The Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission held a meeting on Dec 4 to encourage well-known enterprises and schools of higher education to contribute to the development of life sciences in the province.

At the meeting, nine academicians and scholars were appointed members of the Zhejiang Bio-economy Development Expert Consultation Committee.

Ten major projects worth 15.2 billion yuan ($2.15 billion) were signed in fields such as bio-pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, healthcare services and bio-engineering. 

The Zhejiang government has attached great importance to life sciences in recent years, aiming to build a world innovation hub for life sciences to make life sciences a major economic driver of the province.

To achieve that goal, the provincial government has also been improving the local business climate and attracting many projects in research and development, production and services related to life sciences to settle in the province.