Staff members with KingMed Diagnostics, a major third-party medical laboratory group, work in a genome testing center in the company's laboratory. The company is located on Guangzhou International Bio Island. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Guangzhou Development District, located in Huangpu district of Guangzhou in South China's Guangdong province, is dedicated to developing its biopharmaceutical industry to lead economic development. Based on innovation-driven strategies, the district is cultivating a biomedicine industrial cluster, as well as constructing a modern development environment.

The 10th China Bioindustry Convention and the First Guangzhou International Biological Forum is being held from July 3-5 in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, to highlight the policies, innovations, technologies and investments of the industry.

At the same time, a subforum is held on Guangzhou International Bio Island. Organizers announced that the Guangzhou International Biological Forum will permanently be located on Guangzhou International Bio Island.

Held by the Chinese Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology as well as the management committee of Guangzhou Development District, the conference was expected to attract more than 300 participants.

In 2016, the gross industrial output of medium-sized and large enterprises in the biological and healthcare industry in the district hit 52.3 billion yuan ($7.72 billion).

The district has introduced several major projects involved in the bioindustry, such as KingMed Diagnostics, a major third-party medical laboratory group, and General Electric's bio-campus.

The district has also attracted research institutes focusing on biological and healthcare science, providing academic support. Emphasizing individualized healthcare services, their study subjects range from gene testing services and accurate diagnostic reagents production to targeted drugs applied in precise diagnosis and treatment.

Thanks to five years of deepening cooperation among the local government, enterprises and research institutes, synergies in the bioindustry have gradually emerged, according to officials at the district.

Guangzhou Science City, Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City and Guangzhou International Bio Island are the three main bodies of Guangzhou Development District to gather bioindustry enterprises.

More than 430 bioindustry enterprises have settled in Guangzhou Science City and Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City has introduced a high-end tumor treatment center. Bio Island, well-known for its activities in the precise diagnosis and treatment industry, has attracted 140 enterprises.

A bird's view of Guangzhou International Bio Island.[Photo by Chen Jialin/provided to China Daily]

To facilitate the construction of industrial clusters, the district has proposed beneficiary policies to support innovation, introduce high-end professionals, establish cooperation ties with global institutes and optimize investment environment, according to the local government.

The bioindustry in Guangzhou is embracing an exciting development period, said Eric Green, director of the National Human Genome Research Institute in the United States.

Green said that in the field of biomedical research, China has no doubt been involved in global cooperation. He visited biomedical corporations in Guangzhou that had technological standards and frontiers of research that showcase China's power to participate in genetic studies.

Recently, the construction of a General Electric bio-campus kicked of in Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City. The GE bio-campus is planned as a leading biopharmaceutical and healthcare industrial park. BeiGene, an international company specialized in immuno-oncology drugs for cancer, also signed an investment agreement with Guangzhou Development District.

Duan Xiaoying, chief executive officer of GE China, said at the GE bio-campus' groundbreaking event: "We (GE and Guangdong) have the same goal - building a biomedicine industry cluster in South China, and together boost the development of China's biopharmaceutical industry.

"Hopefully, by sharing the two parties' resources and complementing advantages, we can build GE bio-campus into world-level biopharmaceutical ecosphere, and inject greater momentum into a new round of regional economic development, industrial upgrade and Made in China 2025 strategy."

liyou@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 07/04/2017 page15)