Bio industry incubation center tightens Guangzhou-Israel cooperation

The Guangzhou Sino-Israel Bio Industry Incubation Center was launched in Guangzhou International Bio Island on August 6, embracing its first two projects for incubation.

The Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center and Israel's Neurotech Solutions will jointly develop attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) screening tools.

"We would do this important task with the help of leading institutes in leading positions in China. We are honored and happy to announce here, that we have the first science collaboration with such an entity, the Woman and Children's Medical Center in Guangzhou," said Ohad Lavi, CEO of Neurotech Solutions, in a video message shown at the ceremony.

The opening ceremony of Guangzhou Sino-Israel Bio Industry Incubation Center is held on Aug 6. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The two sides will also explore approaches to technological commercialization and mechanisms for innovation cooperation, said Li Qingfeng, deputy president of the Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center.

Guangzhou Alagen Pharmaceutical Co will develop pharmaceuticals for treating hemangioma in small children.

The cooperation between China and Israel in biotechnology in Guangzhou International Bio Island was forged in late 2012.

The Guangzhou Development District, where the bio island is located, was approved by the National Development and Reform Commission in 2013 as one of the four key regions in China for high-tech industrial cooperation between the two countries, according to Xian Yinsong, executive deputy chief of Huangpu district.

The Guangzhou Sino-Israel Bio Industry Investment Fund of 606 million yuan ($88.8 million) was launched in 2015, and has since financed four projects with a total of 150 million yuan.

An office of the Guangzhou government for technological innovation cooperation with Israel opened in Tel Aviv last year.

Direct flights between Guangzhou and Tel Aviv were inaugurated on August 2.