DBT Healthy Ageing Trade Mission to China

3 - 7 March 2025: Yangtze River Delta Region and Pearl River Delta Region

Join the Healthy Ageing Economy in China! 

Are you ready to expand your innovative business and explore new business opportunities? China is the world's second largest healthcare market offering growing and unprecedented opportunities, especially within the healthy ageing industry, catering for a large and growing elderly population. Capitalise on the vast market potential and government incentives to transform healthcare delivery and improve the quality of life for millions. 

The UK Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) is excited to announce this Healthy Ageing Trade Mission to China in March 2025.

We Need You! 

• Medical Devices: Bring your groundbreaking devices and technologies to a market eager for advanced solutions in rehabilitation, smart hearing, sleep aid and cognitive diseases.
• Digital Health: Innovators in developing and implementing wearable technology, AI diagnostics, mobile health applications tailored for the elderly, smart management tools for community care, digital solutions for care homes and much more! 
• Pharma/nutraceutical and Consumer Health: Innovative, clinically approved anti-ageing products or related technologies applied in healthy ageing and lifestyle management.

Your company should be:

An export ready UK company that is in the healthy ageing space, with a clear product pitch to take advantage of the mission’s opportunities for commercialisation in China. Companies should have regulatory approval of some description – whether UKCA mark, CE mark or FDA approval – and the product should ideally be already applied in international markets. 

Why China?

• Large Market Potential: China has the world's largest population, with the elderly demographic due to reach 20% by 2040, creating a substantial market for innovative products and services.
• Cooperation: Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, recently visited China where he discussed engagement in bolstering UK-China trade relationship and working together on health.
• Government Support: There are incentives for foreign innovative companies, such as reduced tax rates, streamlined approval processes and sourcing partners and distributers. 
• Increasing Healthcare Expenditure: China's healthcare expenditure (£0.9trn) is increasing rapidly, making it one of the fastest-growing healthcare markets globally.
• Innovation and Technology Adoption: The market is receptive to advanced medical devices, telemedicine, and digital health solutions, providing a fertile environment for UK-based innovations.

Why the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta Regions?

The trade mission will take place over one week in the Yangtze River Delta Region (Shanghai/Jiangsu/Zhejiang) and Pearl River Delta Region (Guangzhou/Shenzhen).

These regions are at the forefront of China's rapidly growing healthcare and life sciences markets, driven by an ageing population, increasing healthcare needs, and government support for innovation. These regions are seeing significant investments in medical research, biotechnology, and digital health solutions and a surge in mergers and acquisitions, as well as collaborations between local and international companies.

• Economic Powerhouses: Both regions are among China's most economically dynamic areas, contributing significantly to the national GDP. Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang rank in the top four in terms of GDP.
• Healthcare Infrastructure: The regions boast advanced healthcare infrastructure, including top-tier hospitals and research institutions.
• Population Density: High population density means a large potential market for healthcare and life sciences products.
• Government Support: Both regions benefit from favourable government policies and investments in healthcare and life sciences.
• Innovation Hubs: Known for their innovation ecosystems, these two regions attract both domestic and international companies.

The regions will offer a chance to meet with an exciting range of organisations aimed at providing direct commercial opportunity and in-market connections to grow your export potential in China:

• Yangtze River Delta region (Shanghai/Jiangsu/Zhejiang): China market landscape and policy sharing, onsite visit, and business networking event.
• Pearl River Delta Region (Guangzhou/Shenzhen): workshops, onsite visits and business matching with trade associations and companies.

Why a DBT Trade Mission?

Relationship-building is key to navigating the China market. DBT’s life sciences team alongside our embassy staff, who have extensive in-market knowledge and insight into China business culture, will provide a tailored programme of engagement for UK companies selected. These engagements will be focused on providing direct commercial opportunity, with delegates meeting an exciting range of organisations to foster in-market connections to grow your export potential in China. 

What to expect?

The agenda is currently being finalised and will depend on the delegates recruited. The mission is expected to include:

• Pre-mission and in-market briefings
• Curated networking opportunities to facilitate introductions with in-market stakeholders
• Specially selected organisational visits with pitching opportunities to potential buyers

DBT China & Hong Kong can offer an optional visit for delegates to visit Hong Kong. This would be an extension to engage on relevant opportunities in the market.

Registration

Places are limited, so please register your interest via the link below by 6 December 2024. Final selection will be at the discretion of the DBT team. 

During the sign up process you will also get the opportunity to provide further details about your business and your export experience to support your registration. Please note, if selected for the mission we will ask companies to confirm attendance and travel arrangements by the required deadlines. If you fail to do so, you may be removed from the mission and another company given your spot.

Register

For any queries about the China market specifically, please email China.DBTHealth@fcdo.gov.uk to get in contact with colleagues overseas.

For queries about the mission or any other export related enquiries contact the Department for Business and Trade at lifescience@businessandtrade.gov.uk or call our export support service on 0300 303 8955.

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