High-end Forum: Global Innovation in Life Science Held

On November 14, 2014, Tianjin University and Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (Alexandria) jointly held the forum: Global Innovation in Life Science in Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA), Tianjin. Clustering world leading figures in life science related areas from enterprise, university, and research institutions along with representatives from government, the forum aims to define key issues in industry-university research collaboration, dig out effective channels to accelerate scientific and medical innovation in China, and to improve global health. Madame Zhu Liping, Standing Committee Member of the Tianjin Municipal CPC and Secretary of the Tianjin Educational Work Committee addressed the event, together with Mr. Joel S. Marcus, Chairman, CEO, and President of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., President Li Jiajun of Tianjin University, and Mr. Wang Sheng, Secretary of the CPC Group of Administrative Commission of TEDA .

Madame Zhu stated that Tianjin put a premium on life science research and provided strong support for the development of biotechnology, and more specifically, sets the bio-pharmaceutical industry as a bedrock industry.

With the forum as a token of the government-university-industry collaboration among governments, Madame Zhu hoped that the scholars and professionals at home and abroad had in-depth discussions on how to strengthen further cooperation, and therefore to further promote life science research and related industry of Tianjin, and more broadly at the global level.

To this end, the municipal government offers continuing support, in terms of opening up the market, streamlining talents recruitment, facilitating basic research and the development of related industries, strengthening the emerging industry of strategic importance like Bio-Medicine, for the endeavor of a “Beautiful Tianjin”.

President Li, during his remarks, gave an overview of Tianjin University, including its history, recent development, and achievements made in research and innovation, as well as industry-university research collaboration. The University has been committed to the development of life science with some attemptations.

Among the prominent is the appointment for Professor Jay Siegel as Dean of the School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, and the authorization to the school with academic autonomy as a “free zone”. Within one year, the school has hired 15 international scientists for research. President Li hoped that with the support of the government, Tianjin University together with Alexandria could join hands with partners from around the world to establish a world-class innovation cluster of life science for the benefit of humanity.

The panel discussions were held covering five themes, including, “How to Overcome Roadblocks to Success in Product Innovation”, "Technology Innovation in Drug Discovery, Development, and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing”, "Opportunities in China”, "Venture Investing in China Life Science”, and “The New Face of Collaboration – Opportunities and Emerging Players”. Participants included approximately 100 representatives from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and globally renowned enterprises. Dean Siegel presided over the sub-forum and gave the concluding remarks of the summit.