IBSA’s Board of Directors visited the Chinese subsidiary

One of the objectives of the Group’s governance is to strengthen strategic and decision-making alignment between Headquarters and subsidiaries; and it is precisely within this context that the IBSA Group’s Board of Directors visited the Chinese subsidiaries, industrial hubs and reference sites for the Group’s international operations.

The visit, which took place in May and included the sites in Huashan (Qingdao) and Lanshan (Rizhao), in the province of Shandong, was a valuable opportunity to reaffirm China’s strategic role in the Group’s global activities, particularly in the fields of reproductive and osteoarticular medicine.          

BUILDING CONNECTIONS THROUGH EXCHANGE

During the visit, the Board of Directors explored ongoing projects, visited production facilities, and met local teams. This exchange between governance and management offered the opportunity to assess progress and, at the same time, strengthen the relationship between the parent company and one of its most important production sites.

The interaction between the Headquarters delegation and the local teams was rich and engaging, revealing a strong sense of belonging and motivation. Although unable to attend in person, Arturo Licenziati himself – President of the Group – joined the meetings virtually, reinforcing the leadership’s commitment and closeness to its international subsidiaries.

As Alessandro Ruggiero, IBSA’s General Secretary, stated: “The sense of belonging and the motivation that we witness in our Chinese subsidiaries is clear proof of the importance of nurturing harmony among all the Group’s members. The Board of Directors plays a key role in this: acting as an instrument of cohesion and synergy, like an orchestra performing in unison to turn a shared vision into shared results”. 

IBSA CHINA: A STORY OF GROWTH AND INNOVATION

This growth journey has been driven by the farsighted vision of IBSA’s President and CEO, Arturo Licenziati, who as early as the 1990s believed in an innovative project centred on a unique purification method and the creation of a supply chain based precisely in the Shandong province, near Qingdao.

In 1998, Qingdao Huashan Biochemical (QHB) was established, becoming the cornerstone of IBSA’s industrial presence in China. QHB soon emerged as a centre of excellence for the production of gonadotropins (hCG and hMG), which are subsequently purified at the Lamone site in Switzerland.

A few years later, the Rizhao Lanshan Biochemicals (RLB) site was added, inaugurated in 2002. RLB is primarily engaged in the production of chondroitin sulphate. Together with QHB, RLB recently obtained the SA8000 ethical re-certification – an international standard for organisations committed to sustainable development, particularly regarding working conditions.

Today, the two facilities occupy more than seven hectares and comprise seven production plants, ten warehouses, two quality control laboratories, two R&D platforms, and a department dedicated to biological testing. Nearly 200 people work across the two sites, supported by corporate welfare policies, recreational spaces, and employee well-being initiatives. These two locations are a concrete example of integration into the local community, underpinned by the early strategic decision to employ a management model based on local and international collaboration.

Almost thirty years since its beginnings, Arturo Licenziati’s vision has become a solid and dynamic industrial reality, continuing to grow and invest in the future.

A CRUCIAL PRESENCE FOR THE FUTURE

Thanks to its significant contribution to the development of therapeutic areas such as fertility and osteoarticular medicine, IBSA China – through its constant commitment to innovation and quality – is now a fundamental part of IBSA’s global strategy.

The warm welcome received by the Board of Directors and the depth of the interaction with the local teams reflected the image of a vibrant, well-integrated organisation, determined to contribute to global progress.