P R E S S   R E L E A S E

The Chinese University of Hong Kong has cemented a long-term cooperative relation with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Anson Biotechnology Enterprise, Inc. to pursue research in molecular biosciences, focusing in the areas of health and food.  This is the first tripartite collaboration of the kind to promote biosciences research.  The three parties will together put 100 million dollars into the collaboration.

For China, with 22% of the world population but only 7% of the cultivated land, adequate food and healthcare are top national priorities.  Molecular biosciences and biotechnology research are recognized as crucial elements in China's national strategy for food and healthcare security in the 21st century.  Accordingly, the three partners will capitalize on their respective expertise and resources in a sustained manner over a long period of time to support and manage multi-disciplinary research activities and resource development within the field of biosciences.  The main effort will focus on basic research with potential for applications through biochemical, pharmacological and genomic studies.

The collaboration will support two research centres at the Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences and The Chinese University of Hong Kong respectively.

Established in 1949, the Chinese Academy of Sciences is an integrated national centre of research and development in the natural sciences as well as advanced technologies.  In recent years, the Chinese Academy of Sciences has undertaken to be a pilot for the "National Knowledge Innovation Programme".  Under the strong support by the Government, the Chinese Academy of Sciences is committed to becoming the leading institution for academic research and innovative technologies as well as a training platform for top science and technology professionals.  The establishment of the Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences in July 1998 is a major milestone in the implementation of  "National Knowledge Innovation Programme".  Capitalizing on the expertise of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in biological sciences in Shanghai, innovative organization structure and pooling of talents, the Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences has become a major force in the area of biosciences research in China.

A pioneer in the field of biotechnology in Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong has since the 1990's embarked on various genetic research projects.  Research at the University was given a major boost when the Bioinformatics Centre was established in 1998.  A bachelor degree programme in molecular biotechnology was offered the same year.  Recently, "Plant and Fungal Biotechnology" was selected by the University Grants Committee as one of the three Areas of Excellence in Hong Kong.  The project employs state-of-the-art genetic engineering and related technology to improve the quantity and quality of food and health products.

Anson Biotechnology Enterprise, Inc. was founded by Dr K C Cho and Mr Ricky Chan.  Based in Hong Kong, the company is dedicated to investing in and developing biotechnology in China.  The mission of the company is to enhance human health and quality of life.  The company has established a close partnership with the State Family Planning Commission to develop products for human reproductive health and with the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College to promote the development of new pharmaceutical products for cardiovascular diseases.  Specializing in nanotechnology, the company has been active in biomedical research and development.