On the road to globalization, it is essential for a company to see developmental and competitive trends within the industry in a timely fashion, and to carry out forward-looking business planning. A group of Luye employees with a keen sense of business acumen have already begun to act, laying a solid foundation for the business development of Luye life sciences in core regions.

In the previous issues of Luye People, we focused on the stories of our employees working for Luye Pharma and Luye Medical. In this issue, we will turn our attention to our colleagues engaged in the regenerative medicine business, who are also actively contributing to the innovation and internationalization of the group.

  
Chen Jinzhong (5th from left) accompanied officials from the construction department of the Development Zone in Guangzhou to visit Luye’s Shandong branch

"Where there is life, there is the pursuit of dreams.” This is the mortal which has provided Chen Jinzhong with his life’s inspiration. He first joined Luye two and a half years ago. Back then, he was only responsible for Luye Medical’s projects in Guangzhou. Now, however, he has become the chief representative of multiple projects.

From the photos alone, he seems to have espoused an almost Taoist minimalism, though he describes his own character as embodying the values of "hard work, tenacity, and commitment.”

At present, the key projects that Chen Jinzhong is responsible for include: Guangzhou Luye Biopharmaceutical Industrial Park, Guangzhou Luye Regenerative Medicine Headquarters and Innovation Research Institute, Guangzhou Cleveland Hospital, and a cooperative project in regenerative medicine with the Japanese company TRI in Guangzhou.

 
Chen won the second place prize of Luye Life Sciences Group's 2020 Commendation

 

At the 2020 Luye Annual Meeting, Chairman Liu Dianbo spoke highly of the significant progress made by the Guangzhou Luye Biopharmaceutical Industrial Park Project in 2019, and looked forward to the overall Luye business cluster that will be formed in Guangzhou in the future, with a range covering pharmaceutical to diagnostics businesses. 

 
"In the jungle and wasteland that has not been yet passed through, finding a market positioning belonging to Luye is a good start. All high-rise buildings start with a flat foundation, and this is a good beginning" —— Project leader Chen Jinzhong

 

Chen Jinzhong and colleagues from various places gathered in Guangzhou to discuss business needs

 

Guangzhou Biopharmaceutical Industrial Park Project Review

● In 2017, Luye started the layout of its biopharma business in southern China, and actively negotiated with various departments of the Guangzhou Municipal Government and the Development Zone, in order to determine the project content, site selection, and land area.
● In 2018, the South China headquarters project was officially set up and obtained land use approval. The project site is located in Guangzhou Knowledge City.
● The land was acquired in July 2019 through a “land bidding, auction, and listing” system. The planning and design have already been completed, pending regulatory submission and approval.

Currently, Luye has successfully landed two projects in Guangzhou. One is the previously mentioned Luye Guangzhou Biopharmaceutical Industrial Park; the other is Luye Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine Headquarters and Innovation Research Institute (now renamed the “Luye Life Sciences Innovation Headquarters in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”). The innovation headquarters has already acquired 11 acres on Guangzhou International Biological Island, known as the “Eye of Guangzhou.” This site will become the research and development base for Luye regenerative medicine, antibodies, genes, and cell therapy. It will house their diagnostic research and development headquarters, as well as their main offices, while serving as Luye’s headquarters in southern China.

 

Why is the South China headquarters an important part of the globalization strategy?

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is the most dynamic and affluent region in China's economic development. As the support base of national strategy, it had achieved an output value of 10 trillion yuan (excluding Hong Kong and Macao) by the end of 2019.

 "Domestically oriented while embracing global development, Luye established its South China Center in Guangzhou, the core of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Following its completion, it will be become Luye’s antibody drug production base, cell and gene therapy center in Southern China, and diagnostic reagent equipment production base in China overall. As part of the Group's global development strategy, it will increase the company's strategic fulcrum and expand its market share, particularly in the fields of biological antibodies, molecular diagnostics, regenerative medicine, etc., and contribute to the Group's strategic goals for 2025 and 2030. "

 Chen Jinzhong and other members of Luye Life Sciences Group Management Team, reporting to the Development Zone Government on project progress

 

At present, Chen Jinzhong and the project team members are still negotiating with Japan's TRI (Kobe Translational Medicine Center) to establish a Sino-Japanese Regenerative Medicine Transfer and Translation Center in Guangzhou, and a clinical research hospital for regenerative medicine.

 

(left)To promote business development in Guangzhou, Chen and the Group's management team visited a key Tier 3 hospital in Guangzhou—the SunYat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, and took a group photo with the leaders of the Liwan District Government.

(right) Chen is leading a negotiation on the strategic cooperation with Kobe Translational Medicine Center at the development zone government.

Looking back at his 17-year career, Chen Jinzhong initially served in a managerial capacity for a hospital, then spent 5 years as an emergency department doctor at the General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Region. He then joined Shenzhen Luohu Hospital to take charge of their social healthcare center. Later, he worked for Town Health International Medical Group as Deputy General Manager and General Manager, responsible for the layout and operation of chain clinics across China. He has accumulated rich experience in healthcare management and medical investment operations.

"Luye is an international company with employees of multiple races, languages and cultures."

In the early stages of the preparation for the Guangzhou Luye Biopharmaceutical Industrial Park project, persons responsible for different business segments were located abroad; as such, Chen Jinzhong and his team members had to overcome language barriers and time differences during online meetings. "Everyone has shown their understanding, and worked to coordinate their time with others. Our colleagues took time to help us translate during the busy work, and the project was successfully completed."

 
Chen visited the Guangzhou Knowledge City project site with the Singapore Vela team

 

"Every employee is equal, regardless of their position. I have always worked hard to create an atmosphere of hard work and a happy life."

When asked why he joined Luye, he responded: "I am deeply touched by Luye's mission and vision.” Like many of his Luye colleagues, Chen Jinzhong also gained a lot of growth experience during the group’s journey towards globalization.
 

"Luye is moving faster and faster, constantly improving, and gaining more confidence in the pursuit of specialization and internationalization. The opportunity of globalization will also have an impact on every Luye employee, requiring each manager to have an international perspective. To anticipate and accommodate the possibility of culture shock, and to adapt to the internationalization requirements of the group as soon as possible, it is mandatory for every Luye employee to remain positive and enterprising. In the process of implementing biological antibodies, molecular diagnostics, and regenerative medicine projects, the ability to communicate in English becomes a must, as I must communicate with foreign colleagues in the US and Singapore, as well as partners in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and other locations. This is why I have forced myself to study English every day, in order to enrich myself”. 

 

 

In 2017, Chen Jinzhong applied for a postgraduate in medical management from the University of Hong Kong and obtained the postgraduate degree in 2019.

 

There will inevitably be various challenges facing different projects.

In order for the leaders of government in Guangzhou to have a better understanding of Luye during the first two years of the project, Chen Jinzhong and his project team members invited the main leaders of Guangzhou government, the Development Zone, Liwan District, the Development and Reform Commission, Commerce Bureau, and the Health Commission, to visit their Yantai headquarters, as well as their offices in Shanghai, Singapore, and Japan. The team has fully demonstrated the strength, mission and vision of Luye, so that the two levels of government in Guangzhou showed their complete trust in Luye, which laid a solid foundation for the expansion and implementation of the project.

In addition, Chen Jinzhong had to also overcome the problems of understaffing and inexperienced staff in the early stages of some projects. "Plan well in advance, set an example for employees, delegate properly, and unlock people’s initiative.” This is what he has done to cope with said challenges, not only promoting the advancement of the projects, but also helping to reserve talents for the group."

Chen Jinzhong accompanied representatives of the Cleveland Medical Center and the management of Luye Medical Group in a face-to-face meeting with the Liwan District Government to exchange views on the promotion of the Luye International Hospital project.

 
Family Photo

While he works in Guangzhou, he has chosen to make his home in Shenzhen. Every weekend, Chen Jinzhong returns home to spend time with his family. "I want to have a healthy work-life balance, and no matter how busy I am, I always find time for a video chat with my family every night at 8 pm. I do my best to participate in the upbringing and growth of my two kids, and strive always to be a competent father." Under the fast pace and high intensity of work pressure, Chen Jinzhong continues to exercise at the beginning and end of each day, reads an hour in the evening, and studies English for half an hour each day, to keep himself limber in both body and mind. He also cooks on the weekends for his family, and takes time to travel and play football. 

 

The time with his son

The COVID-19 epidemic in 2020 has affected everyone's heart. Colleagues from the Department of Regenerative Medicine participated in anti-epidemic action for the first time, urgently reporting to the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology on the development of the coronavirus diagnostic kit, thus completely fulfilling Luye's corporate social responsibility.

 

"At present, the epidemic in China is being effectively controlled; the cost has been high, and the victory is hard-won. This global pandemic and any concomitant financial crisis may contain significant strategic opportunities for China. In the future, China will strengthen its reserves of medical supplies and continue to increase its investment in the healthcare industry, while encouraging pharmaceutical companies to expand research and development expenditures and improve innovation capabilities, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of the domestic pharmaceutical industry. For individuals, paying attention to physical exercise can increase immunity to diseases. To stay healthy is not only good for the individual but, by extension, it is good for the whole company.”

 

Chen Jinzhong won the "Star of Culture" Award at Luye’s 25th Anniversary Celebration

 

When asked what his ideal life was like, his answer was simply, “ Work hard, live a happy life, and be your best self in each role”.

The road ahead is still long. With beautiful expectations and a persistent faith, a large number of Luye people are forging ahead firmly. Chen Jinzhong continues to espouse his Taoist philosophy and tenacity to sow the seeds of energy for Luye, in the area of South China.