Guangzhou Development District recently signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), a world leading research institute on cancer, neuroscience, quantitative biology, plant biology, bioinformatics and genomics.

The two parties have agreed to build the Cold Spring Harbor (Guangzhou) Research Institution, a scientific and technological achievement transformation center and create the Cold Spring Harbor (Guangzhou) Biological Medicine Fund.

The cooperation between Guangzhou Development and CSHL marks the settlement of another world-class bio-science project in Guangzhou after the city introduced projects such as the leading biopharmaceutical and healthcare industrial park GE bio-campus in March and immuno-oncology drugs producer BeiGene in May.

Zhou Yawei (R), director of Guangzhou Development District management committee signs a memorandum of cooperation with Bruce Stillman, CEO of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Aug 16. [Photo/Southcn.com]

The CSHL is deemed as the Holy Land for bioscience and a cradle for molecular biology – with eight researchers from the lab being Noble Prize laureates including James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA in 1953.   

"The cutting-edge research areas of CSHL are in accord with Guangzhou's development of its bio-medicine industry," said a staff member from the Guangzhou Development District investment promotion bureau.

Zhou Yawei, director of the Guangzhou Development District management committee said it is conducive to promoting the world's bio-science technologies, research achievements, talents and investment to aggregate in Guangzhou by cooperating with CSHL.

Guangzhou Development District has become home to more than 600 bio-medicine companies and 580 research institutions, accounting for 50 percent of Guangzhou's total. By the year 2025, the scale of Guangzhou's bio-medicine industry will reach 1 trillion yuan ($150 billion).

An investment promotion delegation from Guangzhou Development District visits Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Aug 16. [Photo/Southcn.com]