NETDA Boosts Sino-European Life Sciences Cooperation through Strategy Exchanges

Nantong Economic-Technological Development Area (NETDA), a state-level development zone in Jiangsu Province, has taken significant strides to deepen Sino-European cooperation in the life sciences and healthcare sector through a investment promotion delegation to Switzerland and Germany. Led by Alex (KL) Wang, Deputy Chair of NETDA Management Board, the delegation leveraged the policy of China (Jiangsu) Pilot Free Trade Zone’s full industrial chain opening-up for biomedicine, aiming to strengthen collaboration with German and Swiss counterparts.

Centered around the theme "In China, Win China", the delegation capitalized on the 11th Bavarian China Day and cooperated with BWA to host three targeted investment promotion events in Ingolstadt and Berlin. These events highlighted Nantong’s competitive advantages, including its strategic location, robust industrial ecosystem, solid foundation for Sino-German cooperation, and long-term development plans. The delegation also emphasized existing partnerships with leading German biopharmaceutical enterprises such as Merck Group and BioNTech, extending a warm invitation to global life sciences companies to invest in Nantong and pursue mutual growth.

The events drew strong participation from over 100 enterprises and high-level officials, including Liu Minqiang, Director of the Investment Promotion Agency of the Ministry of Commerce, and Qiu Xuejun, Chinese Consul General in Munich. Many attending companies expressed keen interest in bilateral cooperation and exploring the Chinese market, with promising collaboration opportunities identified in areas such as biosimilars, AI-driven diagnostic software, cell and tissue regeneration, and healthcare products. Several enterprises have indicated plans for on-site visits to the zone in the near future to advance cooperation talks.

Rooted in a legacy of Sino-German cooperation dating back to the early 20th century—when Nantong’s pioneering industrialist Zhang Jian introduced Siemens’ steam turbine generators and hired German technical experts—Nantong continues to foster cross-border innovation and collaboration. This latest European mission reaffirms the city’s commitment to becoming a key hub for international life sciences cooperation, leveraging its open policies and industrial strengths to create win-win outcomes for global partners.