Digital Transformation in Pharma: Key Meetings Held in Beijing

        In order to thoroughly implement the "Implementation Plan for Digital Transformation of the Pharmaceutical Industry (2025-2030)", accelerate the cultivation of new productive forces in the pharmaceutical industry, and lay a solid foundation for the development of emerging pillar industries in the biopharmaceutical sector, under the guidance of the Consumer Goods Industry Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, on March 31st, the establishment meeting of the Digital Transformation Promotion Center for the Pharmaceutical Industry (hereinafter referred to as the "Promotion Center") and the promotion meeting for the collection and introduction of enterprise-level AI innovation applications in the pharmaceutical field were successfully held in Beijing. Vice Director Wang Xiaoyang of the Consumer Goods Industry Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, General Engineer He Baohong of the China Information and Communication Research Institute, Deputy Director An Ping of the Torch High-Tech Industry Development Center of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and Deputy Director Yu Kun of the Education and Examination Center of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology attended the meeting and delivered speeches. The meeting was chaired by Min Dong, Deputy Director of the Cloud Computing and Digitalization Research Institute of the China Information and Communication Research Institute. More than ten pharmaceutical enterprises on the demand side of digital transformation, such as Huaxun Pharmaceutical, Hengrui Pharmaceutical, Fosun Pharmaceutical, Zhengdaiting Pharmaceutical, Shiguo Group, Qilu Pharmaceutical, and Kangfang Biopharmaceutical, and more than ten pharmaceutical enterprises on the supply side of digital transformation, such as Huawei, Dongfelong, Kingdee, Aoxing, Jingtai Technology, Zheyuan Technology, and Mingdui Zhiyun, jointly participated in the meeting as the initiating units of the Promotion Center and delivered speeches.

        He Baohong stated in his speech that promoting the digital and intelligent transformation of the pharmaceutical industry is a key leverage for implementing national strategies, cultivating new productive forces, and enhancing the quality and efficiency of the biopharmaceutical industry. Currently, it is precisely at an opportune time for the industry. The Promotion Center will clearly define its functions: playing a bridging role to build a collaborative ecosystem, constructing a professional service and evaluation system to solve the pain points of transformation, empowering the entire pharmaceutical industry with cutting-edge technologies, cultivating interdisciplinary talents, establishing international exchange platforms, and helping China's pharmaceutical industry integrate into the global innovation network.
        During the meeting, Li Man, the director of the Biotechnology Department of the Cloud Computing and Digitalization Research Institute of China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, detailed the construction work of the Promotion Center, including its construction goals, service system, and future work plans. She also stated that the steady construction and long-term development of the Promotion Center cannot be achieved without the deep participation and collaborative construction of core forces from the upstream and downstream of the industry chain. She hopes that industry colleagues can actively participate in the subsequent work of the Promotion Center and jointly promote the innovative development of the digital and intelligent transformation of the pharmaceutical industry in terms of demand-side and supply-side matching, standard development, AI application, solutions, and data governance.
        Pei Gaoxin, the deputy secretary-general of the China Pharmaceutical Industry Management Association, introduced the application of AI in the pharmaceutical field and the project solicitation and promotion work currently being carried out jointly by the Promotion Center. She called on all industry parties to actively participate and submit projects, and jointly create digital and intelligent scenarios covering the entire pharmaceutical chain.
        Additionally, this meeting brought together many representative enterprises in the pharmaceutical field and digitalization technology service providers. As the core forces on the demand side and supply side of the industry's digitalization transformation, the representatives shared their practical experiences in the discussion and deepened the discussion on the practical problems and pain points faced in the process of promoting digital and intelligent transformation. They also proposed specific demands for the future construction and service functions of the Promotion Center based on their business realities. Many valuable ideas and suggestions at the meeting provided important support for the Promotion Center to carry out precise empowerment in the next step.
        Deputy Director Wang Xiaoyang made a summary speech at the meeting, stating that the establishment of the Promotion Center is an important measure to implement the "Pharmaceutical Industry Digital and Intelligent Transformation Implementation Plan (2025-2030)". It is necessary to unite the industry forces and promote industry collaboration. He also put forward three requirements for the future development of the Promotion Center: first, strengthen strategic thinking and plan the layout based on development trends; second, adhere to problem orientation and form industry-level solutions focusing on industry pain points; third, accelerate the construction of an industry ecosystem, anchor the core positioning, and act as an industry router. At the same time, he clarified the specific implementation work of the Promotion Center from four dimensions: serving enterprises, linking regions, delving into fields, and resolving deep-seated industry contradictions.