Introduction

As the first project implemented under the Framework Agreement on Cooperation between Guangdong and Macao, the Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park of Co-operation between Guangdong and Macao (hereinafter referred to as “GMTCM Park”) was officially launched in Hengqin in April 2011 to be developed, operated and managed by a joint venture of Macao and Hengqin. GMTCM Park keeps to its original purpose of facilitating the moderate economic diversification of Macao, as well as the industrialization and internationalization of TCM, and contributes to the growth and development of Macao enterprises and the cultivation of Macao talents.

Mr. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People’s Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited GMTCM Park and gave instruction on TCM development and GMTCM Park’s construction on October 22, 2018. According to him, “TCM is a treasure of Chinese civilization. More efforts should be made in exploring the essence of TCM and promoting the integration between enterprises, universities and research institutes to advance the industrialization, modernization and globalization of TCM.” In February 2019, the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, issued by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, once again positioned GMTCM Park as a major innovative carrier in the Greater Bay Area. With the strong support of the state, GMTCM Park has already become a major carrier promoting Macao’s moderate economic diversification, and Macao’s integration into the larger picture of national development.

GMTCM Park covers an area of 500,000 square meters with a total development area of approximately 1.4 million square meters. It works towards the two core goals of developing an “international quality control base of TCM” and an “international healthcare industry exchange platform”, while positioning itself as an “international window to the TCM industry and culture under the Belt and Road Initiative”. GMTCM Park follows the path of building an integrative platform for enterprises, universities and research institutes, advancing the internationalization of TCM, and developing the comprehensive health industry.

Since the completion of the incubation area of GMTCM Park at the end of 2018, a total of 233 enterprises have been registered in the park, among which 61 are Macao enterprises fostered through GMTCM Park, accounting for 26.18% of the total. Forming an industrial atmosphere in GMTCM Park, these enterprises, are engaged in TCM, healthcare products, medical apparatus, medical services, biomedicine, and more. Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited, Zhuhai UM Science & Technology Research Institute, Zhuhai Livzon Cynvenio Diagnostics Ltd., Intertek, iCarbonX, Increasepharm (Hengqin) Institute Co., Ltd., Honest Medical China Co., Ltd., Guangdong Authenmole Biotech Inc., and other key enterprises have already settled in GMTCM Park.

GMTCM Park has developed specialized public service platforms along the whole industrial chain that adhere to the standards of mainland China and the European Union, including GMP pilot-scale production, research, development and testing, as well as incubation bases. With a complete scientific research service system, it boasts an R&D cluster for scientific and technological innovation that brings together renowned pharmaceutical giants, CROs, and innovation-driven resources from universities. Also, a “National Science and Technology Enterprise Incubator” has been built to provide enterprises with an all-round professional incubation platform, in a bid to promote the settlement, incubation and transformation of scientific and technological achievements in GMTCM Park while jointly propelling the industrialization of collaboration between enterprises, universities and research institutes, as well as relevant achievements, in the field of TCM.

Since the official launch of the “Center of International Cooperation and Exchange” in June 2015, by giving full play to Macao’s role as the Commercial and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, GMTCM Park has been committed to the development of international registration, import and export trade, talent training, and other services. Starting from Portuguese-speaking countries, GMTCM Park keeps expanding cooperation with neighboring countries and regions of Portuguese-speaking countries based on the international marketing model of “promoting medicine through practice”, thus building a business matching model and market network that connects ASEAN countries, Africa, and the European Union. GMTCM Park was recognized as the “Public Service Platform for Overseas Registration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Products (Hengqin)” by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine in September 2017, and then one of the first batch of “National TCM Service Export Bases” by the Ministry of Commerce and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine in December 2019. Up until now, a total of 10 products manufactured by six companies, including Macao companies, have been successfully registered in Mozambique with the help of GMTCM Park. Furthermore, an herbal medicine has been successfully registered in the European Union, becoming the first TCM product from China to be authorized for marketing in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg and other EU countries at the same time.

In order to spur the transformation and application of technologies and products of enterprises, universities and research institutes, GMTCM Park conducted three key projects related to the comprehensive health industry, including the Ruilian Wellness Resort, the TCM Discovery, and the Ola Lotus-Fashionable Traditional Chinese Medicine Block with Full-Sensory Experience.

To cultivate young TCM talents in Macao, GMTCM Park provides professional and practical TCM training for Macao’s youths. In addition, it established the “International Youth TCM Practitioners Exchange Base” and launched the overseas program “AMIGO Alliance” to build an exchange platform for the growth of Macao’s youths. Meanwhile, by bringing in and training professionals in TCM, project management, investment operation, etc., GMTCM Park aims to develop a professional and diversified talent introduction and cultivation mechanism for Macao youths.