Hangzhou on bio-industry fast track

Hangzhou Future Sci-Tech City, a new urban district featuring clusters of innovative startups in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, is shaping up to become a center for the development of biomedicine, local media reported.

The area is home to over 460 bio companies with annual revenue exceeding 2 billion yuan ($289.8 million), as well as 48 national and 77 provincial high-level overseas biological economy talents, accounting for 35 percent and 40 percent of the total in the region, respectively.

"It is unbelievable, and I couldn't be more thankful for Hangzhou Future Sci-Tech City. It is a magical place," said Song Ning, CEO of Hangzhou Diagens biotechnology Co Ltd.

Song, a graduate of Shanghai Jiaotong University and Nagasaki University of Japan, started the company in Hangzhou three years ago. It has since grown into a world leading company in human chromosome analysis with dozens of core patented technologies.

Liu Dong, a senior researcher in US Silicon Valley was first introduced to Hangzhou Future Sci-Tech City in 2013 when it was scouting for talents in the US. After talking with staff, he was impressed by the area's professional services and decided to move back home. He established a pharmaceutical firm months later.

Liu conducted R&D on anti-anemia small molecule chemical drugs, which requires a professional test site, but he soon ran into problems in renting a laboratory since the ordinary office buildings couldn't meet his requirements in terms of height and safety for drug testing.

For entrepreneurs, initial startup capital is critical, especially in the biomedical industry, where professional investors and firm support are needed. Efficiency is also important because scientific research is a race against time. It would be a shame if the research was delayed due to funding issues, said Liu.

Luckily, with the help of Sci-Tech City, Liu received support from Zhejiang University in the form of a 100-square-meter laboratory.

Discussing the rapid development of the biomedical industry in the city, Xu Laiying, a local official, said he believes that as a startup platform, the city tries to put itself in the shoes of each entrepreneur and provides innovative services.

Health Valley, covering an area of 6,000 square meters in the sci-tech city, serves as a public sharing platform where biomedical entrepreneurs can research biomedicine.

"In the coming years, the sci-tech city will accelerate cooperation with universities and enterprises so as to improve the biomedical industrial chain," said Xu, adding that the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University Yuhang Branch will be put into operation soon.

As an international comprehensive hospital with 1,200 beds, it is expected to accelerate the transformation of biomedical research and development, Xu said.