High-Quality Development Research Institute Anhui University of Science and Technology Silicon Valley: cultivating soil and cultivating seedlings to help start-ups thrive

Release time: November 9, 2024 | Source: Guangming Daily

Want to own a pot of glowing plants from the movie "Avatar"? This wish may not be far from coming true. In the Silicon Valley of the University of Science and Technology in Hefei, Anhui, the reporter met Li Renhan, the founder of Hefei Shenbi Biotechnology Co., Ltd. He and his entrepreneurial team are working on using gene editing technology to introduce the luminescent genes of fireflies, luminous mushrooms and other organisms into plant cells, so that plants can emit high-brightness light visible to the naked eye at night. At present, the luminous multiflora tobacco, luminous sunflower and other products developed by the company have entered the mass production stage and are about to enter the market.

When talking about how he came to HKUST Silicon Valley, Li Renhan said that he has always yearned for the innovative and entrepreneurial atmosphere here. Last year, as he was about to graduate from his Ph.D., he sent a letter to Hefei High-tech Zone, where HKUST Silicon Valley is located, with the intention of giving it a try, expressing his intention to start a business. Unexpectedly, he received a reply soon. After face-to-face communication, he "planted" his entrepreneurial dream here.

With the help of the Hefei High-tech Zone Management Committee and the Silicon Valley of HKUST, Li Renhan successively contacted more than 20 investment institutions and successfully obtained angel round financing, solving the company's start-up capital problem. “When we first landed, HKUST Silicon Valley provided us with a lot of conveniences. Whether it was funding, space, or various other issues, whenever we had needs, HKUST Silicon Valley’s service support was always available.”

Being a "waiter" for startups and a "horticulturist" for science and technology nurseries is exactly the mission of HKUST Silicon Valley. Since the launch of construction in June 2022, HKUST Silicon Valley has focused on the practical problems of innovation and entrepreneurship for high-level talents, established professional service forces, integrated high-quality service resources, and provided comprehensive services including science and innovation finance, ecological docking, achievement transformation, brand operations, and international exchanges for all types of high-level talents to innovate and start businesses in HKUST Silicon Valley, creating a first-class talent development environment.

"In order to ensure that science and technology innovation projects are introduced, settled, retained and developed well, we have studied a complete set of solutions to serve the entire life cycle of enterprises, and are still continuing to explore and improve them. Recently, we are planning to build an industrial public service platform around key industries, in order to better meet the needs of enterprises for proof of concept, small and medium-sized trials, inspection and testing," the person in charge of the Talent Service Center of HKUST Silicon Valley Service Platform Co., Ltd. told reporters.

As of the end of September 2024, 1,725 ​​new technology companies have settled in the Silicon Valley area of ​​HKUST, and a total of more than 6,000 technology companies and science and technology innovation service institutions have gathered, with more than 60,000 innovative and entrepreneurial talents of various types. It has become a bright business card for Anhui's innovative development.