The government of Haimen, a county-level city in Nantong, signed an agreement with the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on Sept 30 to establish an institute for advanced drug study in the Yangtze River Delta region.

According to officials, the institute will cover a floor area of 700,000 square meters and focus on the research and development of new drugs, technological breakthroughs, incubation of the bio-medicine industry and training high-skilled workers.

Through the integration of resources, the institute is expected to enhance the comprehensive strength of Haimen’s bio-science industry, said Guo Xiaomin, mayor of Haimen, at the signing ceremony.

She also said that the Haimen government will provide upgraded services and a better environment for the cooperation in a bid to incubate a group of innovative businesses and new products with international clout.