Registration Hours: 07:00 - 17:00

Continental Breakfast will be served between 07:30 and 09:00

Location: - Shanghai Ballroom & Pudong Ballroom Foyer - Level 3

Partnering Hours: 08:00 - 17:00

As China and the wider APAC ecosystem matures, global pharma is shifting its innovation strategy, from building internal R&D centres to partnering with local biotechs, biopharmas, and incubators. This keynote panel brings together senior BD and innovation leaders to discuss how China fits into a broader APAC strategy (including Japan, Korea, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan), how the “invest to partner” model is changing their footprint, and what capabilities they now look for on the ground.

• How are global pharma leaders reshaping their innovation models in Asia-Pacific, moving from “invest to build” towards “invest to partner”?
• How does China fit into a wider APAC portfolio when prioritising partnerships and capital allocation?
• What capabilities and behaviours distinguish the partners of choice today, across biotechs, biopharmas, and incubators, in China and APAC?

Themes: Global Vision / Innovation / Collaboration & Partnerships / Strategy

With evolving biosecurity rules, supply-chain scrutiny and regulatory divergence, companies must rethink how they maintain global alignment. Experts assess the future of NMPA / FDA / EMA compatibility and how companies can build resilient, compliant cross-border operations.

• How can biotechs future-proof NMPA, FDA, and EMA alignment under new security laws?
• What regulatory bottlenecks still slow global filings from China?
• How can global sponsors and China-based companies design development plans and trials to leverage China’s cost and speed advantages, but still support US/EU approvals and global raising/partnering?
• How should companies plan vendor and data strategies for long-term resilience?

Themes: Regulatory Pathways / Strategy / Going Global

Partnership remains biotech’s lifeblood, but it’s no longer just about a one-off asset deal. In an era of tighter capital and increased selectivity, MNCs and Chinese companies are building broader ecosystem alliances with VCs, academic centres, and incubators, alongside classic licensing, co-development, and an emerging wave of outbound acquisitions by Chinese biopharmas. This panel explores what a sustainable partnership strategy looks like for different types of companies, including the many that may never sign a headline-grabbing mega-deal but still need to grow strong, globally relevant portfolios.

• How are companies using incubators, venture studios, and ecosystem platforms, rather than only asset deals, to source and shape innovation?
• For the “other 990” companies that don’t land a billion-dollar out-licence, what does success look like and how should they partner at different stages?
• How can Chinese biotechs and biopharmas position themselves across the value chain, from early discovery to global Phase III and commercial, to become attractive long-term partners?
• When does it make sense for Chinese biopharmas to acquire overseas assets or companies rather than only licensing or co-developing, and how is this changing the cross-border deal landscape?

Themes: Next-Gen Partnering / Collaboration & Partnerships / Commercialization / Strategic Direction / Investment Trends

AI has become a constant talking point in biopharma, but is it truly transformative yet or still evolutionary? This session brings together innovators using AI across discovery, development, and clinical stages to debate its real-world impact and what’s next as geopolitical restrictions tighten around AI technologies. 

• Is AI genuinely accelerating drug discovery and development, or is it still in an early adoption phase? 
• How might U.S./China technology tensions around AI hardware and data affect biotech innovation? 
• Which areas of drug development will see the next meaningful AI breakthroughs? 
• How can investors and R&D leaders separate hype from scalable reality? 

Themes: AI Impact / Innovation / Breakthrough Innovations / Clinical Advantage

Global market volatility has reshaped the biotech financing landscape. This panel brings together leading VCs, strategic investors, and biotech CEOs to explore where capital is flowing, which models are gaining traction, and how to tell a global story that resonates with investors, including emerging non-IPO routes and asset-based financing models.

• Are IPO windows opening or closing for Chinese biotechs, both onshore and offshore?
• Beyond classic venture and public markets, where are alternative funding opportunities emerging (royalty financings, project finance, revenue-sharing, etc.)?
• How might early tokenization / “real world asset” pilots and other digital structures eventually fit into the financing toolkit?
• What makes a biotech story resonate with investors today and how should you demonstrate resilience and global relevance?

Themes: Future Financing / Strategic Direction / Commercialization / Investment Trends

Closing day one with a high-energy pitch competition featuring shortlisted startups across oncology, AI-driven drug discovery, immunology, modalities, and enabling technologies. Our esteemed judges from VCs, pharma BD, and crossover investors will provide live feedback on science, strategy, and partnering readiness.

The competition winner will receive a complimentary ticket to a future EBD Group event, along with exciting prizes to be announced! Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the next wave of biotech innovation in action. 

Themes: Breakthrough Innovations / Startups

Gala Reception:

Location: The ATLATL Center for Innovation & Research (Round-trip shuttle bus from Kerry Hotel will be provided)

Address: 1077 Zhangheng Lu, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203.

Date/Time: Tuesday, April 28, 2026/17:30-19:00

Join us at the ATLATL Center, a premier hub for life sciences innovation, fostering collaboration among entrepreneurs, investors, and pharmaceutical leaders.