An aerial photo of WHIIID in OVC. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

The life science tool research institution of the Wuhan Institute of Industrial Innovation and Development (WHIIID) was inaugurated and began trial operations on Sept 5 in the East Lake High-tech Development Zone (also known as Optics Valley of China, or OVC).

"The new research institution is in accordance with Wuhan's industrial development direction as well as the interest of the Wuhan Institute of Industrial Innovation and Development and will serve as an excellent model for our country's new-type research centers," said Deng Zixin, honorary president of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Wuhan University.

In addition, the research institution is considered to be the first of its kind in Central China. Xu Tao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has been assigned as the chief scientist of the research institution, which follows market-oriented principles and is co-operated by ABclonal Biotech Co and Shenzhen Huaxin Capital Management Co.

What is a life science tool? Wu Zhicai, president of ABclonal Biotech Co, believes that all facilities, instruments, consumables, reagents, and related services used for biomedicine, medical diagnosis, modern agricultural breeding, food security, medicolegal expertise and other such fields fall under the umbrella of life science tools.

The newly established life science tool research institution will also feature an industrial fund of about 500 million yuan ($72.45 million) financed by WHIIID, ABclonal Biotech Co and Shenzhen Huaxin Capital Management Co. The fund is designed to accelerate the commercialization of related technological achievements.