10 measures for cells and genes to boost industry growth

Shenzhen’s economic planner, the Shenzhen Municipal Development and Reform Commission, in collaboration with the Shenzhen Municipal Science and Technology Innovation Bureau, unveiled a 10-measure work plan — the “Shenzhen Work Plan for Promoting High-quality Development in the Cell and Gene Sector” — in April 2026, aimed at driving high-quality growth in the city’s cell and gene sector.

Under the plan, Shenzhen’s cell and gene therapy industry is expected to reach 20 billion yuan (US$2.93 billion) by 2028. The city also plans to roll out 50 IIT projects and establish more than two CRO/CDMO service platforms to serve more than 300 firms. The goal is to build a hub for cutting-edge technologies, products, innovative companies, and talent in the cell and gene field. The core initiatives include:

Strengthen investment for solid industrial development

The measures call for a focus on clinical needs in oncology, genetic diseases, autoimmune disorders, and rare diseases. Shenzhen will accelerate the introduction of cell and gene therapy drug pipelines into clinical trials and attract innovative companies with core technologies. Leveraging Qianhai’s opening-up policies, the city will give support to firms planning Hong Kong listings or seeking overseas financing, as well as foreign-backed projects. Municipal industrial funds in biopharmaceuticals, cells, and genes will guide social capital participation to establish a coordinated financing mechanism across city and district levels, covering mergers, acquisitions, early-stage angel investment, and other forms of funding.

Enhance clinical resource integration to support commercialization

Shenzhen will support top-tier hospitals in building specialized public service platforms for cell therapy clinical research across the oncology, cardiovascular, respiratory, and immunology disciplines. It will establish professional systems for academic and ethical review, rapid quality control, and cell preparation GMP. The city plans to set up a cell therapy clinical research and ethics review alliance to streamline assessments and shorten review timelines.

Deploy key platforms to improve industrial service ecosystem

Shenzhen will encourage deep integration between hospitals, research institutions, and companies to tackle technical bottlenecks in vector optimization, novel delivery systems, rapid cell culture and expansion, and AI-powered data mining. By setting up specialized CRO/CDMO platforms, the city will provide one-stop services covering preclinical research, clinical trial design, and regulatory submission, and strengthen capabilities for CAR-T, TCR-T, MSC, iPSC, and other cell preparations. A high-level cell preparation quality testing platform will also be developed to streamline the clinical validation and commercialization of cell therapy products.

Accelerate launch of innovative products

The plan encourages companies to build GMP-compliant production lines and develop specialized cell and gene industrial parks integrating R&D, pilot production, manufacturing, storage, and testing. Shenzhen will also promote the inclusion of cell therapy products in commercial health insurance, including pay-for-performance and pre-existing condition policies, to establish a multi-payer system combining basic medical insurance with commercial insurance.

Shenzhen is home to more than 200 cell and gene companies, boasting a comprehensive industry chain that spans R&D, clinical trials, manufacturing, testing, and application. Driven by the newly implemented 10 measures, the city will further strengthen policy guidance and service support, positioning the cell and gene sector as a new engine for high-quality growth in the biopharmaceutical industry.