The Third Academic Committee Meeting of Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory Successfully Held

The Third Academic Committee Meeting of Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory Successfully Held

On January 18, 2024, the Third Academic Committee Meeting of Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory was held at the headquarters of Yunnan Botanee Bio-Technology Group Co., Ltd. (Botanee Group). The meeting was conducted in a combined online and offline mode. Members of the Laboratory's Academic Committee represented by Academician Hao Xiaojiang, Shang Chaoqiu, Deputy Director-General of Yunnan Province Science and Technology Department, He Ting, Head of Laboratory and Innovation Platform Division of Yunnan Province Science and Technology Department, Dr. Guo Zhenyu, Director of the Laboratory, Chief Scientists of the Laboratory, and other officials attended the meeting. The meeting was chaired by Academician Hao Xiaojiang, Director of the Academic Committee.

Academician Hao Xiaojiang delivered a welcome speech on behalf of the Laboratory. Academician Qian Xuhong and Professor He Li, two members of the Academic Committee, put forward suggestions on prospective research directions of the Laboratory. For one thing, close attention should be paid to micro-nano technology and the integration of big data with artificial intelligence to make scientific and technological support for achieving breakthroughs in the Laboratory. For another, based on local resources in Yunnan, it can promote the development of skin health research and the cosmetics industry with a focus on the forefront of international science and technology. Meanwhile, they also provided crucial advice on the management of the Laboratory at three levels: the industrial level, the raw material level, and the discipline level. Specifically, the R&D of target raw materials should align with industry tasks and requirements. Based on these raw materials, the layout at the discipline level should be established. This approach clarifies different targets and tasks of participating units at the three levels. Through efficient management across units and disciplines, the project management team can achieve organic integration at the three levels, thus improving efficiency. The Laboratory should take General Secretary Xi Jinping's instructions as a guideline, concentrate on the forefront of world science and technology to delve into the research of skin, plants and products, prioritize the main battlefield of the economy, enhancing the scientific and technological chain to expand economic benefits, and align with major national needs to address the skin problems of consumers. In addition, with a focus on people's lives and health, it should strive to create a skin health ecosystem, continuously bring health and beauty to the public, and promote the development of the cosmetics industry.

Attendees listened to Dr. Guo Zhenyu's report on the Laboratory's construction progress, project research, completion of tasks and targets, scientific and technological achievements, and use of funds in 2023, along with the work plan for 2024. Dr. Guo noted that in 2023, the Laboratory achieved impressive results with the support of the Yunnan Province Science and Technology Department's leadership, the co-construction units of the Laboratory, and the R&D team of Yunke Laboratory. In 2024, the Laboratory will continue to build a provincial laboratory platform. With an emphasis on the 5-year construction plan, it will plan and implement major projects, open project implementation, conduct a 3-year mid-term evaluation, strengthen publicity and reporting, and improve the talent management system. Moreover, Dr. Guo proposed that in the next stage, the Laboratory will focus on integrating international R&D resources and establish frontier laboratories in Japan, Switzerland and Israel. Professor Luo Xiaodong from Yunnan University, one of the participating units, reported on the construction of the Yunnan Characteristic Plant Drugs R&D Platform, the completion of annual targets, and the use of funds. Meanwhile, Professor Luo introduced the Platform's work content and achievements in addressing cutting-edge scientific problems and initial exploration. He suggested to further focus on the Plant Drugs R&D Platform to ensure breakthroughs in bottleneck techniques of plant drugs and the discovery of lead molecules. Professor Zhao Ming from Yunnan Agricultural University, another participating unit, delivered a work report on the construction of the Yunnan Characteristic Plant Synthetic Biology R&D Platform, project research progress, completion of tasks and targets, and output of achievements. He also presented the synthetic biological raw materials specially developed for Botanee Group and their R&D progress and results.

The Academic Committee fully recognized the fruitful achievements and industry contributions made by the Laboratory in 2023. Valuable opinions and suggestions were provided to it from various aspects such as the Laboratory's management and operation mechanism, innovative R&D, intellectual property protection, and resource integration. Additionally, the Laboratory was encouraged to give full play to the advantages of Yunnan and the Laboratory in raw material resources, interdisciplinary prowess, and the combination of industry, university, research and application, further narrow down research content and direction with a focus on industrialization, integrate superior resources across different aspects, and contribute to the high-quality development of Yunnan's massive health industry.

During the meeting, experts and Chief Scientists from the Academic Committee discussed the direction of the Laboratory's open research projects in 2024, made suggestions for revision, and unanimously deliberated and approved the layout of open research projects in 2024.

Academician Hao Xiaojiang, on behalf of the Academic Committee, summarized that the Laboratory should learn from the development experience of national laboratories and laboratories outside Yunnan, focus on research directions, and set long-term goals. Shang Chaoqiu, Deputy Director-General of Yunnan Province Science and Technology Department, concluded that after over two years of construction, all tasks of the Laboratory have advanced smoothly, yielding remarkable results. He was confident in the Laboratory's future development, hoping it take national laboratories as the development goal. Furthermore, five suggestions were put forward to the Laboratory for its next phase of development pertaining to project implementation and assessment, talent introduction and training, openness and sharing, publicity, and fund use.

Subsequently, Shang Chaoqiu and Dr. Guo Zhenyu, Director of the Laboratory, jointly presented a letter of appointment to Dr. Liu Mingchuan, Chief Scientist of the Functional Food R&D Center of the Laboratory, and took a group photo.

Hosting the Third Academic Committee Meeting of Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory provides a strong guarantee for the Laboratory's future focus, discipline development, and efficient management. The Laboratory will effectively implement the guidance and suggestions derived from this meeting!