4.6 Government policies
The Chinese government is committed to supporting biotechnology development through policy initiatives. These policies aim to deepen technological innovation, enhance industry supervision, and boost market applications while increasing investments in capital, technological innovations, education, talent development, international collaborations, and creating a conducive policy environment for bio economy innovation.
Key aspects of these policies include:
Market Accessibility and Demand:
The goal is to increase market accessibility, especially in industries like additives, medical devices, new food materials, and pharmaceuticals. Supporting and growing the biopharmaceutical landscape are initiatives like the “1035 Plan,” “Medical Science and Technology Policy (2002010),” “Bio-Industry Development Eleventh Five-Year Plan,” and “Made in China 2025.”
Here is a brief introduction of these policies.
1035 Plan:
The “1035 Plan” is a significant initiative in China aimed at developing the country’s healthcare and pharmaceutical sector. It focuses on fostering the growth of ten key therapeutic areas over a five-year period, with the goal of advancing research and development, improving medical services, and enhancing public health.
Medical Science and Technology Policy (2002010):
The “Medical Science and Technology Policy (2002010)” is a comprehensive policy framework designed to support the advancement of medical research, healthcare technology, and innovation in China. It provides strategic guidance and financial incentives to encourage the development of cutting-edge medical technologies and improve healthcare services.
Bio-Industry Development Eleventh Five-Year Plan:
This plan is a part of China’s Five-Year Plans and specifically focuses on the development of the bio-industry sector. It outlines strategies and goals to promote innovation and growth in areas related to biotechnology, including biopharmaceuticals, genetic engineering, and bioinformatics, during the eleventh five-year period.
Made in China 2025:
“Made in China 2025” is a national strategy aimed at transforming China into a high-tech manufacturing powerhouse. While not exclusive to biopharmaceuticals, it does encompass the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors as key areas for development, with a focus on innovation, research, and quality improvement in pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical equipment.
These policies have facilitated significant advancements in innovative drug development and the growth of the bio industrial sector, leading to consistent growth in the Chinese biopharmaceutical market from 2010 to 2017 (Zhang & Liu 2020).
Intellectual Property Protection:
The Chinese government recognizes the importance of intellectual property protection. Efforts are being made to strengthen intellectual property safeguards. Additionally, improvements are being made to the management system for accessing biological genetic resources and sharing information. A critical focus is on promoting the practical application and transformation of intellectual property in everyday use (Yang et al., 2022).