The 2026 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference kicked off in Beijing on March 25, 2026, themed on in-depth integration of technological and industrial innovation. Thousands of guests from over 100 countries and regions worldwide gathered to discuss China’s scientific and technological advancement, industrial upgrading and high-level international sci-tech cooperation.
On the afternoon of March 27, the Regulatory Science and High-quality Biopharmaceutical Development Forum, a key session of the annual conference, was successfully held. Hosted by Beijing Medical Products Administration, undertaken by Drug Information Association and guided by National Medical Products Administration of China, the event centered on regulatory science. More than 200 government officials, domestic and overseas scholars and industrial leaders attended. With policy releases, keynote speeches and roundtable dialogues, the forum built a communication bridge between regulatory authorities and enterprises, boosting robust growth of Beijing’s pharmaceutical sector.
During the keynote session, Joseph Scheeren, Foreign Member of the French National Academy of Pharmacy and Strategic Committee Advisor of Hotgen Biotech, delivered a comprehensive overview of global regulatory science and elaborated the application of real-world evidence in this field.
On March 28, CCTV News reported the annual conference under the headline Zhongguancun Forum: China Advances Global Sci-tech Cooperation. In the interview, Joseph Scheeren spoke highly of China’s innovation ecosystem. "China boasts strong appeal for innovation. Multinational enterprises set up local businesses here to expand their products and services across the globe," he remarked.
His recognition comes on solid grounds. Back in January 2026, during the JPM Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, he affirmed the rapid expansion and global competitiveness of China’s innovative drug portfolio. His optimistic outlook on China’s development path was also quoted by China Daily in coverage of the 2026 China FIC Innovation and Collaboration Summit. With over three decades of experience covering pharmaceutical markets across America, Europe and Asia, he holds profound insights into the industry evolution.
China’s innovative pharmaceutical industry maintains steady upward momentum. Five major technological achievements targeting public health were unveiled at the forum, reflecting continuous progress in domestic biopharmaceutical research. Statistics show that 76 innovative drugs gained marketing approval in China in 2025. Overseas licensing transaction volume exceeded 130 billion US dollars, and China contributes 30% to the global drug R&D pipeline.
Chinese biotech enterprises represented by Hotgen Biotech (688068.SH) are accelerating integration into global research networks. At the 2026 JPM Conference, Sungen Biomedical, a subsidiary of Hotgen Biotech, and Yaojing Gene, its invested firm, showcased core technological platforms and key R&D pipelines at the 2026 China FIC Innovation and Collaboration Summit in San Francisco, drawing widespread industrial attention.
From Zhongguancun Forum to San Francisco summit, China builds high-standard open cooperation platforms to engage deeply in global pharmaceutical innovation. As observed by Academician Scheeren, Chinese pharmaceutical firms are positioning themselves as reliable international research partners via global collaboration. Supported by favorable policies, industrial strength and capital investment, China’s pharmaceutical innovation will gain greater global influence and contribute valuable Chinese expertise and solutions to human health.
Updated: May 19, 2026
