26 provincial laboratories deployed in 3 years, Henan accelerates its move towards -new-

Since 2021, Henan Province has been on a transformative journey, rapidly advancing towards innovation by establishing a robust system of innovation platforms, culminating in the establishment of 26 provincial laboratories over three years.

On October 16, a new batch of provincial laboratories, including the Central Plains Purification Process Laboratory, Central Plains Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Central Plains Intelligent Medicine Laboratory, Central Plains Cell and Immunotherapy Laboratory, Central Plains Embodied Intelligence Laboratory, and the Qi River Laboratory, was officially inaugurated. This marks a significant milestone, bringing the total number of provincial laboratories in Henan to 26.

The first provincial laboratory, the Songshan Laboratory, was inaugurated in 2021, signaling the beginning of an accelerated phase in building high-level innovation platforms in the region.

A review of these laboratories reveals they primarily focus on cutting-edge fields such as next-generation information technology, new materials, renewable energy, food technology, green and low-carbon solutions, and nanobiology, often led by academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Over half of these labs are located in the provincial capital, Zhengzhou, while others, like the Longmen, Yaoshan, and Dabieshan laboratories, are extending their influence to cities like Luoyang, Pingdingshan, and Xinyang, which boast specialized advantages.

For instance, the Songshan Laboratory focuses on groundbreaking research and applications in advanced computing, data science, and cybersecurity, with the goal of addressing critical weaknesses in China’s cybersecurity technology.

Recently, during a visit to the Central Plains Food Laboratory in the “Food Capital of China,” Luhuo, I was shown their research areas, which span from beverages and specialty foods to pet food and smart equipment development. The lab’s representative noted that several of their research achievements have filled industry gaps and addressed global process challenges, providing technical services to over a hundred food brands.

After establishing itself in Pingdingshan, the Yaoshan Laboratory has concentrated on research directions related to third-generation semiconductor materials, advanced ceramic composites, and new nylon materials, successfully overcoming multiple core technological challenges. Mi Liwei, Deputy Dean of Pingdingshan University and Deputy Director of the Yaoshan Laboratory, shared that through projects like integrated light-storage charging, significant breakthroughs have been made in sodium-ion batteries, gas-sensitive materials, and solar cells, with efforts now focused on technology transfer.

The rapid development of these provincial laboratories aligns with Henan’s strategy to drive innovation, prioritize education, and strengthen talent resources. This strategy, recognized as one of the “Ten Major Strategies” for Henan, emphasizes accelerating the province’s transition towards innovation. During the unveiling of the laboratories, Lou Yangsheng, Secretary of the Henan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, stated that constructing provincial laboratories is a key measure to reshape and reconstruct Henan’s innovation platform system.

A representative from the Henan Provincial Department of Science and Technology highlighted that these provincial laboratories will drive coordinated regional development through technological innovation, reducing disparities in technological advancement across regions while effectively promoting the flow and aggregation of innovation resources such as talent and funding.