Representatives from the university, the valley's government, and firms based in OVC pose for a group photo at the ceremony on May 26. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

A signing ceremony was held on May 26 to mark the start of cooperation between the East Lake High-tech Development Zone (also known as Optics Valley of China, or OVC) and Hubei University.

Zhang Yongqiang, director of the valley's administrative committee, and Liu Jianping, president of the university, attended the event.

According to the contract signed by the two parties, a biological lab belonging to the university will construct an industry-education-research center and a synthetic biology innovation center with the Wuhan Institute of Industrial Innovation and Development and CABIO Biotech (Wuhan) Co.

The industry-education-research center will be used for talent cultivation, scientific research, commercialization of technology, and the sharing of major scientific facilities. The synthetic biology innovation center will utilize resources from the three construction parties and build a special synthetic biology industrial cluster in Central China.

Hubei University is a key comprehensive university administered by the Hubei Provincial Government and China's Ministry of Education and its reputation, and it is widely recognized in China for its strength in areas related to life and health.