(Yicai) Nov. 7 -- The China International Import Expo is becoming a platform for Chinese and overseas pharmaceutical companies and medical device makers to discuss cooperation and join hands to build a digital and smart industry innovation ecosystem while jointly developing and producing new products.

The Chinese arm of German drugmaker Boehringer Ingelheim reached an agreement with China's biotechnology startup Guangzhou Nmi Pharmaceutical at the CIIE for the former to provide process development and manufacturing services for the latter's innovative inflammatory disease drugs to help them rapidly advance in the early clinical development stage.

Israeli medical device firm Insightec signed a strategic cooperation deal with China's Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group for the pair to carry out joint commercial expansion and clinical applications for treating neurological diseases, including Parkinson's disease. Insightec developed a magnetic wave knife, which is a non-invasive surgical option for the clinical treatment of drug-refractory Parkinson's.

GE HealthCare Technologies told Yicai that the US multinational medical technology firm signed more than 70 letters of intent and strategic cooperation deals on Nov. 5, the first day of the CIIE.

The CIIE has also become a platform for Chinese and foreign companies to create opportunities for cooperation, promote exhibitors to become investors, boost localized research and development, and achieve transformation of R&D results into real products.

The microscopy division of German optical giant Zeiss announced yesterday at the CIIE that it had signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Chinese tech startups MicRo (Shanghai) Science and Technology and Xiamen Chip-nova Technology, backed by Shanghai's Fudan University and Xiamen University, respectively, to jointly develop a microscopic imaging platform for neuroscience, tumor immunity, and drug metabolism.

"China's policies encourage the construction of an innovative ecosystem, and Zeiss has been transforming China into an important part of its global ecology and supply chain," Zhang Yuxin, vice president of Zeiss China and general manager of its microscope division, told Yicai.

Medtronic China Orthopedics and Neurological Surgery Group debuted several products at previous CIIE editions, as they quickly became commodities from exhibits, a company insider told Yicai.

Medtronic is building an innovation value chain in China characterized by digital intelligence to coordinate the sharing of resources across its entire ecological chain, the above person added.

The innovation incubator at the Medtronic Kanghui Science and Technology Park is already operational. "This will further promote local innovation, turn patents into products and commodities, and provide one-stop incubation services for innovative projects and startups," the person noted.

Multinational medical technology companies, including Medtronic, Stryker, and Johnson & Johnson, are optimistic about the development prospects of China's surgical robot market.

Stryker showcased a variety of innovative product portfolios developed in China, including orthopedics, medical devices, neurointervention, medical beds, and emergency equipment, at the CIIE.

Johnson & Johnson officially launched its natural orifice diagnosis and treatment robot, which is also the first approved natural orifice diagnosis and treatment robot platform in China, at the CIIE. The device will accelerate the minimally invasive and precise diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.

"The CIIE is not only an important stage for China to promote high-level opening-up and high-quality development but also a key platform for global companies to share opportunities and deepen cooperation," said Song Weiqun, senior VP and chairman of Johnson & Johnson China. "China is not only bringing in overseas innovation in a more open manner but also accelerating its role as a source and exporter of innovation."

Editors: Tang Shihua, Futura Costaglione