The Industry Summit Forum of Guangming Science City saw the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement between SZBL and Huawei on the morning of July 2. This strategic cooperation aims to integrate the leading strengths of the two parties in biotechnology (BT) and information technology (IT) and to promote frontier science and innovation which can boost economy and serve national strategic demands. SZBL leadership including Wu Yun-Dong, Hu Xiaojun and Tu Huan attended the signing event.
According to the agreement, SZBL and Huawei will conduct in-depth cooperation in biomedicine, molecular imaging, neurodegenerative disorders, intellectual property and technology transfer. Joint efforts will be promoted to strengthen the application of scientific and technological innovation, and to address key technological issues hindering industry development. Cooperation will center around national strategic demands, research programs, promotion of technology innovation and transformation, academic exchanges, and construction of joint intelligent laboratory or industrial park.
Wu Yun-Dong, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and also Executive Vice Director of SZBL, delivered a speech. He said that the signing of cooperation symbolizes an important outset from which SZBL joins hands with Huawei to build up a digital ecosystem. He also expressed hopes that the cooperation would become great sources for future scientific achievements and fuel the development of life science industries in the Greater Bay Area.
Guo Ping, Huawei's Rotating Chairman, who introduced the company’s consistent strategy of continuously creating value for customers and partners, said in his speech that this partnership with Guangming District and SZBL marks Huawei's taking further steps in joining the construction of the Guangming Science City. In the future, Huawei will develop closer collaborative ties with life sciences and smart manufacturing industries in Guangming, Guo added.
Gao Yiqin, SZBL senior scientist and professor at PKU, highlighted a scientific achievement through the cooperation with Huawei. This cooperation has developed a molecular simulation library called SPONGE, a new generation of the Huawei MindSpore. SPONGE becomes the first-ever molecular simulation computing framework to go open source in China. In its long-term scheme, SPONGE will further implement AI technology, notably big data and deep learning, and strive to be the next generation of molecular simulation computing software representing the technological upheaval of the supercomputing era.
A summit forum was held after the signing ceremony. Sun Yongkui, Member of the National Academy of Engineering and also Head of the SZBL Institute of Biomedical Health Technology and Engineering, was invited to give a keynote report on "The Historic Mission of Innovative Medicines in China". Sun talked about the current status of China in the global pharmaceutical market. He pointed out that more efforts, including funding, talent, law and policy support, should be invested to promote the contribution of innovative drugs in clinical practices, and by doing so, to stimulate China’s innovative drug R&D with the goal of combating diseases.
