As of September 2017, there were 525 CROs in China, of which 248 were clinical service enterprises and 262 non-clinical service enterprises. Location is mainly in Beijing, Shanghai and Jiangsu. 2004-14 was the peak period of CRO development, mainly benefiting from new “drug clinical trial quality management practices involving GCP, GLP and other industry policies. A common feature is that CROs are usually located in industrial parks, and their talent and education resources are abundant.”

China Bio news release, October 30, 2017