On April 16, a delegation including Li Xiu, Deputy Director of the Biomedicine Center at the Investment Promotion Bureau of Hefei Economic and Technological Development Area (Hefei ETDA); Dai Qingying, Investment Promotion Officer at the Technology Transfer Office of Hefei Institute for Health Sciences; and Bao Kaixuan, representative of Hefei Industry Investment Life Health, visited Shenzhen Cell Valley for in-depth discussions on biopharma cooperation, research translation, and coordinated development in cell and gene therapy.

During the symposium, the guests highlighted Hefei's innovation ecosystem and development strategy in the life and health industry. A key platform in this landscape is the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center Institute for Health Sciences (Hefei Institute for Health Sciences), a high-caliber research institution jointly initiated by the Anhui Provincial Government and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and led by the University of Science and Technology of China. The institute plays a vital role in bringing together top-tier talent, advancing cutting-edge research, building public technology platforms, and facilitating the transfer of scientific and technological achievements. Aligned with national strategic needs and public health priorities, the institute continuously promotes open access to research resources, working to translate laboratory discoveries into industrial applications and providing strong support for the high-quality development of the regional life and health industry.

Shenzhen Cell Valley welcomed the delegation and provided a detailed overview of its industrial layout in cell and gene therapy, technology platform development, research service capabilities, and clinical translation practices. The two sides engaged in pragmatic discussions on joint research platform development, collaboration on result translation, project implementation, and future synergies in cell therapy and clinical translation of emerging biomedical technologies.

Shi Yuanyuan, Chairman of Shenzhen Cell Valley, noted that Hefei, as a major hub for technological innovation in the Yangtze River Delta, boasts strong research resources, solid industrial foundations, and a favorable policy environment. In particular, high-caliber innovation platforms such as the Hefei Institute for Health Sciences provide robust support for the development of the life and health industry. He expressed hope for strengthened engagement with the institute and Hefei ETDA in areas such as technology transfer, joint platform development, project incubation, and industrial collaboration, working together to drive innovation in the biopharmaceutical sector.