Gateway to China’s medical equipment market

Through our joint venture with Reed Sinopharm, RX is the largest provider of medical and pharmaceutical trade shows and conferences in China, with a portfolio of over 30 events serving the entire healthcare value chain – including animal care!

Every year, thousands of healthcare suppliers and buyers from around the world converge on Shanghai and Shenzhen for the China Medical Equipment Fair (CMEF) to discover the latest technologies, forge strategic partnerships and expand their market reach.

At the last mega event in Shanghai, May 2023, CMEF  brought together over 4,700 exhibiting brands and suppliers to connect with more than 190,000 globally licensed medical equipment distributors, resellers, manufacturers, doctors, regulators and government agencies from over 130 countries. The solutions on show encompassed everything from medical imaging, in-vitro diagnostics, medical electronics and consumables, to hospital construction, operating theatres, infection control and orthopaedics.

For foreign companies seeking to enter or expand into Chinese’s burgeoning healthcare market, CMEF provides unparalleled exposure and access to local distributors, buyers, and key stakeholders. It also offers insights into regulatory compliance requirements, certification processes, and market access strategies, helping companies navigate the complexities of doing business in China's healthcare sector.

In 2022, CMEF extended its healthcare coverage to animals, with the launch of Animal Health China (AHC). With China’s booming economy and rising incomes, as well as changes in pet owners’ perceptions, the pet industry in China is expected to see unprecedented growth over the next 5-10 years becoming a trillion dollar market, creating significant opportunities for international suppliers. The next AHC takes place alongside CMEF 2024, 11-14 April at the National Exhibition and Convention Center, Shanghai.   

Visionary eye care and eyewear

Co-hosted by RX and The Vision Council, Vision Expo (East and West) is the complete event for ophthalmic professionals, “where eye care meets eyewear.” Vision Expo East 2024 celebrated its final show in New York City, March 14-17, before heading to Orlando, Florida in 2025 – and what a show!

The event was a landmark gathering for the eyecare and eyewear industry worldwide, with over 450 eyewear and eyecare companies filling 150,000 square feet of exhibit space. Among the highlights, the sold-out Atelier neighbourhood featured a curated assembly of 75 of the industry’s most prominent designers, not to mention an all-day DJ, complimentary barista coffee service and exclusive giveaways. On the main stage, there was a Special Performance and Q&A with NYC Icon and Grammy® Award-Nominated singer and songwriter Sophie B Hawkins who developed Amblyopia in her right eye in her adolescence; and Flaunt the Frame, a new fashion show featuring independent eyewear, was presented by sponsor VuePoint Media and IMAGINEM magazine.

Visionaries Unveiled featured new disruptive content from industry leaders who are pushing the business boundaries of what's possible in the eyewear sector; and VisionEd, the accredited educational program of Vision Expo, offered 150 brand new courses to help optometrists improve their skills and knowledge and more effectively manage their practices.

“We have been eagerly anticipating our celebratory New York show and are thrilled by the thousands who came to celebrate, unite and do business.  So many great memories, moments and sheer magic have happened at Vision Expo East over the years in,” said Fran Pennella, Vice President of Vision Expo. “We can’t wait to for the show’s exciting evolution in Orlando, Florida in 2025, but in the meantime, we are looking forward to Vision Expo West in Las Vegas this September which promises to be another unforgettable opportunity for the industry to connect and thrive.”

Challenging taboos around women’s health

‘Let’s talk about women’s health’ was the theme of Femtech Tokyo 2023, the second edition of the event that is helping Japanese women to take control of their health and wellbeing at home, and in the workplace.

‘Femtech’ refers to technologies specifically focused on women’s health, covering a broad range of areas from hormonal disorders and period pain to fertility, birth control, sexual wellness, and the menopause. Japan has the highest number of cases of infertility treatment in the world, and long-held taboos around women’s health make it difficult for women to talk openly about what are perceived in Japan to be ‘delicate’ issues. 

The first Femtech Tokyo was held from 20-22 October 2022 to help to disrupt these outdated ideas, drive femtech innovation, and empower women to take control of their wellness. So successful was the event in raising awareness around women’s health, that for 2023, it was extended to incorporate Women’s Mental Health Expo where visitors could participate in stress checks, health consultations and counselling, mental health analysis and visualisation, and more. 

Innovation is key to driving improvements in women’s healthcare, and the winner of the Femtech 2023 Awards was 4Moon, an in-all-one healthcare app that allows women to record and manage their menstrual cycle, menopause symptoms, physical condition, diet and more, through all their life stages.

In 2024, a more comprehensive event for women’s health and empowerment of all ages will take place called Fem+, combining Femtech Tokyo and the Women’s Mental Health Care Expo and incorporating Fem Next, a dedicated area for start-ups that have been established for less than three years and are creating innovative next-generation femtech services. Fem+ will be held at Tokyo Big Sight, Japan, from October 17–19, 2024. 

Shaping the laboratories of the future

Many of the world’s most significant scientific breakthroughs begin in the laboratory – which is why, every year, RX’s Forum Labo brings together the laboratory profession from across Europe to think about and shape the laboratory of tomorrow.

Organised in partnership with CIFL, Forum Labo alternates between Paris and Lyon, bringing together small, medium and large companies, startups, researchers and learned societies, with buyers and lab technicians from the public sector and pharmaceutical, chemical, agri-food, cosmetics and biotechnology industries. It’s a ‘human-sized’ exhibition, proving a friendly space for meetings and exchanges on all aspects of laboratory research, analysis and control.

Forum Labo Paris 2023 attracted 330 exhibitors and 5,818 visitors, generating 776 Lab’Meetings between exhibitors and key industry players. Innovation was at the heart of the event, with 90 new product launched at the event, and 70 applications for the Forum Labo Innovation Trophies and French Start-up Award.

The education programme was distinguished by its rich, multidisciplinary scientific and technical content, with 21 conferences, including the opening conference dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility, and 13 training sessions led by exhibitors. And with employment and recruitment central to the sectors concerns, key associations and educational establishments came together in the ‘Education and Employment’ area to talk about careers and opportunities in the sector, and match candidates seeking employment, training or advice with exhibitors and recruiters. 

Over 260 exhibitors and 3,000 attendees from public and private laboratories are expected to come together for two days of ‘agile innovation’ at Forum Labo Lyon 2024, from 27-28 March at Lyon Convention Centre.

Leading the way in primary healthcare education

RX is a leading provider of primary healthcare education for GPs in Australia, through our series of content-led GPCE (General Practice Conference and Exhibition) events in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne, and ThinkGP, Australia’s largest provider of free, online, accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses.

Widely recognised as one of the most important educational events on the general practice calendar, GPCE delivered its highest attendance in a decade in 2023, providing healthcare professionals across Australia with a comprehensive program of new, independent CPD education and a showcase of the latest medical innovations and solutions on offer from leading healthcare companies.

2023 was a notable year for our ThinkGP team too, who were thrilled to win the ‘Excellence in Education’ award at the Australian life sciences industry’s 2023 PRIME Awards, in collaboration with the completely amazing Liver Foundation. Commenting on the content delivered by ThinkGP and the Liver Foundation, the PRIME Award judges said: “This is an outstanding project with clear results that exceeded targets, set up to help upskill and educate GPs in an area of medicine that is predicted to become the main reason for adult liver transplantation and liver cancer in Australia in the next five years.”

This year’s GPCE series of events kicks off in Sydney in May, where visitors have the opportunity to earn up to 57 CPD hours (39.5 hours onsite and 17.5 hours in post-event activities), connect with their peers, and discover state of the art medical innovations from a vast network of healthcare suppliers – all across one weekend.

Bridging the gap between business and science

Every year, for over 40 years, leading brands and professionals from the world of pharma and biotech have been meeting at INTERPHEX New York, to share ideas, discover new technology, and understand the latest science and its business applications.

Like the industry it serves, INTERPHEX is constantly innovating and learning, and at INTERPHEX 2024 (16-18 April) the team are proud to introduce a transformative, all-new conference that will enrich the meeting experience for attendees.

The INTERPHEX Conference will unfold in the Learning Lab on the exhibit hall floor, combining keynotes and ‘quick fires’ with panel discussions and ‘late breaking’ sessions exploring the latest scientific breakthroughs, their pain points and challenges.

Designed in collaboration with the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), the peer-reviewed scientific presentations will examine a range of hot industry topics including contamination control strategies for cell and gene therapies, 3-D bioprinting, AI applications for formulations, and U.S. FDA regulatory updates.

“The new INTERPHEX Conference is first and foremost about helping our attendees successfully navigate the intersection of their business and advances in the science they work in," Douglas Lugo, Event Director for INTERPHEX, said. “Participants in the INTERPHEX Conference will have exclusive access to the INTERPHEX Learning Lab, and all the insights and ideas that will be discussed there.”

INTERPHEX will showcase new products from more than 450 exhibitors and is set to welcome over 8,000+ industry professionals working across the pharmaceutical product development lifecycle, from scientists and researchers to processing and manufacturing engineers. Conference seats are limited and advance purchase from the INTERPHEX website is recommended.

INTERPHEX New York is one of a global series of INTERPHEX events which also take place in Tokyo, Osaka and Seoul.