Ambulance Ships
How Shanghai’s former seaport has become Asia’s biggest hospital
Sascha Haselmayer
Night View: Fenglin Biomedical Centre. Image ©Interlace-Invent ApS and HPP International
In early 2004, a decision was taken by Xuhui District Authority to embark on a project of international significance by integrating the development of the thriving Fenglin district with the ambition to become one of the world’s leading biomedical research and development hubs.
Located at the heart of Shanghai’s historic Xuhui District, Fenglin Biomedical Center is a globally unique innovation environment combining world-class research, advanced clinical environments and a high quality of life at the heart of one of the world’s most dynamic metropolis.
This ambitious urban and socio-economic development project is open to the international competition for inward investments as well as talents. The separation of Biomedical Clustering and its socio-economic and urban context is no longer possible. A team consisting of inter-disciplinary strategy experts from Interlace – Invent, a pan-European research-based consultancy based in Copenhagen, and German urbanists HPP, provided a unique line-up to tackle the dual complexity of developing this ambitious socio-economic and urban strategy.
‘Fenglin: a healthy district’ is a holistic sustainable model for urban living, integrating social, economic and environmental development
Based on a study of 20 globally leading biomedical hubs, we were able to identify the emerging global trends towards the ‘urbanisation’ of specialised innovation activities. The urban diversity and culture of the place emerge as equally important as the worldclass scientific and clinical activities continually attracting talent and investment.
Two of the critical challenges for the development of China became driving forces in the development of the project: 1. the building of a healthcare system that has to almost instantly provide for more than 1bn currently unprotected people; and 2. the increasing urban and environmental problems growing exponentially in a context of exploding metropolises. Building a healthcare supply of monumental proportions requires radical innovation in management and technology, and offers an incredible market opportunity. In addition, Fenglin as an urban environment offers a thriving urban culture that should be developed by intervention rather than the customary re-planning to offer diversity, high environmental standards and quality of life.
Fenglin Biomedical Centre, unlike most other such projects, not only in Asia but also in Europe, has the prerequisites to distinguish itself as a biomedical hub of global significance, precisely because of its blend of biomedical competences and dynamic urban integration. This is understood not only to provide a key attraction factor, but just as importantly, a substantial resource for sustained innovation. To achieve this, planning focused on completing this to competitive and livable Biomedical District.
A range of national and international institutions and clinics of scientific and clinical excellence can already be found in Fenglin today, which together with the networked regional resources provide the area’s foundation for success. Increasing productivity and the speed of the process from scientific discovery to bedside product, increasing the previously uncommon institutional collaboration through organisational and spatial measures, and the carefully considered addition of new facilities became priority lines of action.
Latest trends in the organisation of research and the flexibility these require underlie the planning. Emerging trends such as life-style diseases, preventive medicine, and bio-informatics are seen as opportunities for significant development, with great interest also from leading international partners.
But scientific discovery is only part of a comprehensive value-chain. Commercialisation relies on an entrepreneurial culture as well as selecting target markets – a careful balance has been developed to give returns on investment in short -, as much as medium – and long-term. The impact of investments in Fenglin Biomedical District should be felt from Day 1 – with noticeable improvements for Fenglin’s existing community too. A general urban upgrade, extending throughout Fenglin will complement the emerging socio-economic opportunities. ‘Fenglin: a healthy district’ is a holistic sustainable model for urban living, integrating social, economic and environmental development.
Fenglin’s competences will remain a key competitive factor, and measures are being taken to ensure that Fenglin will become a competitive biomedical hub. Organisational governance is a key success factor for effective clustering – institutional or sectorial barriers should not hinder development. An inclusive, yet visionary, governance has been tailored to build the confidence of inward investors, and those international partners that will provide world-class competences not locally available.
In October 2004, for the first time in China, a design and strategy meeting was held in the middle of the concept development phase in which 20 leading international businesses and institutions were invited to review the project plans and become part of the design team. It was a proposition attractive to both sides: the project team gained validation and feedback from those who will ultimately make the district a success; and the business and institutional leaders enjoyed being consulted early on in planning, bringing in their views and demands to tailor the project to their true needs.
Sustainable clustering is possible thanks to a thriving entrepreneurial culture. Support is provided by business incubators closely linked to research and clinical environments, providing not only space, but the expertise necessary to initiate processes of commercialisation. Such competences are provided through Human Resources development (Biomedical MBA School, Entrepreneurship Programmes), but also through dedicated competence centres such as a ‘Patenting Centre’ which also assists also in internationalisation / localisation of Patents.
As an urban environment, Fenglin will be transformed to embody the values of a ‘Healthy District’, providing a model for urban development in 21st century China. High-quality green environments naturally regulate the climatic conditions as well as providing a continuous landscape for recreation, mobility and healing.
For the communities that the success of the biomedical project depends on, Fenglin will offer a globally unmatched life-style proposition: healthy and sustainable urban living at the heart of one of the world’s most exciting cities.
Fenglin can be considered one of the world’s largest Biomedical Centers, yet by weaving into the existing urban fabric the project avoids the risk of becoming a derelict and monumental effort. Seamless mobility, for example between scientific laboratories, clinical environments and related business incubators, has been enabled through the localisation of 4 thematic Micro-Clusters. They are proponents of a three dimensional alternative to zoning in urban planning, defining hotspots in the city where urban life in its full diversity continues, yet also providing the ideal conditions for highly globalised innovation activities.
Fenglin’s vision and values are promoted globally as well as locally through a distinct Place Brand. Unlike a product brand, it acts as a coherence platform, inviting the different target groups, including local communities, politicians, international firms/institutions, innovative entrepreneurs, talented students and experts from China, Asia and beyond, to interact and join the team to build the first urban biomedical hub.
