Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Nobel Prize winners in the global biological field, representatives of Fortune 500 companies, famous entrepreneurial leaders, well-known experts, and scholars have all gathered in Guangzhou for the 12th China Bioindustry Convention.

Zhong Nanshan, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said the city of Guangzhou has made headway in the transformation of scientific research achievements into commercialized products in the biomedical industry. He also noted that universities and research institutes in the city have paid more attention to basic research.

Basic research attaches great importance to originality. As far as bioindustry is concerned, what the country lacks is ways for basic research to be transformed into a real industry that has a social effect, he said.

"Whether it is relevant government departments, corporate scientific research departments or school scientific research departments, they must strive to turn research results into products that become commodities so that they can be sold and used in the market, bringing economic effects," Zhong said.

Aaron Ciechanover, an Israeli biochemist and former Nobel Prize winner in 2004, said that China can do a better job in its bio-industries. He said that talents play a key role in boosting the precision medicine industry. He added that Guangzhou's strength in precision medicine is constantly improving. He noted that there are many universities and research institutes in Guangzhou, and that he looks forward to working with institutions or companies in Guangzhou in the future.

Thomas R. Gingeras is professor in genomes studies at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. During his interview with local Guangzhou media outlets, he said that the cooperation between his team and Guangzhou is a "natural thing", and that the genetic research by his team may help improve the happiness index of people in the later years of their lives.

"What we are doing is collecting information, understanding the changing of different human genes, and how genetic inheritance is achieved," he said. The professor expressed hope that they could do something to help spread the gene knowledge among children and adults in China.

Other important speakers at the convention include Chen Jianrong, deputy director of the Guangzhou development and reform commission, Shi Yigong, president of Westlake University, and Rocky S. Tuan, president of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The 12th China Bioindustry Convention has the theme of "Toward a new era of biological economy: innovation, benefiting mankind and sustainable development." It got underway in the Guangdong province capital of Guangzhou on June 10 and will run until June 12.

Zhong Nanshan speaks during the 12th China Bioindustry Convention. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]