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CBBC Healthcare & Life Sciences Delegation: Frontiers of Innovation Held on 24th–29th May 2026
From 24–29 May 2026, the China-Britain Business Council led a high-level six-day healthcare and life sciences delegation spanning Hainan, Wuxi, Suzhou, and Shanghai, bringing together UK companies, academic institutions, and innovators for an intensive programme of site visits, government engagement, and business matchmaking, led by CBBC’s Senior Adviser for Tech & Innovation, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Elinor Greenhouse.
Delegates joined forces with CBBC's parallel tech group for shared sessions in Wuxi, Suzhou, and Shanghai, deepening the cross-sector connections that make these missions so valuable.
The programme opened in Hainan, where delegates explored the unique opportunities presented by China's Free Trade Port framework and the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, the only place in China where internationally licensed pharmaceuticals and medical devices can access the market on a fast-track basis. In Wuxi, the group visited the AstraZeneca-anchored I-Campus, a full lifecycle incubation hub connecting R&D, devices, diagnostics, and digital health, and experienced first-hand the global connectivity of the AstraZeneca Wuxi R&D Centre, one of the company's key nodes in its worldwide pharmaceutical formulation network. A cultural cruise along the Grand Canal rounded off an immersive day in the city.
Delegates then moved to Suzhou to attend the official opening of CBBC’s UK-China Business & Innovation Hub, with attendees from across business and government, before visiting Porton Advanced's cutting-edge ATMP CDMO facilities and the world-renowned BioBay life sciences cluster. In Shanghai, site visits to the Weigao Yunxing and Xinda Innovation centres in Huacao revealed the depth and ambition of China's emerging biomedical ecosystem, particularly Xinda's commitment to making innovative oncology and cell therapy treatments accessible to patients at scale. The visit to Circle Harmony showcased a holistic approach to health management, blending clinical excellence, digital health, and managed care.
The delegation concluded with the CBBC Shanghai Night Reception, held with sweeping views across the Bund, where guests joined Sir Sebastian Wood, CBBC Chair, Consul-General Matt Burney, and representatives from SPDB for an evening of high-level networking against one of the world's most iconic skylines, a fitting close to a week of remarkable access, insight, and connection.
To learn more about CBBC's 2026 Delegation Programme click here
For further enquiries please contact Elinor.Greenhouse@cbbc.org