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BIA webinar recording: China Special Interest Group - Meet the Investors
Watch the recording of the BIA and DIT for this China Special Interest Group webinar, where we update you on critical issues and opportunities for collaboration with China in the life sciences.
In this edition, we focussed on investment from China. We introduced some key relevant investors for UK biotech, the current landscape and what Chinese investors are looking for in potential collaboration.
- BIA introduction – Steve Bates, CEO, BIA
- Update on Chinese investment landscape - Richard Cowin, Counsellor Health & Life Sciences, DIT
- Chinese investor introductions (spanning therapeutic areas and stages)
- Q&A and opportunity for expressions of interest
Speakers:
Steve Bates OBE
What does your role at BIA involve?
Steve Bates is the CEO of the UK Bioindustry Association, the UK’s Trade Association for innovative life science companies with over 550 members. Steve is the visible face of the vibrant UK life sciences industry to government and media. He serves on the UK Government’s Life Sciences Council and the UK Biosecurity Leadership Council. Steve was a founder member of the UK Government’s Vaccine Taskforce in the Covid crisis, sitting on its steering Board alongside Kate Bingham. He is active member and former chair the International Council of Biotech Associations and has been a board member of EuropaBio since 2015.
Previous experience & achievements
Steve has championed, with government, effective industrial incentives like the Biomedical Catalyst, which have crowded in private sector investment into UK SMEs. He is a driving force behind the scale up agenda, spearheading policy agenda to unlock UK pension fund capital into productive UK growth in life sciences. He has forged several links for the sector across the USA, Europe and in China. In his time at the BIA, Steve has developed new member groups focused on cell and gene therapy, genomics and engineered biology. A strong advocate of partnership working, Steve champions sector collaboration with research charities and academia. Proud to lead an organisation with a diverse Board with over 40% female representation, Steve is committed to next generation talent and developing the skills needed for the sector to flourish. Before joining the BIA in 2012, Steve worked for Genzyme and was advisor to the UK Government of Tony Blair working on NHS reform and the Northern Ireland peace process. He was made OBE for services to innovation in 2017 and became a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Science in 2020.
Richard Cowin
Richard Cowin was appointed Counsellor for Healthcare and Life Sciences at the British Embassy in Beijing in November 2019. He is responsible for promoting trade and investment between the UK and China across pharmaceuticals, medical devices and healthcare. Richard leads a team of 19 that supports British companies export to China and Chinese companies invest in the UK. From 2018 Richard was First Secretary for Health Policy and Programmes in Beijing. In previous diplomatic roles Richard has served in Vietnam, Korea and Japan covering political, economic and trade issues. In 2021 Richard was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his contribution to UK’s fight against Covid-19.
Yuehua Cong
Yuehua is an experienced business development professional and entrepreneur with more than a decade’s proven track record in BD, strategic investment management as well as corporate formation and management. As the head of Europe, her role covers all BD&L activities, alliance management, strategic investment and management with local partners. Prior to joining Simcere, Yuehua had a series of senior roles in biotech companies including Fierce 15 F-star Biotechnology Ltd, with increasing responsibilities in scientific leadership and BD function. Yuehua holds a Ph.D. degree in Chemistry from University of Konstanz, Germany and completed her postdoctoral training in molecular biology and biochemistry in Cardiff University, UK. Yuehua set up Simcere’s EU subsidiary in the UK and is located together with the EU BD team in Stevenage near London.
Dora Zhang
Business Development Director of Kelun Pharmaceuticals Group, Professional and experienced in Business devlopment, Licesening, Strategic Transactions and Investment management. Have experience in whole cycle products licensing deals, Currently Lead mainly Commercial BD cooperations. Dora is a MBA Candidate in Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and BBA in Southwestern University of Finance and Economics.
Dahai Ma
Dahai is the head of Business Development & Licensing in Tasly Pharmaceutical Group (SH 600535) and overlooking all the licensing and investment activities for the public listed company. He started his career as consultant in GFK, and then had been with Novartis, Bayer and Merck Biopharma for 15 years with both local and global roles as BD manager, global brand manager and BD director. He graduated from Health Science Center, Peking University, and finished resident training in Peking Hospital, Beijing. He also holds an EMBA degree from ESMT in Berlin.
Ping Chung-Chang
Mr Ping-Chung Chang is currently the Head of China Development and Global Delivery at PHASTAR, who is a leading biometrics contract research organization supporting new medicine research across the globe. Ping has been a biostatistician in the clinical research industry since 2002 and has had worked for pharmaceutical, biotech and CRO companies through the years with various leadership role. Ping is a seasoned expert in regulatory submissions, large global team operations and CRO business management. At his current post, Ping’s focus is to lead PHASTAR establishing capabilities in China and to fully reveal PHASTAR’s global business potential.