On October 13, the Administrative Committee of Xiamen Torch High-tech Zone signed a cooperation agreement with the Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as IUE, CAS). The two parties will deepen "institute-local cooperation," jointly promote the transfer and transformation of scientific and technological achievements, conduct industrial development research, and facilitate the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation, enabling more research outcomes to move from the "bookshelf" to the "shelf."

One is a hub of industrial innovation, the other is the "powerful brain" of scientific research — this cooperation can be described as a "strong alliance." As one of the first national high-tech zones, Xiamen Torch High-tech Zone has evolved over more than three decades into the main engine driving Xiamen's innovation-led development, a major platform for innovation and entrepreneurship, a gathering place for high-tech enterprises, and a primary carrier of Xiamen's industrial chains. Having taken root in Xiamen for nearly two decades, IUE, CAS is a research institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences that operates at the intersection of resources, environment, and high technology. It has accumulated substantial achievements and experience in research and practice across fields such as ecological health and environmental security, environmental pollution control and resource utilization technologies, environmental engineering and circular economy, and ecological and environmental planning and management.

This signing also represents a deepening and expansion of the existing cooperative achievements between the two parties. Previously, Xiamen Torch High-tech Zone and IUE, CAS maintained a positive interactive and cooperative relationship. Over the past three years, the two sides have cumulatively carried out 15 cooperation projects and successfully jointly applied for and secured approval for three Fujian Provincial Academy-Local Government Science and Technology Cooperation Program projects.

At the signing ceremony, Xiamen High-tech Entrepreneurship Center Co., Ltd., Xiamen Torch Scientific and Technological Achievement Transformation Center Co., Ltd., and Xiamen CAS Environment Technology Co., Ltd. signed a tripartite cooperation agreement on the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. Simultaneously, the first batch of industrialization cooperation projects were also signed.

Connecting the CAS System to Leverage More Innovation Resources

This cooperation extends far beyond a mere partnership between two entities. Its deeper significance lies in integration — through "institute-zone integration," it aims to promote a seamless connection between the innovation chain and the industrial chain, injecting new momentum into the high-quality development of the regional economy.

"Currently, under the guidance of the Xiamen Municipal Committee and Government, the Torch High-tech Zone is establishing a National University Regional Technology Transfer and Transformation Center. We hope that through the bridging role of IUE, CAS, we can further connect with the scientific research achievements of other CAS institutes, empowering regional industrial transformation and upgrading," said Sun Ruibin, Deputy General Manager of Xiamen High-tech Entrepreneurship Center Co., Ltd. and Chairman of Xiamen Torch Scientific and Technological Achievement Transformation Center Co., Ltd.

"IUE, CAS will focus on Xiamen's '4+4+6' modern industrial system, align with the industrial development needs of the Torch High-tech Zone, and leverage its technological and resource advantages. It will support leading enterprises and characteristic industries within the Torch High-tech Zone in connecting with IUE and other CAS institutes to jointly pursue national and local key, core, and fundamental technology research projects," stated Chen Dejia, Deputy Director of the Division of Cooperation and Development at IUE, CAS and General Manager of Xiamen CAS Environment Technology Co., Ltd. He added that CAS has over a hundred directly affiliated research institutes and expressed hope that this cooperation would serve as an opportunity to attract more innovation resources to Xiamen.

Building an "Industry-University-Research-Application-Finance" Ecosystem to Unblock the "Full Chain" of Achievement Transformation

If research institutes are the cradle of original innovation, then industrial zones are the accelerators for achievement transformation. The next question is how to leverage this bilateral cooperation to bridge the gap from the "first kilometer" of original innovation to the "last kilometer" of transformation and industrialization of scientific and technological achievements.

Sun Ruibin stated that the Torch High-tech Zone will collaborate with outstanding enterprises within the zone, using the "Torch Scientific and Technological Achievement Transformation Center" as the core physical platform. It will precisely connect with innovation resources within the CAS system that highly align with the zone's leading industries. Exchanges and cooperation will span multiple dimensions, including scientific achievement matchmaking, joint technological breakthroughs, industrial exchange interactions, high-end talent introduction, and professional decision-making consulting, ultimately building an innovative ecosystem encompassing "industry, academia, research, application, and finance."

Chen Dejia indicated that IUE, CAS will leverage its own advantages, focusing on the leading industrial directions of the Torch High-tech Zone. It will promote the construction of innovation platforms such as joint laboratories and engineering technology research centers, facilitate the priority settlement of industrializable projects and spin-off enterprises from CAS institutes within the Torch High-tech Zone, and establish platforms like the CAS Xiamen Scientific and Technological Achievement Transformation Base. These efforts aim to foster collaboration in achievements, technology, funds, and talent, effectively promoting the transfer and transformation of CAS scientific and technological achievements in Xiamen. Concurrently, IUE will actively participate in the industrial development planning of the Torch High-tech Zone, focus on enterprise needs, regularly organize project and technology matchmaking exchange activities, and collaborate with the zone on research into technological development pathways for key industries. This will help clarify directions for tackling key technologies and address pain points in industry development. (By Lin Luhong, Guan Xuan, Lei Yang)