#GreenInnovationForum | “With an existing lineup of speakers and excellent panel discussions is a right platform to talk about the challenges and highlight solutions to the current sustainability issues”

Organized by AseBio and the Government of Navarra through Sodena, the Navarra Development Society, the Green Innovation Forum will bring together over 300 professionals on November 19 in Pamplona to discuss the opportunities biotechnology offers as a key tool in the transition toward a more sustainable, carbon-neutral, and greener economic model.

The Green Innovation Forum 2024 provides a unique meeting point with leading Spanish and international companies and research institutions in the green biotechnology sector. We delve into the details with one of its sponsors, Invest in Huangpu. We interviewed Fidan Huseynli, Senior Marketing & Stakeholder Manager.

AseBio. What is Invest in Huangpu?

Fidan Huseynli. Huangpu is an administrative District of the Tier 1 city Guangzhou (Canton) – the capital city of one of China’s economically prosperous Guangdong Province. With USD 60 Billion, Huangpu generates a local GDP that compares to those of the city of Cologne (Germany), the metropolitan region of Toulouse (France), or Malmö metropolitan area (Sweden).  

Lying at the heart of the next generation mobility, digital economy, biomedicine, industrial IoT and green economy hotspot – the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Huangpu District leads in terms of industrial and innovative performance in the GBA and is home to around 20,000 private enterprises, 4000+ multinationals, 300+ Global Fortune 500 Projects, and 70+ listed companies. In recent years, Huangpu became one of China’s future economy hotspots with innovation leaders in electric vehicles and autonomous driving (e.g., WeRide, XPeng, GAC), autonomous aerial vehicles (e.g., Ehang), semiconductor (e.g., Cansemi, Hinnotech), or life sciences (e.g., Beigene, Biosyngen, Hennovcom).

Huangpu District’s representative office in Europe (Invest Huangpu) is part of the Economic Promotion Bureau of Huangpu District and is active since 2020 with the office first in Heidelberg and later in Frankfurt. Since the commencement of its activities Invest Huangpu has established cooperation with over 50 stakeholders in Europe, among them numerous leading European industry clusters and associations in biomedicine, digital economy, e.g., Bio Region Catalonia (Spain), Lyonbiopôle (France), BioWin (Belgium), Life Science North (Germany), Scanbalt (Estonia), Silixon Saxony (Germany) as well as universities (University of Tübingen, University of Reutlingen, University of Heidelberg, Würzburg University) and other stakeholders.  

AseBio. What advantages does Huangpu offer in terms of biotechnological innovation?

Fidan Huseynli. Huangpu District's advantages in biomedical innovation are mainly reflected in the following aspects:

• Policy support and investment: Huangpu District has issued a number of policies to support the development of the biomedical industry, such as the "10 Articles of biomedicine" which provides full support from project introduction, innovation and research and development to industrialization.
•  Industrial agglomeration effect: Huangpu District has gathered more than 4,000 biomedical enterprises, including 443 high-tech enterprises and 18 listed enterprises.
• Science and technology innovation platform: Huangpu District relies on the "two cities and one island" (Guangzhou Science City, Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City, Guangzhou International Biological Island) to forward-looking layout of national strategic science and technology strength, gathering high-end research and development platforms such as Guangzhou Laboratory and Biological Island Laboratory Industrial ecological improvement: Huangpu District is committed to building a complete biomedical industry chain, from upstream technology research and development, clinical trials, raw material production, to midstream conversion pilot, production and manufacturing, and then to downstream listing application, circulation and sales.

In summary, Huangpu District has obvious advantages in policy support, industrial agglomeration, scientific and technological innovation platform construction, talent agglomeration, industry-university-research integration, pioneering reform and industrial ecological improvement, which provides a solid foundation for the innovation and development of the biomedical industry.

AseBio. From your experience, what are the key elements a region should have to become an ecosystem that fosters innovation

Fidan Huseynli. The key elements of the ecosystem that foster innovation are
strong industry traditions, solid market potential, outstanding digital infrastructure and logistics capabilities, access to talent, state-of-the-art R&D infrastructure, governmental support/incentives/policies and ensuring a work-life quality. These elements, when effectively integrated, can create fertile ground for innovation, enabling a region to grow into a hub that attracts businesses and talent from around the world.

AseBio. The Green Innovation Forum emphasizes biotechnology as a key tool in the transition toward a more sustainable, carbon-neutral, and greener economic model. What motivated you to take the step to support this event?

Fidan Huseynli. The Green Innovation Forum with an existing lineup of speakers and excellent panel discussions is a right platform to talk about the challenges and highlight solutions to the current sustainability issues.

AseBio. What are your expectations from your support and participation in an event like the Green Innovation Forum?

Fidan Huseynli. I think it comes as no surprise that China plays a pivotal role in the global climate change mitigation efforts. As a representative of Huangpu District – a place that is at the forefront of transition to carbon neutrality I am looking forward to engaging into productive discussions with the leading biotech companies and organizations in Europe and get insights from those game-changers first-hand.