 Expert thoughts on biological industry
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-02-17 07:55
Zhang Jie, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering: The conflict between production development and environmental preservation is growing sharply. The root cause lies in the deviation in ideas on resources. Human beings should not try to dominate nature but rather should consider themselves as part of the natural world. Otherwise, the more our production capacity is, the more devastated the ecological system will be. We should therefore change our ideas fundamentally. On the issue of water pollution control, the recycled economy we are promoting now is effectively a recycling process of water resources and substances, that is, recycling of plant nutrients, or recycling of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. However, the current recycling system is not in a closed loop. Huge quantities of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are spilling into the natural water system, while the demand of such substances for crop growth is being met by fertilizer supply. If the situation continues in this way, mineral reservoirs will be almost exhausted. Current phosphorus ore reserves will run out in 100 years. Thus the fundamental issue in circulation of substances is to make efforts towards a closed-ring circulation for minerals like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. We should try our best to restore the natural circulation system, and get to the root of resolving pollution instead of just dealing with trivial matters. Yang Baofeng, president of Harbin Medical University: Biomedicine, as a newborn technological field, has achieved robust growth over the past three decades. Various nations have attached importance to the industry, because it has a significant influence on health care and human beings' development, meanwhile playing a key part in the national economy. With some of the world's most prominent scientists attracted to the field, biomedicine is increasingly seen as a sunrise industry with enormous growth potential and hefty profits. We came to realize that biological technology is not just about technology itself, but brings along an extended industrial chain. Biomedicine may furthermore be involved in a nation's development strategy. To some degree, it also has implications for a nation's safety. Over the past decade, China has invested heavily in the industry where a great number of excellent experts have participated. The Heilongjiang provincial government values biological technology and biomedicine very highly, extending strong support in policies and finance. Yet China is still short of originally developed medicines. We should enhance strength in this aspect. Han Xiaozhen, vice board chairwoman of Tiandiren Medical Technological Co: The development of bio-industry has witnessed the rise of biological companies. And research and development (R&D) is a key part of a biological company's growth. Only international-level R&D projects can ensure the international competitiveness of future products and provide a magnet for high-end human resources that are essential for a company's development. Thus it is of great significance for biological companies to have internationally advanced R&D projects, which is a guarantee to enhance international competitive strength. Liu Jianxin, director assistant of the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences: On the one hand, researchers should take social needs into consideration and target most of their research at actual demands, rather than conduct research simply out of interest. On the other hand, entrepreneurs should have courage to try new projects, some of which are risky, and learn to manage risks. Due to a shortage of effective communication between research institutes and industrial companies, it was not easy for either of the two sides to establish cooperation channels. The conference has established a good platform for cooperation. (China Daily 02/17/2009 page17) |
