Recently, more than 20 graduate student representatives from the School of Life Science and Technology (SLST), ShanghaiTech University, led by Li Qiuning, Party Committee Secretary and Vice Dean of SLST, took part in the Baoshan University Alliance’s “Dual Visit” program. The delegation visited the Baoshan Biopharmaceutical Industrial Park for an on-site tour and exchange. Faculty and students toured representative enterprises and the MEDI PARK incubator, including Shanghai Huiyong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Unicar, and GemPharmatech. The visit was warmly received and accompanied by Liu Tao, General Manager of MEDI PARK, and Qian Jianfen, Director of the Baoshan District Talent Development Service Center, among others.
During the visits, faculty and students toured production facilities and R&D laboratories to gain firsthand insights, engaging in face-to-face discussions with industry experts. The first stop was Shanghai Huiyong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a company specializing in advanced pharmaceutical formulations. Staff from the administrative center and company leadership accompanied the tour, providing detailed briefings and showcasing modern equipment and standardized procedures on selected production lines.
The second stop was Unicar, an innovative enterprise developing next-generation immunotherapy and gene therapy products through proprietary technologies. Dr. Li Minghao, Production Director, introduced the commercialization progress of the company’s CAR-T products, its product pipeline, and key milestones.
The third visit took place at GemPharmatech, which has developed a broad portfolio of humanized mouse models to support preclinical evaluation of new drugs and therapies. The delegation toured the model animal production facility, led by Manager Cai from the Production Department.
The final stop was the MEDI PARK incubator, located within a biopharmaceutical cluster in northern Shanghai. Designed to meet high-standard biopharmaceutical R&D requirements, the incubator provides comprehensive support for startups—from proof-of-concept to product launch. Li Xiaolin, Operations Director of Shanghai Zhizhen Testing Technology Co., Ltd., an incubated company, introduced the firm’s services and demonstrated relevant testing equipment.
During the interactive exchange session, Qian Jianfen shared information on regional talent policies and encouraged SLST students to align their personal career development with Baoshan’s industrial needs. After the visit, students shared reflections and takeaways. One student commented, “This visit was truly meaningful. The company experts and staff at the talent center were very patient, and I gained a much more vivid understanding of how different types of biopharma companies operate.” Another student noted, “Seeing companies with different positions and strategies helped me understand career pathways in the biopharmaceutical industry more comprehensively. I also learned about business and technology frontiers, and I hope we will have more opportunities like this in the future.”
SLST remains committed to cultivating innovative talent with strong academic foundations and a broad industry perspective. By organizing this off-campus visit, the School aims to help students better understand the biopharmaceutical ecosystem and emerging industry trends, clarify career directions through firsthand exposure, and explore potential connections between the School’s research strengths and regional industrial needs—thereby opening new pathways for talent development and future research collaboration.
