From March 5th to 7th, 2024, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Marine Industry Development Forum and the China-ASEAN Mariculture Industry Development Forum were grandly held at the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai) of Sun Yat-sen University. The forum was co-hosted by Sun Yat-sen University, Xiamen University, and the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), and was organized by the China-ASEAN Seawater Aquaculture Technology "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory. As the first major event held after the official approval of the China-ASEAN Seawater Aquaculture Technology "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory, the forum brought together multiple forces from government, industry, academia, research, and trade to collectively promote scientific and technological innovation cooperation in the China-ASEAN mariculture industry. Additionally, the ceremony for the establishment of sub-centers of the China-ASEAN Seawater Aquaculture Technology "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory and the training demonstration bases was held.
At the event, Haier Biomedical, under the Yingkang Lifesciences banner, and the University of Malaya, a co-building unit of the China-ASEAN Seawater Aquaculture Technology "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory, held a laboratory equipment donation signing and joint laboratory unveiling ceremony. Moreover, Haier Biomedical was also awarded the title of training demonstration base by the China-ASEAN Seawater Aquaculture Technology "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory, adding momentum to the drive for innovation in marine science and technology.
Collaborative Innovation to Build an International Cooperation Platform for Government, Industry, Academia, Research, and Trade
The China-ASEAN Marine Aquaculture Technology "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory, approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology, is the highest-level international science and technology cooperation platform in China. This platform focuses on innovation in frontier marine science and technology and addresses the significant needs for innovation in the development of modern marine industries. It provides crucial technological support for the implementation of the "China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation" and "China-ASEAN Community of Shared Future" strategies.
Professor He Jianguo, Director of the China-ASEAN Marine Aquaculture Technology "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory at Sun Yat-sen University, stated, "The ocean is one of humanity's most important sources of food. China aims to build offshore pastures and a 'blue granary,' hoping that through this conference, we can achieve the sharing of marine aquaculture technology and promote the harmonious development of the industry for the benefit of humanity. In the future, we need to increase investment in research and development, strive to enhance technological capabilities, and make significant contributions to the implementation of China's strategy to become a maritime power."
As one of the co-building units of the China-ASEAN Marine Aquaculture Technology "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory, the University of Malaya, a prestigious university in Malaysia, has established the Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), which is a leader in the field of "Air-Ocean-Land Interactions." To further support the development of the China-ASEAN Marine Aquaculture Technology "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory, Haier Biomedical has donated laboratory equipment to the University of Malaya and jointly established the joint laboratory.
During the signing ceremony for the donation and the unveiling of the joint laboratory, the University of Malaya and Haier Biomedical reached a consensus on the construction of the joint laboratory. The two parties will closely collaborate through industry-academia-research cooperation in areas such as germplasm resource protection, marine aquaculture technology research, and talent cultivation. This collaboration aims to help ASEAN countries establish an advantageous marine aquaculture industry based on modern high-tech, contributing to the harmonious development of the marine aquaculture industry between China and ASEAN countries and making a high-quality contribution to the joint construction of the "Belt and Road."
In addition, Haier Biomedical received the designation of the Training Demonstration Base for the China-ASEAN Marine Aquaculture Technology "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory and participated in the construction of the China-ASEAN Marine Aquaculture Technology Collaboration Network, contributing corporate strength to the coordinated development of talent cultivation and technological innovation in the field of marine aquaculture.
Independent R&D of Core Equipment to Support the Construction of the Joint Laboratory
Innovation in marine aquaculture technology and the application of protecting marine biodiversity require high-quality germplasm resource preservation. In response to the national "Belt and Road" strategy, Haier Biomedical, through independent research and development, has designed and built the largest marine biological resource bank in Asia in collaboration with the China-ASEAN Marine Aquaculture Technology "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory. During the forum, leaders and experts visited the marine biological resource bank for guidance.
As a crucial infrastructure and achievement of the "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory, the marine biological resource bank covers a total area of 800 square meters. It possesses not only the capability for ambient temperature cultivation and ultra-low temperature cryopreservation but also the ability to simultaneously preserve germplasm resources at various levels, including live organisms, strains, compounds, DNA, and more. The facility's automation level is at the forefront internationally.
Haier Biomedical's Smart Automated Biobank Solution Implemented at Marine Biological Resource Bank
According to the staff at the Marine Biological Resource Bank, leveraging Haier Biomedical's smart automated biobank solution, the facility has achieved automation, unmanned operation, and intelligent management of the entire process for millions of marine biological samples, from pre-processing, transportation, to storage and retrieval. Additionally, through digital management, real-time tracking of samples' storage time, location, quantity, and temperature is possible. This significantly strengthens the foundation for the development of the China-ASEAN countries' marine aquaculture industry and global marine biodiversity conservation.
Laboratories are the forefront and stronghold of scientific and technological innovation. As a pioneer in science and technology, Haier Biomedical will continue to play a pivotal role in innovation, accelerating the research and development of key life science technologies and the iterative expansion of scenario solutions. This effort aims to contribute smart solutions towards building a shared future for China and the ASEAN community, and to enhance the quality of the "Belt and Road" initiative, making life better.
