China in Africa

According to a new national plan on science and technology innovation during the new 5-years program („135“), the country will establish dozens of innovation zones across the country, with Beijing and Shanghai in the lead. The plan also emphasizes industrial upgrading and sustainable development, laying out supporting policies for modern agriculture, clean and efficient energy, and mobile telecommunications.

CAS news release, July 21, 2016

According to a white paper released by the Global Navigation Satellite System and Location Based Service (GNSS & LBS) Association of China, the output value reached 173,5 billion yuan (26 billion USD), nearly 20 % of it from the Beidou navigation satellite system, and 466 million navigation and positioning end products were sold across China, including 440 million smartphones. Overseas manufacturers have begun large-scale production of chips compatible with the BeiDou system.

CAS news release, July 21, 2016

The Beijing Institute of Environmental Features, under the Second Academy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, has developed a device with a diameter of 5 meters, capable of providing illumination stronger than natural sunlight. It will be used to test the reliability of China’s space probes and planetary rovers. China plans to send an unmanned Mars probe to orbit and land on the red planet around 2020. Moreover, the country will build a manned space station around 2022.

CAS news release, July 19, 2016

Employing organic guanidine catalytis for bulk polycondensation of dilactide, the group around ZHANG Quanxing at Nanjing University developed a PLA mulch witdh appropriate proterties which is being tested in 11 provinces. In the „Huaihe River Projecct“, Nanjing University, Nanjing University of Science and Technology and Nanjings Gongchang Co. co-founded a polylactic acid bio-film industrial alliance, to explore major science and technology innovation needs for industrialization.

China Bio news release, July 18, 2016

At a China Bio meeting, CAE Academician SHEN Beifen described the situation of antibody drugs in China as follows: 22 antibody drugs approved in China, 10 out of them „made in China“. Over 400 applications pending at China FDA. Still more than 100 enterprises develop monoclonal antibody drugs. In 2014, China’s antibody drug market reached over 6 billion yuan and is expected, by 2025, to reach more than 30 billion yuan.

China Bio news release, July 18, 2016

In their efforts to establish a high-speed train system in China, two bullet trains achieved to pass each other with a speed of over 420 km/h each. China so far has built over 16.000 km of high-speed tracks.

CAS news release, July 18, 2016

The team of WANG Weichao at Nankai University and YAO Yan at Houston University succeeded to use mullite, a type of porcelain raw material, as an inexpensive cathode for a Magnesium-powered air battery. Key point is the low prize and abundance of the material.

CAS news release, July 14, 2016

According to the China Robot Industry Alliance, the total number of robots sold in 2015 exceeded 68.000, a 30 % rise from 2014. About 37 % of these robots were deployed in the automobile industry. There are over 40 robot industrial parks across China and more than 800 large-scale robot manufacturing companies.

CAS news release, July 8, 2016

According to a survey by China Bio’s Services for the period of 2016 – 2024, the global industrial enzyme market has reached 4,62 billion USD by 2015. Carbohydrases account for over 46%, mainly in the field of food and beverage processing and production of syrup prebiotics. Proteases will add at an average annual rate of 8% growth in 2016 to 2024, mainly in the detergent segment. About 1/3 of the total enzyme market is in North America, but the Asian markets grow fastest, with China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and India in the lead. Global manufacturers will continue to keep local oligopols, major players are BASF, Associated British Foods, DSM, Novozymes, DuPont, Adisseo France SAS, Codexis, Hansen and Amano Enzyme.

China Bioindustry News Release, July 5, 2016

The company listed in Shenzhen produces 5,000 t of PHA and 25,000 t of PHA composites. Sales grow continuously because the use of PHA mulch has been found to enhance the growth of peanuts through stimulation of plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria. The barrier properties of PHA films are not as good as with cheaper polyethylene films, so more water accumulates under PHA film, but this is better for crops because the crops will breatheand allow the farmland ground to keep cool.

China Bio news release, July 5, 2016

Tianyuan-1, built by the National University of Defense Technology, was launched on July 2 by a Long March-7 carrier rocket. Similar to air refueling for planes, the system refuels a satellite in orbit in a microgravity environment in order to extend a satellite’s functional life and boost its maneuver capabilities.

CAS news release, July 4, 2016

The device is the world’s largest radio telescope, well equipped with data mining capacities. Its mission is to reproduce the images of the early universe. It is also prepared to participate in the search for extraterrestrial civilization.

CAS news release, June 30, 2016

According to an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Chiny by 2020 plans to have set up the world’s largest health data pool, covering over 1,4 billion people. Big data in health services will involve people’s basic medical conditions, medical service, disease control and prevention, food safety and healthcare, covering an individual’s life cycle. He pointed out that data safety and privacy of individuals must be ensured, but on the other hand big data will help people enjoy more targeted and effective medical treatment.

CAS news release, June 28, 2016

The group of Weihong JIANG at the Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS SIBS in Shanghai, has developed a highly efficient CRISPR/Cas9 system for rapid genome editing of Clostridium ljungdahlii, an organism which is studied for the commercial production of ethanol from synthesis gas.

CAS news release, June 24, 2016

The Long March-7 is a medium-sized rocket using liquid propellant that can carry up to 13.5 tonnes to low-Earth orbit. It will transport cargo for China’s planned space station and is expected to become the main carrier for space launches. The launch will take place from Wenchang, south China’s Hainan Province

CAS news release, June 23, 2016