China National Pharmaceutical Group Co, Ltd (Sinopharm) convened a cooperation exchange symposium with Tsinghua University on Jan 29.

Attended by Liu Jingzhen, chairman of Sinopharm, and Li Luming, president of Tsinghua University, the event saw both leaders delivering speeches and engaging in comprehensive discussions regarding the enhancement of cooperation between the university and the enterprise.

Liu provided insights into the latest developments within Sinopharm and the midterm adjustments made to the group's "14th Five-Year Plan" (2021-25). He emphasized Tsinghua's status as a top-tier domestic and global institution with robust research capabilities across various cutting-edge scientific and technological domains, which provides crucial talent and technological support for China's socio-economic development.

Building upon previous strategic cooperation agreements, Liu expressed a desire for both parties to maximize their respective strengths, strengthen the integration of industry, academia and research under enterprise leadership, and engage in comprehensive cooperation ranging from fundamental research to product innovation and industrial development.

The aim is to establish an independent, controllable and efficient biomedical industry and supply chain, fostering a new paradigm of collaborative innovation across production, education and research, and contributing significantly to national scientific research progress and strategic technological advancements, he added.

Li Luming, in turn, highlighted Tsinghua's recent developments, stressing the strategic importance of the biomedical industry for national economic, societal and security interests. He commended Sinopharm as a leader in life medicine and health, with a strong track record of innovation.

Li expressed hope for further deepening cooperation between the two entities, leveraging Tsinghua's strengths in fundamental and interdisciplinary academic research to complement Sinopharm's expertise.

This collaboration aims to drive forward basic research, innovate key core technologies, translate scientific achievements into practical applications and foster the development of outstanding talents capable of contributing to the nation's educational and scientific advancement, Li noted.

Sinopharm and Tsinghua convene a cooperation exchange symposium on Jan 29. [Photo/sinopharm.com]

Participants engaged in detailed discussions regarding the implementation of strategic cooperation initiatives and the envisioned work mode for the proposed Tsinghua-Sinopharm Medical Innovation Joint Research Institute.