Chongqing- On May 10, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) unveiled the country's first bioeconomy five-year plan during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) to promote high-quality bioeconomic development. 

According to the plan, a series of scientific and technological innovations and reform pilot projects will be carried out in biomedicine, bio-agriculture, bioenergy, and biological environmental protection to promote China's bioeconomic growth. 

According to an NDRC official, based on the protection of biological resources and life science and biotechnology progress, the bioeconomy features deep integration of medicine, health, agriculture, forestry, energy, environmental protection, materials, and other industries. 

Key areas 

In terms of the pilot area's construction, the plan emphasizes some key areas and regions, including the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area, and the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle. 

These key areas contributed to China's bioeconomy with significant achievements in its innovation and development in recent years. About 80% of listed companies, 90% of national first-class new drugs, and 85% of special-approved medical device products come from these regions. 

With the advantages of a complete biological industry system, solid scientific research foundation, abundant medical resources, and a high degree of internationalization, Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Guangdong, the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle should take the lead in building the bioeconomy innovation highland with global competitiveness and influence, according to the plan. 

Bio-economy of Chongqing

Located in Southwestern China, Chongqing Municipality has its foundation and deployment in the bio-economy industry. 

Data show that the city's pharmaceutical industry achieved an 11.9% year-on-year increase in industrial output value in 2021, with more than 400 newly registered pharmaceutical products. 

In March, the municipal government issued a series of initiatives to promote biomedical industry development, addressing that Chongqing aims to build a large-scale pharmaceutical industry worth more than 200 billion yuan (about 29.48 billion dollars). 

The document also puts forward two key development directions for biological drugs and digital medical devices, aiming to build a national biopharmaceutical industry cluster and five industry bases in Liangjiang New Area, High-tech Zone, Changshou Jingkai District, Fuling District, and Dadukou District. 

When it comes to the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, Yao Shujie, a Chongqing University professor, considered that both places enjoy access to rich resources of energy, environment, biotechnology, planting technology, and so on. The plan's issuance supports both places to spur the bio-economy and promote high-quality development of the sector. 

The bio-economy is highly technical and requires national efforts to affect the scale. "The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Chengdu-Chongqing Shuangcheng Economic Circle have advantages in talents, platforms, innovative resources, and advanced technologies, prompting an unexpected future, he said.