On 28 October 2019, the Anshan Municipal People’s Government and Shenzhen BGI Technology Co., Ltd. signed a strategic cooperation agreement to establish the first multi-group life and health big data center and large-scale genomics sequencing center in Northeast China. The project, centred around the development of Anshan North International Health City, aims to drive local life sciences research, clinical translation, industrial transformation, and high-quality economic growth. Cai Long, member of the Standing Committee of the Anshan Municipal Committee and deputy mayor, and Wang Jian, co-founder of BGI Group, attended the signing.
The Northern International Health City initiative has focused on building a robust health industry in Northeast China, supporting regional life science research, industrial development, and translational medicine. Under this cooperation, MGI will provide platform construction and deploy its high-capacity DNBSEQ-T7 gene sequencer to create Northeast China’s first genomics sequencing centre. This facility will enable local, high-quality, low-cost genetic data output, efficient storage, and support basic research and clinical applications in life sciences.
Cai Long stated, “The collaboration with MGI will attract and cultivate local talent, accelerate the development of new industries, and facilitate the sharing of research results. It will help Anshan’s health industry grow comprehensively and seize the commanding heights of the sector.”
Building on this first multi-group platform, the two sides will jointly advance population genomics initiatives such as the Shenzhen 100,000 Genome Project, develop biological sample libraries and databases, and pilot genetic testing for public health needs including birth defects, cancers, and pathogens. This collaboration aims to establish a leading life sciences big data centre and leverage genomics for precision medicine to benefit the people of Anshan.
