S2S China Announces 2026 Finalists, Ten Standout Teams Set to Pitch Global Investors at Westlake University

The inaugural S2S China Symposium has announced the finalists of its 2026 program. Co-hosted by RA Capital Management and Qiming Venture Partners, S2S China is the China chapter of Science2Startup, an invitation-only symposium connecting top academic researchers with leading biotech investors. Ten standout biotech startup teams were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants. They will refine their projects through a dedicated mentorship program and pitch to top global venture investors at an on-site event held at Westlake University on October 15.

S2S was founded in 2018 by F-Prime, SV Health and Atlas Venture; RA Capital Management, Osage University Partners and 5AM Ventures have since joined the program. It connects therapeutics researchers at top academic and research institutions with leading biotech investors, pharma scouts, and industry executives. The program provides selected teams with mentorship and a platform to present novel, proprietary science with a path toward company formation and clinical development.

This year's S2S China drew enthusiastic participation from researchers and early-stage founders across China's therapeutics research ecosystem. Following multiple rounds of rigorous review by an advisory group of experienced biopharma investors, the competition narrowed a large field of submissions to roughly 20 semifinalist teams, and ultimately selected ten standout teams to advance to the finals and present at the October 15 on-site pitch event.

To help the participating teams connect effectively with the capital markets and strengthen their overall project framework, the finalists will take part in a dedicated mentorship program ahead of the event. Over the coming weeks, the teams will work alongside the S2S China Symposium advisory group, made up of experienced biotech investors and industry operators, to refine their scientific plans, sharpen their commercial narratives and polish their pitch content, raising the maturity of each project and laying a solid foundation for the on-site presentations and funding conversations that follow.

This year's S2S China Symposium is supported by prominent figures from academia and the global life sciences investment community, including Shi Yigong, President of Westlake University; Kan Chen, Partner and Healthcare Co-Lead at Qiming Venture Partners; and Josh Resnick, Partner at RA Capital Management. Their deep involvement underscores the symposium's value as a bridge between China's academic research ecosystem and the global biotech venture community, while continuing the model established by the original Science2Startup symposium.

The event brings together a number of globally recognized institutions and biopharma leaders, forming a powerful supporting ecosystem. This year's S2S China Symposium would not be possible without the strong support of leading companies across the industry, including our Platinum Sponsors Goodwin, Eli Lilly and Biocytogen, as well as Johnson & Johnson (Gold Sponsor) and Sanofi (Silver Sponsor). The partnership of our sponsors reflects a shared commitment to advancing early-stage, academically-derived therapeutics innovation from China onto the global stage.

Platinum Sponsors

Goodwin is a global law firm at the intersection of capital and innovation, representing innovators and investors across healthcare, investment funds & capital, life sciences, private equity, real estate, and technology. With more than 2,800 professionals worldwide, Goodwin combines industry knowledge, legal excellence, and business advisory expertise to help clients navigate complex challenges and seize opportunities in a rapidly changing, technology-driven economy. We represent clients throughout the full corporate lifecycle, including company formation, financings, capital markets transactions, licensing and collaborations, M&A, regulatory matters, and exit strategies. Learn more: https://www.goodwinlaw.com/en

Eli Lilly and Company is a global pharmaceutical leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, dedicated to discovering and delivering medicines that make life better for people around the world. With a deep commitment to scientific innovation, Lilly has been an active partner to the region's biotech ecosystem, supporting early discovery through late-stage development across a range of therapeutic areas.

Biocytogen (688796.SH; 02315.HK) is a global biotechnology company discovering and developing next-generation antibody therapeutics across multiple modalities. The company has built a broad portfolio of novel drug candidates spanning monoclonal and bispecific antibodies, ADCs, VHH-based therapeutics, and other antibody-based modalities, with multiple programs advancing into clinical development both internally and through global licensing partnerships. Powered by its proprietary RenMice® platforms and large-scale antibody discovery engine, Biocytogen has generated more than one million fully human antibody sequences across over 1,000 therapeutic targets and established partnerships with more than 455 biopharmaceutical companies worldwide.

Gold Sponsor

Johnson & Johnson is a global healthcare leader, headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, committed to solving the toughest health challenges and transforming lives through research, development, manufacture and distribution of medicines and medical technologies. The company's Innovative Medicine business advances breakthrough science and develops transformational treatments in areas like oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and cardiopulmonary. In MedTech, the company is focused on developing and delivering cardiovascular, surgery, and vision solutions.

Silver Sponsor

Sanofi is a global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Paris, France, dedicated to pursuing scientific breakthroughs that improve people's lives. The company focuses on immunology, oncology, neurology, rare diseases, ophthalmology and vaccines, and maintains a significant R&D and commercial presence in China, where it has long invested in partnerships with local academic and biotech innovators to expand its global pipeline.

More information is available at s2schina.com/s2s/en

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