Beijing unveils plan for International BioPark in E-Town to boost global pharma innovation

Beijing has unveiled a plan for its International BioPark in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, also known as Beijing E-Town, aiming to build a global hub for pharmaceutical and biotechnology innovation, local authorities said.

The plan focuses on artificial intelligence, cross-disciplinary research, and regulatory innovation to accelerate the city's life sciences sector. Released by Kong Lei, secretary of the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area Party Working Committee, the plan was announced at the 2025 International Biomedical Industry Innovation Conference Beijing Forum on Oct 24.

Located along Beijing's southern central axis, the BioPark will link with Fengchi and Nanhaizi parks and connect to three subway lines providing direct access to the capital's airports and railway stations. The project is designed to leverage the city's policy, innovation and openness advantages to strengthen international cooperation in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

The park will feature four key industrial zones — a headquarters cluster, a medical-engineering integration zone, an R&D and transformation area and a smart manufacturing district. These zones will host global biopharma headquarters, research institutions, education-industry platforms, and advanced manufacturing plants.

Kong said the project aims to align industrial, innovation, talent, and ecological development to create what he called "a Beijing solution" for the global life sciences sector.

The BioPark will also host China's national pilot base for artificial intelligence applications, building infrastructure such as a supercomputing center, data labeling facilities, and trusted data spaces for healthcare and pharmaceuticals. It will target AI-driven drug manufacturing and precision medicine.

Beijing plans to set up a life and health industry innovation institute — in collaboration with top universities including Tsinghua, Peking, Beihang and Capital Medical universities — to establish an international clinical research hospital focused on translational medicine.

The park's design includes three corridors — the gene gallery, smart sharing corridor, and eco-corridor — linking industrial zones with public spaces. Supporting facilities such as schools, talent apartments and lifestyle districts are under construction to attract international professionals.

Fengchi Park, the project's ecological core, will feature themed villages promoting cultural experiences, innovation exchange, and wellness. Rooftop gardens and public leisure spaces will shape what planners are calling a new landmark skyline for the southern axis.

Since its initial announcement last year, the BioPark has begun attracting multinational pharmaceutical companies — including Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Bayer and Medtronic — covering vaccines, innovative drugs and high-end medical devices.

Kong said Beijing will accelerate the park's construction and welcome global companies and researchers to invest and collaborate to position the BioPark as a world-class innovation hub for the pharmaceutical industry.