In the face of global issues in the life sciences sector, cross-border communication and collaboration are more important than ever. To address this need, CSOFT co-organized the GBA-Health 2020 Panel Discussion on cross border opportunities and challenges in the life sciences, reaching more than 600 life science professionals both live in Shenzhen and online. Today, Sam Olson and Brigid Delaney, employees at CSOFT’s Boston office who helped co-host the panel, share their experience and the insights they gained with our interviewer Jane.
Jane: Thanks for joining us today, Sam and Brigid! To start off, what was it like hosting a panel that had both an online and offline component?
Sam: Thanks for sitting down and giving us the opportunity to share our experience! Because the panel contained both offline and online elements, it was a very eye-opening and informative experience to say the least! To host the panel, Brigid and I worked with two other co-hosts that were live in Shenzhen: Aaron Liu, who works at CSOFT’s Shenzhen Office, and Ada Xu, a well-known news anchor in Shenzhen. Given that we were unable to coordinate everything in person, we had to quickly adapt to scheduling meetings in different time zones.
Brigid: Yes, there was quite a lot of cross-border collaboration and communication that went on behind the scenes as hosts, which is fitting for a panel that focused on cross-border collaboration and communication! We collaborated closely with the China team on multiple elements to pull the panel off, from editing the script with our co-hosts Aaron and Ada, as well as working in partnership with the IT team to share Power Point slides in Shenzhen. After co-hosting this event, both of us came away with a greater appreciation of how important cross-border communication is for cross-border collaboration, both within and outside the life science industry.
Jane: That’s interesting! Going more in-depth on the theme of cross-cultural communication and cross-border collaboration and the offline-online aspect of the panel, how do you see technology influencing cross-border collaboration and communication in the future, particularly in the life sciences?
Sam: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cross-border collaboration certainly looks a bit different now. However, I also think holding combined online-offline event like the GBA-Health 2020 Annual Panel Discussion made me realize how much using video conferencing technology and broadcasting platforms simultaneously technology can enhance cross-border communication and cross-cultural collaboration in the face of fewer opportunities for in-person meetings. Just like our panelists said during the event, knowledge sharing is a key aspect of cross-border collaboration. Even though our panelists couldn’t attend the panel live in Shenzhen, they were still able to use technology to share their knowledge with life science professionals around the world.
Brigid: Yes, it was amazing to see how it allowed us to connect panelists living in different areas with an audience both live in Shenzhen and online to have a fascinating conversation on the importance of cross-cultural communication and collaboration in the life sciences! We were even able to have simultaneous interpretation for our online panelists on the ground in Shenzhen, as well as a way for online audience members to submit questions to the panelists to ensure everyone could equally participate in and benefit from the discussion! In the end, although we were not able to hold the panel in-person, a well-considered use of the hybrid technology allowed us to continue to share knowledge and communicate and collaborate across borders and languages.
Jane: Those are some fascinating insights! In closing, what else would you like to share today about your experience?
Sam: After experiencing first-hand the importance of cross-border collaboration and communication, I hope that this event can impress the importance of cross-cultural communication and collaboration in the minds of life science professionals. As time goes on, the challenges we face become more global. This is especially true in the life sciences, where global health, diseases, and disorders impact everyone, regardless of where they live or which languages they speak. In order to solve these global issues in the life sciences sector, there needs to be strong collaboration across borders. However, for cross-border collaboration to truly work, effective cross-cultural communication must be present.
Brigid: Going off of what Sam, said, I hope this panel inspired those in the audience to see the crucial role that communication plays in facilitating cross-border collaboration and seek out ways to strengthen global collaborations with cross-cultural communication. When cross-border collaboration occurs, and medical conditions or parts of the world that may have been previously overlooked or received less focus can receive the attention and care they deserve. When these new regions or issues are explored further, true innovation can occur.
Jane: Thank you for sharing your experiences and insights with us today, Brigid and Sam! It’s clear from our conversation that cross-border communication is vital in cross-border collaboration, especially in the life sciences! In addition to the panel on November 19th, CSOFT is also holding two workshops on Driving Successful CTD Submissions with the NMPA (December 9th, 7:30-8:30 AM EDT) and Building Visibility for Your Brand in Global Markets (December 10th, 7:30-8:30 AM EDT).
About CSOFT Health Sciences
CSOFT Health Sciences provides end-to-end medical translations for all phases of the product lifecycle, from pre-clinical to post-launch. We also specialize in market access consulting, medical writing, and CTD/eCTD submissions with the FDA, EMA, and NMPA. Our operations are compliant with ISO 17100 and certified in ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016, ensuring our customized solutions meet the rigorous regulatory requirements of global submissions.
About CSOFT
CSOFT International is a leading provider of cross-border communications for enterprises seeking growth in global markets. Our expertise in localization, documentation, and branding encompasses a full range of end-to-end content and consulting services that we deliver in over 250 languages. With a focus in health sciences and smart technology, we work closely with our clients to deliver precision solutions to the challenges of engaging markets, consumers, and regulatory environments worldwide.