Guangzhou Plans New IVD Track: From "Sample Province" to "Data Powerhouse City"

How AI · Enterprise Data Product Trading Is Reshaping the Healthcare Industry Ecosystem

As the growth rate of conventional medical equipment procurement gradually slows and centralized procurement policies become normalized, prompting the industry to seek a second growth curve, China’s in vitro diagnostics (IVD) industry is at a critical crossroads. In Guangzhou, a wave of industry transformation driven by “data” is rapidly gaining momentum.

When N Video reporters visited the KingMed Diagnostics headquarters on Guangzhou International Bio Island, they saw not just cold testing assembly lines but a real-time data live broadcast screen.

On the screen, yellow dots represent business coverage, red dots mark key hospitals, and the locations of cold chain logistics vehicles and samples in transit are clearly visible. This is not only a visualization of operational management but also a microcosm of Guangzhou’s IVD industry transitioning toward “digital intelligence.”

Why IVD? From “Foundation” to “Strategic Pinnacle”

Biopharmaceuticals and healthcare are strategic pillar industries within Guangzhou’s “12218” modern industrial system. After experiencing a “V-shaped” recovery in 2025, Guangzhou’s future industry focus has become clearer: avoid broad, unfocused investment and instead pursue targeted breakthroughs.

Based on industry fundamentals and future trends, Guangzhou has precisely identified six core sectors: IVD, traditional Chinese medicine, medical institution formulations, nuclear medicine, cell and gene therapy, and brain-computer interfaces, aiming for “single-point breakthroughs and multi-point development.” Among these, IVD is prioritized as the leading core sector.

Guangzhou’s confidence primarily stems from tangible “hard assets.” The city hosts over 6,500 biopharmaceutical companies, more than 7,600 healthcare institutions, and a natural “test bed” with 191 million annual medical visits. Particularly in the IVD field, Guangzhou’s third-party medical testing holds the largest market share nationwide, establishing the city’s dominant voice in this domain.

However, holding the top market share does not guarantee long-term dominance. For government authorities, the focus on developing the IVD sector is based on forward-looking judgments about future healthcare models.

With increasing health awareness and an aging population, diagnostic frontiers are moving forward, and in vitro diagnostics now account for 70% of clinical decision-making information. Those who master cutting-edge diagnostic technologies will hold the key to precision medicine.

Guangzhou’s strategic intent is clear: leveraging vast clinical sample resources and artificial intelligence large models to upgrade from a “big testing province” to a “data powerhouse” and “intelligent diagnostics hub.” This is not only to consolidate industry advantages but also to secure a commanding position in future medical standards and data asset transactions.

Guangzhou’s Approach: Policy “1+N” and Platform “Triple Jump”

After selecting its core sectors, how does Guangzhou plan to advance? The city’s approach features a distinct systemic strategy.

At the policy level, Guangzhou has built a “1+N” targeted support system. Based on the 2024 municipal government’s No. 1 document, the “Several Policies and Measures to Promote High-Quality Development of Biopharmaceuticals,” substantial financial support is provided to facilitate the implementation of top-tier global technologies.

Subsequently, for the IVD industry, Guangzhou is accelerating the rollout of specialized policy packages, complemented by innovative drug and device catalogs, insurance support, and application promotion measures—covering the entire chain from results transformation and administrative approval to market expansion. This “customized” policy supply turns support policies from slogans into tangible benefits.

More importantly, the physical space and innovation chain are interconnected.

N Video reporters observed that Guangzhou is executing a “platform relay” strategy. At the front end, exploration platforms like the Human Cell Lineage Big Science Facility and Guangzhou National Laboratory tackle frontier basic science; in the middle, bridge platforms such as the Guangdong Medical Innovation Achievement Transformation Center convert laboratory concepts into patentable, industrializable innovations; at the back end, four major value parks—Huangpu, Nansha, Yuexiu, and Liwan—and specialized IVD industrial parks provide the infrastructure for project implementation.

This closed-loop design—from “source innovation” to “accelerated transformation” and finally to “industry landing”—addresses the challenge of translating biomedical achievements into practical applications. For IVD, this layout enables a test reagent idea to quickly find clinical validation resources, approval support, and large-scale manufacturing bases.

Enterprise Response: KingMed Diagnostics’ “AI IN ALL” and Ecosystem Collaboration

The policy wind must be realized by enterprises. Leading companies like KingMed Diagnostics in Guangzhou are actively responding to this transformation, providing valuable case studies.

Inside KingMed’s laboratories.

Facing the overlap of economic cycles and healthcare policy cycles, in 2025, KingMed Diagnostics launched its second five-year digital intelligence transformation, with the “AI IN ALL” strategy. This stems from the company’s deep experience in medical testing over 30 years.

Relying on over 3 billion medical test data points, KingMed integrates new information and biotech technologies to enhance AI’s role in assisting clinicians—offering intelligent report interpretation and specialized diagnosis support. For example, an AI cervical cancer screening model developed for pathologists reduces the time-consuming task of slide reading, cutting the review time to one-tenth of the original.

KingMed staff examining pathology slides.

Meanwhile, KingMed is exploring data element marketization, pioneering the full process of data product trading within the industry. Currently, 32 data products are listed on data exchanges in Guangzhou, Beijing, and Shanghai.

In Baiyun District, another model is being tested. Dian Diagnostics collaborates with Guangzhou First People’s Hospital Baiyun Hospital to establish the Western Medical Group Medical Testing Center, implementing a “community sampling, centralized testing, mutual recognition of results” integrated operation. This not only extends services to grassroots levels but also promotes equitable access to high-quality medical resources through regional information platforms.

As Guangzhou embarks on the “14th Five-Year Plan,” the competitive logic of its IVD industry is undergoing profound change. From top-level policy design and platform infrastructure to enterprise digital transformation, Guangzhou is executing a grand strategy to dominate future healthcare discourse. Once known as the “Testing Capital,” the city is now accelerating toward becoming a “Smart Diagnostics Capital.”