We are in an era of collaboration, where large pharmaceutical companies and small start-ups are more prone to work together to find new solutions and bring them to the market, giving full play to respective advantages. In this spirit, we have been driving innovation through expanding partnerships on every front.

In July 2020, Boehringer Ingelheim launched the External Innovation Hub China in Shanghai as part of efforts to better leverage partnerships to gear up research and development programs. The hub is designed to integrate the company's innovative capabilities including Research Beyond Borders, Business Development & Licensing and Venture Fund under one roof.

The external innovation hub works as a one-stop "innovation space station", which identifies new technologies, propels them into R&D pipeline, and leverages venture funds to accelerate transforming these results into products that truly benefit patients. Today, the hub has formed strategic partnerships with Tsinghua University and Peking University in full-range cooperation and early-stage research.

In Animal Health, the company acquired an equity stake in New Ruipeng Group in 2020 to fully tap the strategic partnership to expand health solutions, quality advice and professional care to the growing number of pets and pet owners in China.

The company has also been accelerating digitization, and shore up its capabilities in digital healthcare solutions by working with internet hospitals and e-commerce platforms, setting up BI X digital lab, providing digital stroke rehabilitation services and integrating smart technologies, hardware, software and intelligent analytics into the livestock business that form the core principle of "integrated health management".

Looking forward, Boehringer Ingelheim has full confidence in China's economic prospect, especially in healthcare. In the next five years, we will continue to increase investment in China to further upgrade our innovative capabilities, working together with internal and external innovation partners to accelerate medical breakthroughs, improve patients' lives, and enhance human and animal health.

The author is Boehringer Ingelheim Greater China CEO.

The opinions expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of China Daily and China Daily website.