The International Symposium on Biomedicine, part of the Jiangsu Universities International Exchange Week on the Cooperation and Integration of Industry, Education, Research & Application, was held in Nanjing on October 27. Organized by the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education and led by Nanjing Medical University (NMU) as the host institution, the event brought together Yu Weidong, Second-Level Researcher at the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education; ShenLizong, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC NMU Committee and Vice President of NMU; ShanZhengfeng, Vice President of Nanjing Agricultural University; YaoHequan, Vice President of China Pharmaceutical University; WangWeidong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Nantong University Committee; representatives from Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine and other universities; and Chinese and international mentors, experts, scholars, and industry representatives.
In his opening remarks, Vice PresidentShen Lizong emphasized that biomedicine is a strategic emerging industry vital to people’s health and well-being. He noted that, as key hubs for talent development and scientific innovation, universities should remain open and globally engaged, bringing together innovative resources from around the world and strengthening the links between basic research, talent development, and the translation of research outcomes into practical applications. He further stressed that deeper international collaboration across industry, education, research, and applicationwould provide fresh impetus for the development of new quality productive forces.
Yu Weidong, Second-Level Researcher at the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education, spoke highly of the achievements made by Jiangsu universities in international cooperation in biomedicine. He encouraged universities to make full use of the Exchange Week to expand their global partnership networks, achieve more tangible outcomes through international collaboration, and contribute to the Healthy China Initiative and the high-quality development of Jiangsu’s biomedicine industry.
University leaders from Nanjing Agricultural University, China Pharmaceutical University, and Nantong University shared their experiences in conducting international collaborative research and developing talent in fields such as life sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, traditional Chinese medicine, and medical sciences, reflecting their respective universities’ disciplinary strengths. They also expressed their hopes of learning from and exchanging ideas with global partners to advance global health.
The symposium, themed “Biomedicine Beyond Boundaries, Global Partnership for Health Innovation”,brought together nearly 30 Chinese and international experts and scholars in biomedicine to deliver presentations and exchange insights. The program featured a range of sessions, includingthematic presentations, industry case studies, roundtable discussions, project roadshows, and matchmaking sessions, providing a high-level platform for international collaboration across industry, education, research, and application.
During the thematic presentation session, Chinese and international mentors explored the theme of “Biomedical Talent Development and Innovative Models for Joint Research through International Industry-Education-Research-Application Collaboration”. Scholars from the European Academy of Sciences, the University of Copenhagen(Denmark), the National University of Singapore, Michigan State University (USA), Curtin University (Australia), Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, and China Pharmaceutical University shared their perspectives on a wide range of cutting-edge topics. These included international mentors’ approaches to talent development, cross-border evidence generation in life sciences, innovations in elderly care, joint postgraduate training programs in food and nutrition, pharmaceutical care practices, the international development of traditional Chinese medicine, and collaborative talent development through joint supervision by Chinese and international mentors.
During the industry presentation session, representatives from Canada Sageherb Biotechnology Company Ltd. and Japan’s SOCIUM Inc. presentedreal-world case studies on the safety evaluation of gene therapies and the commercialization of academic research. At the roundtable discussion, experts from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Kabarak University in Kenya exchanged views on emerging opportunities and practical challenges in global biomedical research collaboration, exploring pathways for translating research findings into clinical applications.
The project roadshow session featured experts from universities in the Republic of Korea, the United States, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Hong Kong SAR, and Macao SAR of China. Their presentations addressed a diverse range of emerging topics, including industry–education–research collaboration, research-driven economic development, immune cell therapy, sustainable diets based on plant proteins, the integration of acupuncture with modern rehabilitation, international collaboration on novel STING-targeted drugs, talent development for biopharmaceutical commercialization, and oxidative stress and inflammation-induced injury. Together, these presentations showcased interdisciplinary advances in innovative drug development, the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine, food and health, cell therapy, and public health. Following the presentations, representatives from participating universities, research institutions, and enterprises held face-to-face bilateral meetings to explore areas of mutual interest, identify potential collaboration opportunities, and discuss possible avenues for futurepartnerships.
The symposium brought together more than 200 participants, including mentors, experts and scholars, industry representatives, and university faculty members and students from over 20 countries and regions, including Germany, Denmark, Australia, Sweden, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Kenya, and other countries, as well as Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR of China. The event fostered cross-border and interdisciplinary exchanges, bringing together diverse perspectives from academia, research, and industry. It also provided an important platform for universities in Jiangsuto showcase their strengths and achievements in biomedicine and expand theirglobal networks. It further raised the global profile of Jiangsu universities in the field and strengthened the foundations for international cooperation, contributing tothe high-quality development of the province’s biomedicine industry.
(Drafted by the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange; Photos by the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange; Reviewed byChenYun and WuWei; Translated by Zhang Bei)
