Invited by Ms Cythina Han from the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) Shanghai office, our CEO, Lily Lin, attended the 2025 Future Healthcare and Medicine Conference Top 100 Expo (VBEF) on 9-10 May 2025 at the Suzhou International Expo Centre in China，as a keen observer, seeking to strengthen bilateral collaboration in life sciences.
The VBEF, organised by VCBeat, convenes innovators, investors, and industry leaders to explore China’s advancing healthcare landscape through exhibitions and forums on topics such as artificial intelligence, precision medicine, and digital health. EFEC’s purpose was to engage with participants, observe trends, and forge connections that align with our mission to connect, prepare, and grow together.
A notable contribution came from Dr Ivana Poparic, Head of MedCity, who, as a keynote speaker, highlighted the UK’s leadership in life sciences and invited Chinese firms to explore collaboration opportunities through MedCity, a hub fostering London’s life sciences ecosystem. Dr Poparic’s address underscored the UK’s appeal as a destination for Chinese innovators, reinforcing EFEC’s role in preparing these firms for successful UK market entry.
The UK’s life sciences sector, with clusters such as MedCity, Oxford, Cambridge, and the East and West Midlands, among other UK clusters, offers a vibrant platform for Chinese firms seeking growth.
Conversely, UK organisations can engage with China’s dynamic healthcare market, where shared interests in biotechnology and digital health create collaboration potential. At VBEF, EFEC connected with stakeholders—from startups to investors—to facilitate these partnerships, supported by the DBT Shanghai office.
Our mission at EFEC is to connect organisations across borders, prepare them for new markets, and grow together through sustainable collaborations. We engaged with Chinese firms eager to tap into the UK’s innovation ecosystem, leveraging our expertise to guide their entry into clusters like Cambridge, renowned for research excellence, and the Midlands, with its industrial strengths. Similarly, we identified prospects for UK firms to collaborate with China, informed by VBEF’s discussions.
For UK life sciences organisations exploring China, or Chinese firms seeking UK opportunities through clusters like MedCity, EFEC offers tailored support to connect, prepare, and grow together. Contact us to explore how we can support your ambitions.
