Chongqing - Chongqing’s universities are accelerating the journey from laboratory discovery to market-ready products, with several research projects recently gaining national attention. From new fruit varieties to wearable lighting and next-generation biometrics, campus innovations are increasingly shaping everyday life.

"Kangmeixian No.1” black tomato. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

Colorful Tomatoes Gain Market Traction

At a supermarket in Chongqing’s Guanyinqiao area, shoppers were surprised to find a nearly black tomato priced at 100 yuan per kilogram — and even more surprised that it sells out quickly. The “Kangmeixian No.1” tomato, rich in anthocyanins, lycopene, and vitamin C, is part of a “multicolored tomato” series bred by Professor Li Jinhua’s team at Southwest University.

Using traditional hybrid breeding rather than genetic modification, the team has created yellow, green, and black tomatoes with improved taste, resilience, and nutritional value. Nearly 20,000 mu (about 1,333 hectares) of these specialty varieties are now planted in Chongqing, Guangxi, and Yunnan. Some have entered major supermarket chains and even Michelin-listed restaurants.

Li’s team is exploring next-generation functional vegetables, including experiments with grafting tomatoes onto goji berry rootstocks.

Professor Li Jinhua (in green) with his team at the tomato cultivation base. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

Wearable Emergency Light Reaches 100 Million Yuan in Sales

A simple idea sparked one of Chongqing University of Technology’s biggest commercial successes. In 2022, Professor Liu Feng and colleagues wondered whether emergency lights could be redesigned to free users’ hands. Their solution: a clip-on, wearable lamp.

The resulting “Xiaofangxia” series launched in 2023 with red and white dual lighting and quickly became a bestseller. The 2024 upgraded “Pro” model features high- and low-beam modes, stronger brightness, and a 360-degree rotating clip suitable for clothes, backpacks, and outdoor use.

In just one year, cumulative sales exceeded 100 million yuan (about 14.06 million USD), despite numerous imitations. Liu says the original still leads competitors in durability and portability.

Wearable clip-on emergency light. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

Finger-Vein Recognition Expands Commercial Applications

At Chongqing Technology and Business University, opening an office door requires only placing a hand near a sensor. The finger-vein technology behind it was developed by Professor Qin Huafeng and his team, who have built a full suite of biometric products, including smart locks, payment systems, and campus access platforms.

The system, which analyzes vein patterns using near-infrared light, offers fast and secure authentication and is already deployed in banks, security facilities, schools, and automotive projects in more than 50 locations across China.

To commercialize the technology, Qin’s team co-founded a company, now valued at over 20 million yuan and recognized as a national high-tech enterprise.

Finger-vein recognition technology used in school offices. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

Policy Support Boosts Technology Transfer

Chongqing has introduced wide-ranging reforms to encourage universities to translate research into practical applications. The city’s 67,000 university researchers now benefit from flexible mechanisms that allow them to engage in technology transfer without giving up their positions or professional benefits.

Current policies include: Allowing researchers to retain up to 80% of technology-transfer revenue — among the highest rates in China; Establishing national and municipal university science parks; Supporting “use first, pay later” mechanisms for early-stage technologies; Encouraging cross-campus and university-industry collaboration.

Professor Liu Feng and his team from Chongqing University of Technology. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

These measures aim to clear the “last mile” from scientific discovery to industrial adoption.

As Chongqing’s universities continue to expand the impact of their research, more innovations — from specialty crops to smart devices — are expected to move from the lab to the marketplace, making science more tangible and accessible to the public.