Our latest interview is with our Clinical Research Partnerships Manager, Wai Theng Lee, who attended the 20th edition of China Medtec 2024 together with our Regulatory and Study Start Up Manager, Galina Fujimori Petrikova. In her interview she shares with us her impression of the event and its organisation.
1.What was your experience organising the travel to the event via the China Medtec official travel agency?
The China Medtech official travel agency was very helpful and responsive throughout the planning process. They arranged everything, including the hotel, invitation letter, visa, and airport transportation for both myself and my colleague. We stayed at Jianguo Hotel Shanghai, which is conveniently located about 10 minutes by taxi from the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Centre and a 15-minute walk from the Tangqiao subway station. The hotel has a traditional Chinese-style décor, and the rooms are clean and well-maintained. Breakfast was included, but the variety and quality were average, with the same food offerings each morning. Overall, the travel arrangements were smooth, and the hotel was well-situated for attending the event.
2. What do you think of the venue where the event was organised?
The event was held at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Centre, which is located in Pudong, right next to the iconic China Pavilion. The venue is easily accessible via the subway (Metro Line 7, Exit China Pavilion Museum), just a 5-minute walk away. Upon registration, attendees were provided with a visitor guide, detailing the event floor plan, exhibitor names, stand numbers, and the conference schedule. The 42,000-square-meter space housed two large exhibition halls, along with a convenience store and coffee shop, offering some food options inside. Nearby, there are also several Chinese restaurants within a 5-10 minute walking distance. The venue was well-suited for such a large-scale event, and it was easy to navigate with the guide provided.
3. What was your impression of the event?
The event featured a large exhibition area with over 1,000 medical device brands, showcasing products and solutions for medical manufacturing, R&D, and production. The exhibitors were grouped into two main halls: Medical Manufacturing services & Equipment (Hall 1) and Medical Materials & Core Components (Hall 2). The first two days saw a large number of visitors, primarily Chinese, with only a handful of foreign attendees. The conferences covered topics like the Analysis and Trends of China’s Medical Device Market in 2024, The current situation and future development of domestic medical devices going global, and Growth opportunities for medical technology enterprises. The event provided good networking opportunities, but the audience was largely Chinese manufacturers and industry professionals.
4. Based on your attendance, do you think it is easy to find partners in China for medical device manufacturing?
Yes, there were plenty of opportunities to find partners in medical device manufacturing at the event. Exhibitors provided thorough presentations of their products, along with company manuals and business cards. However, most of the information was in Chinese, which could pose a challenge for international visitors. The Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMO), Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), and Original Design Manufacturers (ODM) business models were heavily represented at the event. These types of companies are popular and growing in China, which provides opportunities for those seeking manufacturing partners in China. The competitive nature of the domestic market has led many companies to offer attractive packages for international collaboration. However, due to confidentiality concerns, exhibitors were generally hesitant to share client information openly.
5. What was your impression from the event? Is China open for business?
My overall impression of the event is that China is actively open for global business, largely driven by the over-competition in the domestic market. This competitive landscape is forcing many companies to pursue international expansion to sustain growth. China’s medical device exports are already substantial, with the primary markets being Asia, Europe (25%), and North America. These exports are largely focused on medical consumables and IVD products, which account for more than half of the total export volume.
At the event, many companies discussed the challenges of global expansion, such as selecting the right strategy (OEM/ODM, distributors, or acquisitions) and understanding varied market dynamics and regulations. A common issue was the difficulty in managing international teams due to cultural differences and communication barriers, compounded by their limited experience in global operations.
Despite current challenges in the Chinese healthcare market—such as low market confidence, declining price-to-earnings ratios, and reduced foreign investment—there is a growing recognition among Chinese companies that globalization is crucial for survival. The Chinese healthcare industry is also seeing a decrease in domestic investment and an increase in foreign companies pulling out, which is adding further pressure to expand overseas.
I believe that over the next few years, we will see a significant increase in Chinese companies actively pursuing global markets. While the domestic market remains tough, there’s a strong sense that international expansion will provide the growth opportunities they need.
6. What did you like most about the event?
The event was well-organized, and the staff were friendly and helpful. One area for improvement would be to encourage exhibitors to provide more English-language materials and communicate in English, as this would help international visitors and companies connect more easily. This would enhance the overall experience for foreign attendees and promote cross-border partnerships.
Author: Wai Theng Lee
Published: 1 Oct 2024
