AstraZeneca Inaugurates Second Global Strategic R&D Center in China in Beijing

October 25 - AstraZeneca officially inaugurated a new Global Strategic R&D Center in Beijing, marking its sixth such center globally and its second strategic R&D center in China. As a core project of the company's $2.5 billion (approximately RMB 18 billion) investment plan, the Beijing Global Strategic R&D Center features an advanced artificial intelligence and data science hub, aiming to accelerate the translation of early-stage drug research成果 into clinical development.

The Beijing Global Strategic R&D Center will collaborate synergistically with the Shanghai Global Strategic R&D Center to lead new drug discovery and clinical development efforts. Leveraging Beijing's world-leading scientific ecosystem and strengths in artificial intelligence, the center will accelerate the development of the next generation of innovative medicines. It will expand cooperation with local clinical trial institutions, universities, and biotech companies to deepen the understanding of diseases and incubate scientific innovations.

As part of AstraZeneca's investment plan in China, the company also announced the advancement of several collaborations to promote global cooperation and accelerate new drug development. This includes establishing a four-party collaboration with the University of Cambridge, the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, the Zhongguancun Science Park Management Committee, and the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area Management Committee. This cooperation will comprehensively deepen the collaboration between these two world-leading scientific ecosystems. By leveraging their respective resource advantages in innovation and industrial ecosystems, and through sharing educational resources, training, and talent exchanges, it will strengthen the connection between Beijing and the University of Cambridge, jointly accelerating global biopharmaceutical innovation.

"We see significant collaborative opportunities in China, particularly in Beijing, which boasts not only one of the most pioneering and dynamic healthcare systems globally but also one of the world's largest population groups," said Professor Patrick Henry Maxwell, Dean of the School of Clinical Medicine at the University of Cambridge. "By enhancing cooperation, building connections, and enabling more effective communication and collaboration, we can benefit patients worldwide."