The Shimadzu 8^th Global Pharma Summit 2021, the global flagship pharma event of Shimadzu was organized on 19^th November 2021 by Shimadzu (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd. The event provided a platform for the global pharma industry to network, share and discuss strategies for the future. The Shimadzu Global Pharma Summit is held once every 2 years physically in Singapore and witnesses the who’s who of the pharma industry converge at the iconic Marina Bay Sands for a 3-day extravaganza.

This year the summit was held “Phygitally” (physically + digitally), which is a first-of-its-kind by an analytical instrument manufacturer anywhere in the world. The milestone event witnessed over 2000 global pharma leaders from over 100 global pharma organisation from 18 countries join hands to formulate strategies to transform their businesses using Pharma Digital Transformation or Pharma DX.

The global pharma industry is often plagued by hurdles like adapting to the current rapid acceleration in technology or “Tech-celeration” fuelled by the advent of COVID-19. This tech-celeration has created a dire need among pharma companies to quickly adopt digital transformation. Shimadzu, whose Corporate Philosophy is Contributing to Society Through Science and Technology, completely understands this crucial need of the hour.

The global analytical and medical technology leader organized the 8^th edition of the Shimadzu Global Pharma Summit with the theme "Pharma Digital Transformation" or “Pharma DX”.

The online portal showcased an immersive 3D environment. Shimadzu was able to re-create and broadcast the entire experience of a physical summit over the internet on the site www.shimadzupharmasummit.com. Key VIPs and industry leaders joined physically at multiple locations across India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka along with attendees from various parts of the world like the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia. 

Dr Teruhisa Ueda, President and CEO, Shimadzu Corporation Japan, highlighted that, “In today’s New Normal, we wish that by combining our award-winning technologies along with your expertise and experience, we could work together and address the challenges that the pharma industry faces and Realise" 

Launch of the World’s First Living LC

The Shimadzu 8^th Global Pharma Summit 2021 also saw the unveiling of the World’s First Living LC. This UHPLC-ready LC, which is as dynamic and intelligent as life itself, is the first-in-line of many soon-to-come “Living Instruments”. These instruments will showcase pioneering innovations and autonomous features like Self-Optimising, Self-Adapting and Self-Learning abilities and are designed keeping in mind the futuristic Smart Labs. The Living LC and other Living Instruments will play a crucial role in enabling in Pharma DX and transforming Pharma 4.0 now and in the near future as well. 

Mr Prem Anand, Executive Officer and Senior General Manager, Shimadzu (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, said that “We are happy to introduce to you Shimadzu’s Advanced i-Series, The World’s First Living LC. This ground-breaking instrument is a masterpiece of our Excellence in Science and is a fusion of all of Shimadzu’s innovations over the past 146 years. We want you to future-proof your laboratories and drive towards Zero Waste with our Living LC.”

Usher in the era of Pharma 4.0

Shimadzu’s aim with the Shimadzu 8^th Global Pharma Summit 2021 was to reinforce its position as a Key Leader in Pharma 4.0 and expand its outreach significantly. 

Mr Tetsuya Tanigaki, Managing Director, Shimadzu (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, Singapore said, “This year the theme of the summit is Pharma DX showcases a wide range of trending topics from AI Deep Learning to Robotics and from Continuous Manufacturing to Living Technology. Pharma Summit will provide you with the experience and tools to undertake Digital Transformation in your business. This event is a reflection of our corporate philosophy of Contributing to Society Through Science and Technology and it is with this philosophy that we look forward to partnering you on your Pharma DX journey.” 

The Shimadzu 9^th Global Pharma Summit would be organized in 2023. It would be focussed on the most pertinent challenges that the pharma industry would encounter in the next two years.