Chongqing - The Western (Chongqing) Science City as a major initiative serves the needs of national innovation, an inherent requirement of promoting high-quality development and creating a high-quality life. Huang Ailong, Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), president of Chongqing Medical University, addressed the press conference online on 6 March in Beijing and introduced how to build a national technology innovation center in SW China, Chongqing.

The Jinfeng Laboratory is a key project in the Western (Chongqing) Science City, a new type of scientific research institution approved by Chongqing Municipality. As the construction of the building was finished, the laboratory was speeding up to attract leading talents and teams.

"We will provide support from the medical perspective for the Western (Chongqing) Science City to construct a scientific and technological innovation center," said Huang.

National life science innovation center

Jinfeng Laboratory focuses on life science and technology. It is expected to develop state-of-the-art technology with its research groups in three medical research fields, including intelligent pathology, brain science and brain disease, and medical testing.

It has built six public technology platforms, such as a biomedical big data analysis and application center, a biological image information and analysis center, and an experimental animal center.

The laboratory is expected to be the primary innovation source of life and health innovation in Chonqing. Its establishment contributes to the science city and injects vigors into constructing the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle.

Strong support from university and government

Chongqing Medical University, the leading biomedical technology innovation center in Chongqing, provides academic support to the science city to build a biomedical industry cluster that integrates R&D, production, logistics, and sales.

The university has opened green channels for high-level talents. In recent years, it has been home to nearly 100 medical-related talents. During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), the school has cultivated 26 national-level talents and over 230 provincial and ministerial-level talents.

And it will offer the leading scientific and technological teams to build the Jinfeng Laboratory and introduce talents from overseas for it at the same time. 

The university has planned eight medical projects to meet the high standards of the Western (Chongqing) Science City. And three projects - the International Institute of In Vitro Diagnostics of Chongqing Medical University, the National Pediatric Clinical Research Center, and the Chongqing Animal Models Public Innovation Service Center - have been speeding up construction.

It also has built a research and development platform with the government and well-known enterprises, such as the Chongqing International In Vitro Diagnostic Institute and the Western (Chongqing) Health Management Institute.

The university has set a 100-million-yuan ($15.8 million) fund for medical innovation and medical business start-ups. 

An epitome of the Science city

Like the Jinfeng Laboratory, there are seven national key laboratories, nearly 140 municipal key laboratories, and nearly 540 research and development institutions above the municipal level settled in the Western (Chongqing) Science City. And the Science City has built diverse research centers from 28 colleges and universities including Chongqing University, Chongqing Medical University, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute.

Following in the footsteps of Jinfeng Laboratory, the Western (Chongqing) Science City gathers momentum to build a technology innovation center.