Chongqing- Chongqing has invested one billion yuan (about 160 million U.S. dollars) to build the world-class Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence. The institute was officially set up and settled in Guangyang Island Smart Innovation Eco-City, according to Chongqing Economic and Technological Development Zone, on March 27.

Guangyang Island Smart Innovation Eco-City, the core and leading area of the Chongqing Eastern Eco-City, is located in the east valley area of Chongqing city proper and the Yangtze Ecological Conservation Island. With a planning area of 168 square kilometers, it is accelerating the layout of science and technology innovation bases, such as key laboratories and technology innovation centers.

In the future, Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence will devote itself to building a series of platforms, including a highland for theoretical research on brain science and intelligence, a source of core technology for the nervous system pharmaceutical industry, a global platform for research and development of advanced instruments, an industry incubator and a gathering place for talents of brain science and intelligence.

Researchers have identified correlations between intelligence within the brain and its functioning. The study of Brain and Intelligence carries out analysis of brain mechanisms, brain-like computing, intelligence research, and development of new drugs, general intelligence, etc., taking computational neuroscience as a bridge.

50 Brain and Intelligence labs to be built

According to the Chongqing Economic and Technological Development Zone, with a total investment of one billion yuan, the construction of Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence involves the Brain Science and Intelligence Frontier Research Institute, Brain Science and Intelligence Institute, Chongqing Clinical Research Hospital, Brain Science and Intelligence Transformation Institute, Exchange Service Comprehensive Institute, and Health Technology Engineer Training Institute.

Based on the layout of the six institutes, the institute will develop functional areas such as an animal center, data center, public service platform, science and art exhibition hall, and science park.

By 2035, the Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence will build 50 laboratories and gather 300 high-level talents in the field of brain science and intelligence.

Furthermore, more than 13 laboratories are expected to be completed in 2022. An investment of 150 million yuan will be put into building laboratories for Sleep and Wakefulness, Memory Principles, Neuroperception and Intelligent Regulation, Neurovascular, Cognitive Disorders, Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Brain Dysfunction, Neurourology, Neurophotonics, and Neural Engineering.

Multidisciplinary innovation teams from China's top universities will be introduced into the institute as well, including Army Medical University, East China Normal University, Chongqing University, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing Normal University, Tsinghua University, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, and Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, etc.

(Cao Kezhi, as an intern, also contributed to this report.)