During the 2026 Frost & Sullivan Summit, Jiangsu Jiewei Biotech Equipment Co., Ltd (referred to as Jiewei Biotech) Deputy General Manager Cheng Song shared insights on industry cycles, equipment localization, synthetic biology strategies, and corporate globalization.
Mr. Cheng noted that the company currently focuses on two main business directions: biomedicine and synthetic biology. In the biomedical field, it offers products like liquid preparation systems, bioreactors, and aseptic thin-film evaporators. In synthetic biology, the primary offering is biological fermentation systems, with efforts underway to integrate AI into process design, simulation calculations, and equipment manufacturing. The company's client base spans antibody drugs, innovative drugs, and synthetic biology.
Shifting Focus to Quality and Innovation
Regarding the current state of the biomedical industry, Mr. Cheng believes the sector is entering a new phase that prioritizes innovation quality and long-term value. Both policy and technology are sending positive signals. Support for innovative and original drugs is becoming clearer, and domestic R&D capabilities for innovative drugs are increasingly recognized globally, with breakthroughs in antibodies, ADCs, and bispecific antibodies.
"More companies are now settling down to refine their core technologies," Mr. Cheng explained. The industry's focus is shifting from solely pursuing revenue scale and developing generic products toward building core competencies in regulation, design, and quality around specialized equipment. Jiewei Biotech is increasing investment in professional equipment such as liquid preparation systems and the FILTRIX™ aseptic thin-film evaporation system. He anticipates that the convergence of policy support, technological progress, and industrial demand will lead to a more stable and sustainable development phase for the biomedical industry.
The localization of pharmaceutical equipment was a key topic. Mr. Cheng recalled that around 2019, the localization rate of upstream scientific research equipment was still low, and reactors and fermentation systems were heavily reliant on imports. In recent years, the localization process for large-scale production equipment has accelerated significantly, with domestic companies participating much more actively in bidding. However, gaps remain in basic consumables like membrane materials, some underlying software, and core systems. Mr. Cheng emphasized that the growth of domestic equipment requires continuous iteration. "Only when drug companies dare to use it, the government dares to invest, and enterprises dare to implement it," can more opportunities for validation in real-world scenarios be created. Domestic companies also need time to improve product stability and process capability through customer feedback.
Currently, Jiewei Biotech has established a production base in Changzhou. Mr. Cheng noted that Changzhou has a strong manufacturing foundation, a well-developed upstream and downstream supply chain, and the necessary conditions for equipment manufacturing, such as an industrial workforce and large-scale factory space. The local government's focus on emerging industries like synthetic biology also provides a foundation for the company to expand into new applications.
Looking ahead three to five years, Jiewei Biotech will continue to build on its biomedical foundation, extending into emerging areas like small nucleic acids, ADCs, and bispecific antibodies. Simultaneously, it will push its business from biomedicine into synthetic biology, while also monitoring applications in medical aesthetics, materials, and food. Internationally, the company plans to leverage its standardized products and customization capabilities, aiming to secure its first overseas orders between 2027 and 2028. Mr. Cheng believes that the globalization of Chinese manufacturing is a long-term trend, but mere low-price competition is not a viable strategy. Overseas customers focus more on the long-term stability, quality, and brand reputation of equipment, and also value a supplier's ability to provide customized solutions for specific products and process routes. Jiewei Biotech aims to leverage its strengths in automation integration and high-level customization to build its overseas reputation through its products and services.
Mr. Cheng, who has long been involved in policy and development research for the life sciences industry, also holds several concurrent roles. These include the Executive Deputy Secretary-General of the Synthetic Biology and Bio-Manufacturing Special Committee of the China Pharmaceutical Equipment Engineering Association, member of the Editorial Board of the Process Industry magazine, expert advisor to the Shanghai Indoor Environment Purification Industry Association, and co-founder and Deputy Secretary-General of the China Pharmaceutical Intelligent Manufacturing Industry Alliance. He has also contributed to drafting the Shanghai Industrial Cleanroom Three-Year Industry Action Plan (2022-2024). Previously, he participated in writing reports and books such as the 2021 China Biopharmaceutical Industry Market Research White Paper, the Global Pharmaceutical Terminology English-Chinese Bilingual Dictionary, the China Synthetic Biology Industry Status and Prospect Research Report, and Synthetic Biology: The Programming Art of Life.