• AstraZeneca (AZ)

One of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, AstraZeneca is headquartered in London. In 2006sales reached $26.5 billion and in 2007 the company was ranked 252 on the Fortune 500 list.

With 27 manufacturing sites in 19 countries,  over 65,000 employees worldwide and,  sales in over 100 countries, the company provides innovative, effective medicines designed to fight disease in important areas of medical need: cancer, cardiovascular, central nervous system, gastrointestinal, infection, pain control and respiratory.

AstraZeneca spends $16 million every working day on research and development (total R&D spend in 2006: $3.9 billion) with a strong pipeline, including a number of significant innovations. It employs 12,000 people in research and development at 16 R&D centers in 8 countries. Nine Nobel Prize scientists closely co-operated with AZ to carry out research and develop innovative medicines in successive years.

As its contribution to the PiHI Programme, AZ China is delivering the “HELP” project, run in collaboration with Churchill College, Cambridge University, and the International Co-operation Department of MoH, China.

• Bupa

Founded in1947, with the principle of preventing, relieving and curing sickness and ill health of every kind, Bupa is a leading specialist health and care company in the UK. It now has operations in 10 countries and regions across three continents, and as many as 8.2 million customers in 190 countries worldwide.

Bupa established its Representative Office in Beijing in  August 2006]. Since then, Bupa has conducted thorough research into Chinese consumers’ healthcare attitudes and needs, the Chinese healthcare system and the insurance industry in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

Under the PiHI Programme, Bupa's Managing Quality Service project includes three phases: evaluation of the facility, identification of areas to be further improved, and support in quality improvement initiatives. The first initiative - the evaluation of the International Medical Center of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital - was completed in January 2008, with two training modules delivered to its staff.

• Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK)

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a research-based world leading pharmaceutical company headquartered in London and with over 100,000 employees in 117 countries/regions develops and produces market-leading prescription medicines in the therapeutic areas including asthma, virus control, infections, mental health, diabetes and digestive conditions. GSK is also a leader in the area of vaccines, supplying one quarter of the world's vaccines. The global sales of the company reached USD45.4 billion in the year 2007.

As a leading R&D based company, GSK has one of the largest R&D systems in the industry.  More than 15,000 scientists work in its research teams to discover new medicines, spending about USD 6 billion a year.

GSK was among the first multinational pharmaceutical companies to invest in China and now is one of the largest in the country. They have 4 manufacturing facilities, one holding company, and one RD centre employing over 3,000 people.

GSK was also one of the first companies to invest in local R&D and the investment totalled more than RMB 1 billion. GSK set up its first global R&D Centre in Shanghai in 2007 and it will grow to be one of the biggest in GSK.

During the company’s over twenty years of development in China, GSK has also played a very active role in supporting healthcare projects and public health initiatives. The total value of donations in the form of equipment, funding and medicines has exceeded RMB100 million. 

• HCA International Hospitals (HCA)

HCA International Hospitals is the largest independent healthcare provider in London which offers expert clinical care across an extensive range of specialities to all its patients.

The group currently holds six leading private hospitals, which attract world-class doctors and consultants from London’s eminent teaching hospitals. These include the Harley Street Clinic Hospital which has an international reputation as an acute care hospital;  the Lister Hospital which offers a wide range of specialised medical, surgical and diagnostic services to its many overseas patients; the London Bridge Hospital which is well-known for its cardiac surgery; the Portland Hospital, the only hospital in London dedicated entirely to women and children; the Princess Grace Hospital, one of the best equipped multi-disciplinary private hospitals in London; and the Wellington Hospital, the largest private hospital in the UK.  All these hospitals have been managed by HCA to deliver consistently high levels of professional and personal care to all their patients.

Apart from its healthcare services, HCA is also committed to enhancing professional relationships and promoting experience exchange at an international level.  The group has already successfully organised a high level orthopaedic forum for leading orthopaedic surgeons from both countries in Beijing in December 2007. 

• Health Protection Agency(HPA)

The Health Protection Agency (HPA), an independent body that protects the health and well-being of the population, was established in 2003 and incorporated in UK legislation on 1 April 2005.

The Agency plays a critical role in protecting people from infectious diseases and in preventing harm when hazards involving chemicals poisons or radiation occur. It provides an integrated approach to protecting UK public health through the provision of support and advice to the NHS, local authorities and emergency services.

The Agency was involved in preparing London’s bid to host the 2012 Olympics and is now leading on public health emergency preparedness for 2012. 

• London Ambulance Service NHS Trust (LAS)

The London Ambulance Service (LAS) is the largest free ambulance service in the world, caring for more than one and a half million patients every year. It is the only London-wide NHS Trust and is at the frontline of the NHS in the capital.

We have two main functions - the provision of an Accident and Emergency service to respond to 999 calls and the Patient Transport Service, which performs an important role in taking patients to and from their hospital appointments. In addition, we also manage the Emergency Bed Service, which co-ordinates registers of specialised care facilities available across London, along with some national monitoring services.

The Trust serves an area of approximately 620 square miles and employs over 4000 staff. Nearly 77% of staff are based at 70 ambulance stations across London. They respond to over 1.5million calls a year for assistance. 

As a key player in supporting the London Olympics games in 2012, the LAS has initiated a programme to gear itself up for the substantial increase in demand for its services anticipated as a consequence of the huge influx of people to London during the run up to, during and in the aftermath of the Games. 

• The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

The Institution of Engineering and Technology was formed by the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) and the Institution of Incorporated Engineers (IIE) in 2006 and now has more than 150,000 members, within 128 countries worldwide. It is the largest professional engineering society in Europe and the second largest of its type in the world. Apart from the head-office in London, it has offices in Beijing, New-Jersey, Hong Kong and Bangalore.

IET set up its Beijing office in June 2005. Currently the Institution has branches established in Beijing and Shanghai and plans to set up a North-west and a North-east branch in 2008. With IET Younger Member Sections’ gradually forming, the Institution has experience of technical seminars and campus events. 
The Faraday lecture was established in 1924 to commemorate the life and work of Michael Faraday. With 75 years history, the Faraday lecture has become the largest science lecture tour in the UK. On April 2007, the Faraday lecture first came to China - with 4 shows in Beijing and Shanghai with theme “Winning Formula”. Thanks to the enthusiastic support from all social circles, the show achieved unprecedented success.
IET Faraday 2008, “Technology for Life” is a series of free events for school children aged between 11 and 16, around the theme of engineering in Health. The events will be dynamic, engaging and exciting and will include a number of short, specially made films and practical demonstrations. IET Faraday 2008 is part of the PiHI Programme.

Project website:  www.theiet.org/Faraday