Boehringer Ingelheim Greater China CEO Felix Gutsche. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Twenty-six years ago, when Boehringer Ingelheim decided to settle in \r\nShanghai, who could have imagined the healthcare landscape we have here \r\ntoday?

Nowadays, China has grown into the second largest healthcare market. \r\nAs outlined in the "Healthy China 2030" blueprint, continued reform has \r\ngreatly shortened the approval process for new medicines, allowing \r\ninnovative therapies to accelerate entries to China, almost \r\nsimultaneously with the United States and Europe. At the same time, the \r\ncountry is consolidating its multi-level health security system to \r\nguarantee accessible and affordable medical care for all citizens.

These changes have signaled that China is catching up quickly. Global\r\n healthcare has traditionally been more US- and Euro-centric, but today \r\nit needs to be more China-centric, whether from a geopolitical, economic\r\n or industry standpoint.

As the country opens up for more innovation in the healthcare sector,\r\n numerous opportunities will emerge for multinational companies to \r\nfurther tap the unmet needs in medical science, as well as the vast \r\nmarket potential. It feels both exciting and challenging to take part in\r\n this transformative journey. For me personally, there is no better \r\nplace to be currently!

For Boehringer Ingelheim, despite prevalent COVID-19 impact, we \r\nreported a 20.5 percent year-on-year growth in the Chinese market in \r\n2020, outperforming other major regional markets worldwide. Powered by \r\nthis robust engine, we are more poised than ever before to fully deliver\r\n on our commitment to China and the Chinese patients.

Innovation has been the key word embedded in Boehringer Ingelheim's \r\ngenes. As a family-owned business, we pursue a long-term vision in terms\r\n of both developing next-generation breakthrough therapies and building \r\npartnerships in the life sciences community to foster innovation.

In 2020, the company stepped up efforts to enhance its innovation \r\ncapabilities in terms of innovative products and services. With the \r\nlaunch of "China Key" strategy, Boehringer Ingelheim becomes the first \r\nand only foreign enterprise to have China fully participate in all of \r\nour global early-stage clinical trials, which is expected to accelerate \r\nthe approval of new products or new indications in China in the next \r\ndecade. The company also launched Total Stroke Solution in China that \r\ncovers prevention, detection, first aid, diagnosis, treatment, \r\nrehabilitation, recurrence prevention and disease education, providing a\r\n whole-course disease management.

However, innovation is not exclusively about molecules. It happens \r\neverywhere. We must also look at innovation beyond that, whether it is \r\ngo-to-market models, digital models, multichannel models and so on.