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Bayer positions China as an innovation engine in its global healthcare strategy
Stefan Oelrich, member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and head of its Pharmaceuticals Division.
Bayer is deepening its commitment to China as the country rapidly emerges as a major source of pharmaceutical innovation, according to Stefan Oelrich, member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and head of its Pharmaceuticals Division.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with China Daily, soon after Bayer's China Innovation Day held at the company's Berlin campus, Oelrich said China has become far more than a key market for the German healthcare giant. Increasingly, it is serving as an innovation hub feeding directly into Bayer's global research and development pipeline.
"China has one of the most dynamic innovation systems in the pharmaceuticals industry," Oelrich said. "It is a place where collaboration can directly shape the future of medicine and help patients."
Bayer sees significant opportunities to expand cooperation with Chinese biotechnology companies, hospitals and academic institutions, particularly in areas such as oncology, cardiovascular and renal diseases, as well as emerging fields including cell and gene therapies.
According to Oelrich, China's growing capabilities in advanced technology platforms and new therapeutic modalities provide "a compelling basis for collaboration".
"We work closely with Chinese biotech companies, hospitals, and academic institutions, partnering early, focusing on where we can create value together, and connecting innovation directly into global development pathways," he said. "The goal is simple: to translate promising science faster into meaningful progress for patients."
The office building of Bayer AG where its China Innovation Day event was held.
Despite global economic uncertainties, Bayer plans to further strengthen its innovation presence in China. Oelrich described the Chinese pharmaceutical market as "a strategic priority" and said the company is continuing to expand capabilities across the entire value chain, from early-stage research to clinical development and patient access.
Key initiatives include Bayer Co.Lab China in Shanghai and the Bayer E-Town Open Innovation Center in Beijing, both designed to connect local innovation with Bayer's global development network. The company has also launched Bayer Co.Lab AdVenture, a program linking startups with investors and Bayer's international R&D resources.
"Our approach is very clear: combine China's speed and innovation capabilities with Bayer's global scale and experience," Oelrich said. "That is how we improve productivity and ultimately deliver better solutions for patients."
Oelrich stressed that innovation capabilities in China have become a strategic pillar of Bayer's global innovation agenda.
"We see China not only as one of our most important markets, but increasingly as an innovation engine feeding directly into our global pipeline," he said. "Innovation here is increasingly developed with global impact in mind."
Looking ahead, Bayer expects China's biotechnology ecosystem, leading academic institutions, clinical research capabilities and digital strengths to play an even larger role in advancing healthcare innovation worldwide.
"If we want to remain at the forefront of our industry, we need to be where innovation happens," Oelrich said. "China is clearly one of those places, and an increasingly important one."
Source: China Daily
