ZJE Showcases UK–China Biomedical Innovation at Beacon of Excellence

Led by Executive Dean Sue Welburn and Translational Director David Hay, the delegation presented cutting-edge research to investors and industry leaders, spanning regenerative medicine, data-driven healthcare, and infection biology. The programme opened at Guangzhou International Bio Island, a hub designed to turn discovery into real-world impact.

In Shenzhen, the focus shifted to commercialisation. David Hay delivered a keynote on stem cell innovation and new product development, while discussions explored how discoveries can move more rapidly from lab to clinic.

Visits to Medcaptain Medical Technology and the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub highlighted China’s strength in scaling biomedical innovation—driven by investment, infrastructure, and ambition.

Sue Welburn emphasised the complementary strengths of the UK and China. The UK offers globally respected science and translational pathways, supported by institutions such as UK Biobank and the National Health Service, while China brings unmatched scale and speed.

Together, these strengths are creating new opportunities for collaboration across the biomedical sector.

This partnership is embodied in ZJE itself, a collaboration between the University of Edinburgh and Zhejiang University. Now home to more than 800 students, the institute is building a pipeline of future biomedical leaders, with a strong emphasis on research that delivers real-world impact.

As Sue Welburn noted, this is a moment of unprecedented opportunity for biomedicine to shape both global health and economic growth. With leaders like David Hay driving translational innovation, the focus now is on turning that potential into lasting impact.