On July 31, the OVC Digital and Intelligent Pathology Industry Development Alliance was founded to serve as a platform for collaboration among relevant enterprises and institutions, aiming to drive innovation and development in the digital and intelligent pathology industry within the Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone (also known as Optics Valley of China, or OVC).

Leading the alliance are 25 companies, including Bripath, Youyun Intelligent Medical and Huada Medical Laboratory. During the alliance's first meeting, the "Charter of the OVC Digital and Intelligent Pathology Industry Development Alliance" was approved and the first council was elected, with Hubei Pathology Technology Co elected as the chairman company.

The traditional pathological sections are converted into high-resolution digital images. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

The alliance will focus on industrial ecosystem development, standards and regulations, academic exchanges and talent development, policy support and access, and market expansion and brand building to enhance collaboration, resource sharing, and industrial upgrades and expansion.

As big data and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies become more prevalent, traditional pathology is rapidly transitioning towards digitization. In digital pathology diagnosis, doctors utilize digital technology to convert traditional pathological sections into high-resolution digital images and employ AI for analysis and diagnosis. This significantly improves the operational efficiency of hospitals' pathology departments and meets the increasing clinical diagnostic needs of remote areas.

Industry insiders note that this year marks the beginning of digital and intelligent pathology, with immense prospects for the development of the industry. The global market has surpassed 300 billion yuan ($41.62 billion), with the domestic market exceeding 70 billion yuan. Hubei province and Wuhan are prioritizing the development of the digital and intelligent pathology industry, with a focus on the Biolake.

"After the establishment of the alliance, connections among companies will become closer, thus accelerating the core technological breakthroughs and commercialization of research outcomes, and ultimately enhancing pathology diagnostic capabilities and services," said a relevant executive.