on solving practical clinical problems, enhance the matchmaking between technology and capital, and provide guidance for social forces to support the innovation and entrepreneurship of medical devices, in a bid to play a major role in propelling the sustainable innovation and development of China’s medical device industry.
Ge Junbo first expressed his congratulations to the opening of CMDDSC and GDW. On behalf of the review panel, he made a solemn commitment that everyone concerned will stick to the principle of openness, fairness and impartiality, and comply with the scoring rubric to perform the duties responsibly under public supervision. Meanwhile, Ge extended his blessings to all the projects.
On behalf of the organizer, Jiang Feng first expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Department of Science and Technology for Social Development of Ministry of Science and Technology, China National Center for Biotechnology Development for guidance and the co-organizers and service companies for their substantial support, including Suzhou Industrial Park, Zhongguancun Medical Devices Park, Guangzhou Development District (GDD), Hangzhou Economic and Technological Development Area (HEDA), and the sound support of the partners including Messe Düsseldorf Group. He pointed out that nearly 300 projects of research institutes, hospitals, enterprises and entrepreneurial teams from different regions of the country were motivated to participate in this competition.
In the welcome address, Lu Chunyun said that Suzhou takes pride in its rich ancient culture, as well as the innovation and entrepreneur climate. The city has achieved steady progress in the 40 years of Reform and Opening-up. Suzhou has been a front runner in the field of manufacturing. The rapid development of advanced manufacturing industry represented by new industries, new technologies and new drivers has strengthened the city’s leading role in the industrial economy. SIP has implemented the “Four Major Plans” – manufacturing upgrading, multiple growth of service sector, leapfrog growth of technology and optimization of ecosystem to accelerate the transformation and upgrade of economy and society, and to build the strongholds of industry, innovation and talents.
In the launch ceremony, Qu Fenghong, Lu Chunyun, Wu Yuanbin, Ge Junbo, He Kunlun, Horst Giesen, Lin Xiaoming, Dong Zhifeng, Zhang Zhaofeng, Su Yue, Zhao Yixin and Jiang Feng put their hands on the digital screen together to announce the official launch of CMDDSC and GDW.
To facilitate the cooperation and matchmaking between the outstanding innovative projects, industrial capital and enterprises, the organizers also orchestrated the GDW to solicit and gather the supporting resources including innovative enterprises, clinical experts, investment and financing institutions, and innovative service, fostering a series of concurrent events – “one innovation contest, one international exhibition and three keynote forums”. It is reported that the GDW will last until September 9.
