[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 30, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17621-17622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7471]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Biotech Life Science Trade Mission to China

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (CS) is organizing 
a Biotechnology Life Sciences trade mission to China on October 17-20, 
2011. Led by a senior Department of Commerce official, the mission to 
China is intended to include representatives from a variety of U.S. 
biotechnology and life science firms and trade organizations. The 
mission will introduce mission participants to end-users, prospective 
partners, and investors whose needs and capabilities are targeted to 
the respective U.S. participant's strengths and needs. Participating in 
an official U.S. industry delegation, rather than traveling to China 
independently, will enhance the participants' ability to secure 
meetings in China. The mission will include site visits to biotech 
industrial parks, government meetings, and receptions in Beijing and 
Hong Kong. Trade mission participants will have the opportunity to 
interact with Commercial Service (CS) specialists and State Department 
officers covering intellectual property rights issues and biotechnology 
to discuss industry developments, opportunities, and sales strategies.

Commercial Setting

    U.S. biotech and life science firms often consider China the most 
important future market in terms of sales and clinical trial 
opportunities, and potential investment. China's enormous consumer base 
and impressive economic growth further reinforce the importance of the 
market for U.S. firms. However, China's legal and regulatory landscape 
often complicates market entrance for many U.S. firms. Since these 
trade policy issues are frequent topics of high-level bilateral 
discussions between the U.S. Government and the Chinese Government, a 
Trade Mission led by the U.S. Department of Commerce offers an 
attractive entr[eacute]e for U.S. firms and associations in the Chinese 
market. With some 200 pharmaceutical companies operating in Hong Kong 
(with many involved in the fast-growing specialty of Chinese 
Traditional Medicine), which possesses excellent research facilities 
and business infrastructure, regulatory linkages into the mainland, and 
a strong venture capital community, Hong Kong offers an ideal 
complement to a policy-centered mission program in Beijing. Hong Kong 
is also a leading center for bio-medical clinical trials in Asia.

The Biotech Life Science Sector

    Despite the global financial crisis, China's GDP growth is widely 
expected to grow by approximately eight percent in 2011. While U.S. 
venture capital investment in biotech and life science companies has 
slowed, Chinese pharmaceutical and biotech industries are demonstrating 
a healthy appetite for funding novel, early-stage technologies. Major 
U.S. biotech firms have established licensing and partnering offices in 
China specifically to seek these opportunities.
    Over 2,000 novel molecules have been patented in China, 96 are in 
clinical trials, and 27 new drugs have launched in the last five years, 
20 of which are novel biologics. There are novel molecules at all 
stages of development in China, and Chinese companies and institutes 
are anxious to partner with Western companies for development and 
distribution of these valuable assets.
    There are also over 300 clinical research organizations in China 
offering high quality services supporting drug discovery and 
development projects of major pharmaceutical and biotech companies 
worldwide. Many of these are willing to work on a risk sharing or 
collaborative basis with their sponsors.

Mission Goals

    The short term goals of the trade mission to China are to (1) 
introduce U.S. participants to potential customers and strategic 
partners, including investors, (2) introduce U.S. participants to 
industry and government officials in China to learn about various 
opportunities, and (3) to educate the participants about trade policy 
and regulatory matters involved in doing business in China.

Mission Scenario

    In Beijing, the U.S. mission members will be briefed by the U.S. 
Embassy's Counselor for Commercial Affairs, the Commercial Specialist 
for the biotechnology sector, and other key U.S. Government officials. 
Senior Embassy officials will host a networking event for the group 
with Chinese biotech and life science industry organizations and 
multipliers. In Hong Kong, U.S. participants will benefit from 
customized one-on-one matchmaking

[[Page 17622]]

with potential partners, a market briefing by the Commercial Specialist 
for the biotech life science sector at the U.S. Consulate, and 
networking activities. Site visits to Hong Kong's Science & Technology 
Park and leading research universities may be offered.
    One week prior to the Trade Mission, it should also be noted that 
from October 12-13, there will be a BIO China (http://www.bio.org/biochina) trade event in Shanghai that will focus on the biotech 
sector. Though BIO China is not officially linked to the Commerce 
Department's Biotech Life Science Trade Mission to China, U.S. trade 
mission participants may opt to precede the October 17-20, 2011 Trade 
Mission by participating in this event.
    Participation in the mission will include the following:
     Pre-travel briefings/webinar on subjects ranging from 
business practices in China to intellectual property rights;
     Pre-scheduled meetings with potential partners, 
distributors, end users, Clinical Research Organizations, or investors 
in Hong Kong;
     Transportation to and from airports in Beijing and Hong 
Kong;
     Meetings with Chinese Government officials;
     Participation in industry receptions in Beijing and Hong 
Kong;
     Meetings with CS China's biotech and life science industry 
specialists in Beijing and Hong Kong.

Proposed Timetable

    Mission participants will be encouraged to arrive October 15 or 16, 
2011 and the mission program will proceed from October 17 through 
October 20, 2011.

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October 17......................  Beijing.
                                  Market briefings by U.S. Embassy
                                   Beijing officials.
                                  Meetings with Chinese Ministry of
                                   Health and State Food and Drug
                                   Administration officials.
                                  Networking reception.
October 18......................  Beijing.
                                  Tour of Bio Parks and Research
                                   Facilities.
                                  Travel to Hong Kong.
                                  Business meetings.
October 19......................  Hong Kong.
                                  One-on-one business matchmaking
                                   appointments
                                  Briefings from Hong Kong government,
                                   industry association, and American
                                   Chamber representatives.
                                  Tour of Science & Technology Parks.
                                  Networking reception
October 20......................  Hong Kong.
                                  One-on-one business matchmaking
                                   appointments.
                                  Visits to Research Facilities (tbd).
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Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the Biotech Life Science 
Trade Mission to China must complete and submit an application for 
consideration by the Department of Commerce. All applicants will be 
evaluated on their ability to meet certain conditions and best satisfy 
the selection criteria as outlined below. A minimum of 15 and a maximum 
of 20 participants will be selected for the mission from the applicant 
pool. U.S. companies and associations already involved with and/or 
doing business in China as well as U.S. companies and associations 
seeking exposure to the market for the first time are encouraged to 
apply.

Fees and Expenses

    After a participant has been selected for the mission, a payment to 
the Department of Commerce in the form of a participation fee is 
required. The participation fee will be $3,270 for large firms and 
$2,327 for a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) \1\ or small trade 
organization, which will cover one representative. The fee for each 
additional firm representative (large firm or SME) is $500. Expenses 
for travel, lodging, most meals, and incidentals will be the 
responsibility of each mission participant.
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    \1\ An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer employees or 
that otherwise qualifies as a small business under SBA regulations 
(see http://www.sba.gov/services/contractingopportunities/sizestandardstopics/index.html ). Parent companies, affiliates, and 
subsidiaries will be considered when determining business size. The 
dual pricing reflects the Commercial Service's user fee schedule 
that became effective May 1, 2008 (see http://www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/initiatives.html for additional information).
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Conditions for Participation

    An applicant must submit a completed and signed mission application 
and supplemental application materials, including adequate information 
on the company's products and/or services, primary market objectives, 
and goals for participation. If the U.S. Department of Commerce 
receives an incomplete application, the Department may reject the 
application, request additional information, or take the lack of 
information into account when evaluating the applications.
     Each applicant must also certify that the products and 
services it seeks to export through the mission are either produced in 
the United States, or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm 
and have at least fifty-one percent U.S. content.

Selection Criteria for Participation

    Selection will be based on the following criteria:
     Suitability of a company's products or services to the 
mission's goals;
     Applicant's potential for business in China, including 
likelihood of exports resulting from the trade mission;
     Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with 
the stated scope of the trade mission.
    Referrals from political organizations and any documents containing 
references to partisan political activities (including political 
contributions) will be removed from an applicant's submission and not 
considered during the selection process.

Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications

    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, 
including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Commerce 
Department trade mission calendar (http://export.gov/trademissions/) 
and other Internet Web sites, press releases to general and trade 
media, direct mail, notices by industry trade associations and other 
multiplier groups, and publicity at industry meetings, symposia, 
conferences, and trade shows. Recruitment for the mission will begin 
immediately and conclude no later than 08/15/2011. The U.S. Department 
of Commerce will review all applications immediately after the 
deadline. We will inform applicants of selection decisions as soon as 
possible after 08/15/2011. Applications received after that date will 
be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

Contacts

    U.S. Commercial Service Domestic Contact: Douglas Wallace, 
Commercial Officer, 415-705-1765, [email protected].

Elnora Moye,
U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-7471 Filed 3-29-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P