China Industrial Biotechnology Development Forum and China Bio-industrial Investment Conference were held in Tianjin, China on November 6, 2017, which took “Innovation Driving Development, Green Leading Future” as a theme to explore the means for developing bioindustry through technological innovation and integration of business model and financial capital.

The organization committee sets “Annual Innovation Pioneer Award”, “Annual Technology Transfer Award” and “Annual Green Enterprise Award” awards for units and individuals who make contributions to industrial biotechnology. Applicants submitted applications to the committee after peer recommendations, and list of awards were confirmed after experts’ review.

On Nov. 7, 2017, after the fierce competition, Prof. Tao Yong’s “efficient enzymatic process for trehalose production” won “Annual Technology Conversion Award”. His team focused on industrial biotechnology field, and attached attention to technological innovation. The team led by Prof. Tao Yong at the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences established new trehalose production technology with efficient enzymatic process for trehalose production, and obtained the technology that produces trehalose from starch, so as to break the long-term monopoly of foreign enterprises.

Trehalose project was put into industrial production in Shandong Fuyang Biotechnology Co., Ltd. The technology greatly improved the market competitiveness of trehalose and it may replace sucrose widely used in food processing. Moreover, after the introduction of technology, potential market is 300,000 tons and the output value is RMB 6 billion. Thus the technology has significant economic and social benefits.

The congress was supported by National Development and Reform Commission High-tech Industry Division, China Biotechnology Development Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Tianjin Science and Technology Commission and relevant departments and co-hosted by Science and Technology Development Council of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Society of Biotechnology.