Development Trajectories in the Biotechnology Industry:China versus Leading Countries

The present paper examines China＇s biotechnology industry from a global perspective and explores how its development trajectory differs from that of countries that are leaders in biotechnology. We draw on diverse data to demonstrate the unique development trajectory of the industry in China. China has benefited through targeted spin-offs of R＆D-oriented foreign direct investment from developed countries driven by the effects of globalization, government-encouraged collaboration between the domestic academia and industry, and the input of overseas returnees. Together with an increasing focus of the government and domestic enterprises on independent innovation, such developments have enabled China to catch up with the global biotechnology industry. However, its small scale and low capacity for commercializing innovations under China ＂s current regulations and other barriers pose challenges for the development of the industry. Suggestions for the sustainable development of China＇s biotechnology industry are presented in this study.

Application of Industry： A AHP Method to Technolo Selection for Emerging Case Study of Chinese Biotechnology Enterprises

Selecting the promising technologies to incorporate in new products is challenging for enterprises, especially for those who compete in emerging high-technology industries. By integrating external factor evaluation （EFE） and internal factor evaluation （1FE） matrix, this study proposes a new technology selection method. The proposed fi＇am^work is applied to a real technology selection problem faced by a bio-technology enterprise in the context of China＇ s economic, political and social environment. Two major aspects and 24 external/internal factors are determined. This study uses analytic hierarchy process （AHP） method to sort the information and derives weights of each criterion. Empirical results indicate that the candidate technology is promising, and shall be developed as one of the enterprise＇s primary products.

Agricultural Biotechnology Research and Development in Hunan

Recent agricultural biotechnology research and advances in the province are reviewed. Targets and practices for biotechnological development in depth are discussed, with 'Stress on the talent's training, new techniques' establishment and its industrialization, starting from the existing level and problems in the field in the province.

Engineering bacteria for enhanced polyhydroxyalkanoates(PHA)biosynthesis

Polyhydroxyalkanoates(PHA)have been produced by some bacteria as bioplastics for many years.Yet their commercialization is still on the way.A few issues are related to the difficulty of PHA commercialization:namely,high cost and instabilities on molecular weights(Mw)and structures,thus instability on thermo-mechanical properties.The high cost is the result of complicated bioprocessing associated with sterilization,low conversion of carbon substrates to PHA products,and slow growth of microorganisms as well as difficulty of downstream separation.Future engineering on PHA producing microorganisms should be focused on contamination resistant bacteria especially extremophiles,developments of engineering approaches for the extremophiles,increase on carbon substrates to PHA conversion and controlling Mw of PHA.The concept proof studies could still be conducted on E.coli or Pseudomonas spp.that are easily used for molecular manipulations.In this review,we will use E.coli and halophiles as examples to show how to engineer bacteria for enhanced PHA biosynthesis and for increasing PHA competitiveness.