Writing in the April edition of DIA’s Global Forum magazine, the DIA China Leadership and Career Community look at the Chinese pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem’s R&D talent gap and the China Pharmaceutical R&D Talent Innovation Research Project that was launched to address it.
Over the past five years, China’s pharmaceutical innovation industry has experienced what has been called the Cambrian explosion: significant acceleration in the launch of innovative products, rapid expansion in the number of R&D pipelines, and increasing capital investment in R&D.
But at a time when the industry is booming, China’s pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem sees a series of challenges in terms of R&D talent, including the increasing demand for skilled labor and a contrasting talent gap at all levels (a trend which seems to be intensifying).
To help address this gap, DIA China’s R&D Talent and Capacity Building working group launched the China Pharmaceutical R&D Talent Innovation Research Project, which received wide support and participation from many leaders in China’s innovative pharmaceutical industry, in early 2021.
As a global organization whose mission includes developing R&D talent and capability, DIA is committed to internationalization through innovation. This includes linking China’s R&D talents through the DIA platform to ultimately develop industry leadership that will establish a more dynamic R&D talent ecosystem in China.
This project team conducted in-depth interviews with both R&D and human resources (HR) leadership in the pharmaceutical industry. By observing and analyzing the different challenges these leaders currently face, this two-part article aims to promote increased cooperation among global pharmaceutical R&D talent and in particular to increase awareness of new talent strategies, and to strengthen global talent innovation in China. It also aims to promote aligning the education system with standard clinical research competency requirements to lay a solid foundation for future Chinese pharmaceutical industry talent.
As we prepare for the next five years, we must ensure that the scientific, technological, and talent challenges to innovative R&D do not hinder the sustainable growth of China’s innovative pharmaceutical industry.
