Jinan is entering a new phase of innovation-driven growth, with a series of major project signings in recent days strengthening the city’s technology, healthcare, and food industries. These agreements highlight the city’s commitment to cultivating new quality productive forces, enhancing research-to-industry transformation, and building a dynamic innovation ecosystem.
On September 9, the Tianqiao District hosted a special session of Jinan’s “Innovation & Entrepreneurship · Creating the Future Together” investment promotion series, co-organized by the Jinan Science and Technology Bureau. Multiple projects were signed, including the Xizi Elevator Shandong Headquarters business expansion project, a new energy recycling and industrial application program, and an integrated energy storage and charging research initiative. In addition, Zhonghe (Shandong) Industrial Development Service Co., Ltd. and the Shanghai International Technology Exchange Market sealed a strategic cooperation deal. Officials emphasized that the technology services industry has become a crucial driver for entrepreneurship and productivity upgrades, and pledged continued policy and resource support.
In a parallel development, Yeehoo Holdings’ high-end children’s food brand Yixiaokou joined forces with the Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences to establish the Children’s Hawthorn Food Research Center in Jinan. The collaboration aims to advance both fundamental and applied research on hawthorn-based products tailored to children, with a focus on “zero-sugar” innovations. Experts praised Yixiaokou’s new hawthorn-based product lines, seeing the partnership as a milestone in integrating academic research with market-driven product development in the children’s health food sector.
Meanwhile in Heze, a major breakthrough in traditional Chinese medicine innovation was achieved. The Class 1.1 new drug “Erzhi Tiaojing Optimized Formula,” targeting diminished ovarian reserve, officially landed in the Luxi New District through a collaboration between Shandong Buchang’s subsidiary Danhong Pharmaceutical and the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The project represents a successful model of academia-industry cooperation, accelerating the transformation of original scientific research into market-ready treatments. Clinical studies have demonstrated the drug’s significant efficacy in improving ovarian function, positioning it as a potential game-changer in women’s health.
Jinan also marked a milestone in financial reform for innovation funding. On September 3, the city signed its first-ever “grant-to-equity” (拨改投) fiscal investment project, supporting Shunfeng Biotech in advancing gene-edited crops such as high-oleic soybeans and dwarf corn. This shift from subsidies to equity investment establishes a new model of patient, performance-linked capital to foster cutting-edge agricultural biotech.
In high-tech healthcare, Guoke Photonics (Jinan) Laser Technology Co., Ltd. secured its seed round of financing, led by Jinan Financial Holdings with co-investment from Tianjin-based firms. The startup, incubated by the Qilu Academy of Opto-Physics and Engineering, has developed the world’s first ultra-broadband tunable laser ablation device for medical use, capable of single-cell precision in minimally invasive surgeries. Funding will support product finalization, preclinical research, and patent strategies, reinforcing Shandong’s leadership in high-end medical equipment innovation.
Together, these agreements underscore Jinan’s comprehensive approach to innovation—linking government support, academic expertise, corporate investment, and financial reform. From children’s nutrition to advanced medical technology and biotech agriculture, the city is shaping an ecosystem where scientific breakthroughs rapidly find pathways to commercialization.
Local officials emphasized that further investment promotion events and strategic partnerships are planned, with the ultimate goal of making Jinan a national hub for innovation-driven industries.