In some countries more, in some less – in some there will be outright mergers, some others will focus on joint ventures, cooperations or partnerships.
Moreover, local pharmaceutical companies can be highly skeptical about the motivation of foreign pharamceutical companies seeking R&D cooperation, which prevents mutual consensus on establishing collaboration and always results in failures of joint venture and cooperation projects.
This additional function of CROs was strongly encouraged and supported by the Chinese government as part of the CRO industrial development, unlike joint venture and cooperation agreement which might have to undergo stringent government review for approval in many cases.
Taking into account the rising pharmaceutical R&D capabilities in China, seeking help from the Chinese CROs, which was often associated with more benefits and less risks, was preferred by the global companies over joint venture or cooperation of any form.
Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services Group (I&S) is taking a majority stake in the joint venture Tianjin National Water Equipment & Engineering Co Ltd, increasing cooperation with the subsidiary of the North China Municipal Engineering , Design & Research Institute Tianijn, the company says.
This is the first prototype is from Aerosense, a new joint venture Sony announced this summer in cooperation with Japanese automation specialist ZMP.
"We're not looking at mergers, but possible joint ventures or technological cooperation agreements," he said.
Chinese companies are taking a similar tack in aerospace, pursuing joint ventures and technical cooperation agreements alongside acquisitions.
For Electricité de France, the move would enable it to deepen cooperation in a joint venture with Vivendi Environnement in energy services.
This award was funded through the Social and Behavioral Dimensions of National Security, Conflict, and Cooperation competition, a joint venture between the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense from 2009-2012.
