BGI, a leading global genomics organization based in Shenzhen, announced its plans Saturday to create a BGI Global Innovation Center in Seattle and San Jose, the U.S. to develop technologies and collaborative projects in life science, global health and related fields.
The BGI global innovation center will be co-located in Seattle and San Jose to build an ecosystem of innovation in the two high-tech clusters and promote cross-sector collaboration.
According to BGI, genomics are driving important discoveries and delivering life-saving solutions across the globe. This includes securing food sources, preserving biodiversity in the face of climate change, stemming the spread of devastating pandemics and revolutionizing cures for cancer.
Wang Jian, co-founder and president of BGI, visited the U.S. to launch the center last week. He also met with Washington Governor Jay Inslee and several researchers and Nobel Laureates.
“The center demonstrates BGI’s commitment to international collaboration and to aligning interests and partners to drive innovation,” said Wang, adding that BGI intended to support a number of research initiatives, such as precision medicine and population health efforts at the University of Washington.
“With the partnership between UW Medicine and BGI, more innovations in research, education and health care will be developed between Seattle and Shenzhen to benefit the health of people worldwide,” Wang stated.
The BGI innovation center is one of the first batches of overseas innovation centers supported by the Shenzhen Municipal Government.
The Shenzhen government urged at the beginning of the year the construction of 10 overseas innovation centers as a goal to make the city an international hub for high technology and innovation.
