Hohhot launches construction on Bio-Manufacturing Valley

Hohhot is the capital of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/WeChat account of Qingcheng Rongmei]

Hohhot launched construction on the Bio-Manufacturing Valley and established the Institute of Modern Synthetic Biology on April 26, marking a major step forward in integrating industry, academia, and research in Inner Mongolia's synthetic biology sector.

Following the "One Institute, One Valley, One Center, One Fund" layout – including the Institute of Modern Synthetic Biology, the Bio-Manufacturing Valley, an AI Computing Center for Synthetic Biology, and a Biopharma Industry Fund – Hohhot aims to build a nationally influential synthetic biology innovation hub.

The Valley is being jointly developed by the Hohhot Economic and Technological Development Zone, the Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen (AGIS), and the North Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Innovation Center of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Using strengths in gene editing and synthetic breeding, the Valley will combine AI computing and bioinformatics to create an open and shared pilot testing system. Facilities like pilot plants for synthetic biology will drive engineering validation and the industrialization of bio-manufacturing technologies.

The Institute focuses on six cutting-edge fields, including the chemical biology of traditional Chinese medicine, supported by eight technical platforms such as. Its goal is to establish a leading innovation center that fosters scientific research, talent cultivation, education, and tech transfer.

According to Yan Jianbin from AGIS, the Institute will concentrate on Hohhot's industrial needs and carry out pioneering research in functional milk protein bio-manufacturing, genetic engineering, vaccine development, and quantitative synthetic biology.

Bringing together nine top experts, including academicians Yao Bin, Chen Runsheng, and Chen Xiaoya, the project sets a strong foundation for Hohhot to become a key driver of high-end, intelligent, and green bio-manufacturing development.