GUi and Hefei science center unite to advance biotech transformation

The third session of the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center innovation salon opened at the Institute of Health and Medicine, bringing together scientists, entrepreneurs, and investors to discuss breakthroughs in biomedicine from laboratory research to market-ready products.

Jointly hosted by the Institute of Health and Medicine and GUiTEK Service Platform, the event focused on challenges and opportunities in Hefei's health industry.

As Jin Tengchuan, assistant director of the Institute of Health and Medicine, noted, "China has made major progress in structural biology and cell therapy, yet few domestically developed drugs have reached pharmacy shelves." The bottleneck lies in the long, capital-intensive path from scientific discovery to clinical application.

Jin delivers a speech on behalf of the institute. [Photo/GUi]

Yu Qianfeng, co-founder of Anhui Bingqi Life Technology, described this gap: "Scientific breakthroughs come from research, but commercialization follows a completely different logic."

To bridge that gap, the Institute of Health and Medicine offers state-of-the-art facilities and has launched an industrial investment fund to support biotech startups.

Companies like Bingqi benefit from the institute's shared equipment, professional research and development support, and collaborative environment — reducing both costs and time-to-market.

This system encourages scientists to start companies with institutional support, while allowing entrepreneurs access to scientific resources, with a vision to nurture participants and foster sustainable growth.

Jin emphasized that the biotech industry needs long-term, patient capital, calling for investors to look beyond quick returns toward industries that deeply impact human well-being.

In this transformation, Grand Union of Innovation (GUi) serves as a vital innovation connector — linking laboratories with production lines, scientists with entrepreneurs, and local resources with global markets. Its value lies not only in providing financial support but in enabling cross-disciplinary collaboration.

The partnership between the national science center and GUi represents more than just industrial coordination, as Hefei continues to expand its biomedical ambitions.

With scientists, investors, and industries advancing in step, Hefei is poised to pioneer an "Anhui solution" for global health innovation, bringing more smart medicines made in Anhui to the world.

Representatives join in-depth discussions at the salon. [Photo/GUi]