An aerial view of Guangzhou International Bio Island. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

By CHEN Chunyou & YE Qing

Nanotechnology is leading and empowering the development of strategic emerging industries, including new materials and medical treatment.

Guangzhou High-tech Zone (GHZ) is located in South China's Guangdong province. It actively promotes the original innovation of nanotechnology and accelerates its commercialization, aiming to become a national hub in these fields.

GHZ has inherent advantages in the industrialization of nanotechnology, whether in speed or scale.

In 2019, GHZ, in conjunction with the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), established the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area National Nanotechnology Innovation Research Institute (hereafter referred to as the institute), which is committed to promoting industrialization of nanotechnology achievements.

While China is a leader in basic research capacity on nanotech, its commercialization rate is not that high, said Zhao Yuliang, director of NCNST and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The mission of the institute is to make up for the weak links in national technological innovation, and bridge innovation chains, forming a replicable model of commercialization of basic research results, and opening a path of industrial innovation for the country, said Zhao.

To date, it has produced many research achievements, such as 5G wave filter and inorganic nano fireproof materials, cultivated 12 high-tech enterprises, and holds 230 international and domestic patents, constructing the whole innovation chain.

The nanotech has broad application prospects. "Conventional cancer therapies have side effects of killing normal body cells. With the help of DNA nanostructures, the medical DNA nanorobots can deliver drugs to specific locations in the human body, and exert effects on targeted tumor cells," said Zhang Tian, assistant of the targeted tumor therapy project of the institute.

This kind of nanorobot remains in the body and then dissolves. With low toxic side effects, it has become popular in medical treatment development.

This April, National Development and Reform Commission approved the Construction Plan for Creating a Nanometer Industry Innovation Hub in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), to accelerate the building of GBA into a demonstration zone for nanotech innovation and application, and an internationally recognized first-class nano industry innovation hub.

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area National Nanotechnology Innovation Base officially opened in GHZ this July. It will become the R&D headquarters of the institute, undertaking the function of nanotechnology R&D and incubation. It is expected that more than 2,000 nano research engineers will gather there in future, forming a strong capacity for nano R&D and incubation.

Nanotech, which has a close connection with advanced manufacturing, precision manufacturing and smart manufacturing, will help improve the technological level of the entire manufacturing industry and increase the competitiveness of high-tech industries in GHZ, said Zhao.