On April 4, the kick-off meeting of “key technology research on efficient microbial transformation of L-glutamic acid into high-value production of γ-aminobutyric acid”, a major scientific and technological research project of the autonomous region undertaken by Ningxia Eppen Bio-tech Co., LTD and participated by Jiangnan University and Ningxia university, was held in the company. The meeting was organized by Wang Yu, director of science and technology cooperation department, presided over by professor Zhang Huiling of Ningxia University, attended by more than 20 people including Xu Zhenghong, dean of Jiangnan university, the company chairman Yan Xiaoping, Meng Gang, general manager of research and development management department, and Zhao Chunguang, director of research and development center.

First of all, Zhao Chunguang, the project leader, reported the project implementation plan from background, purpose, significance, tasks, and overall idea and product characteristics of pilot production, general technical adaptability, and improvement and evaluation index of strains. Experts from Jiangnan University and Ningxia University put forward constructive suggestions on the project implementation plan.

Professor Xu Zhenghong of Jiangnan University believes that the pre-research and discussion of the project are adequate and the choice of technical route is reasonable. He hopes to take the initiation of the project as an opportunity to carry out more cooperation with enterprises. At the same time, he said that he would actively coordinate and cooperate with the project team to carry out relevant research.

Yan Xiaoping, chairman of the board of directors, said that the company pays great attention to the project. This is the first time that the company cooperates with Jiangnan University. We will rely on the superior scientific research strength of Jiangnan University and Ningxia University to speed up research and development and put it into production rapidly. It is hoped that universities and enterprises will strengthen talent exchange and develop more new cooperation projects through this project.

Director Wang Yu fully affirmed the project's role in Ningxia's bio-fermentation industry. He said that the project was a concrete measure taken by the Science and Technology Department of the Autonomous Region to implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's speech in Ningxia and the study results of the Ningxia Party and Government delegation's visit to Jiangsu Province in February. It was a response to the autonomous region's in-depth promotion of scientific and technological cooperation between the east and the west, and also a substantive start of the project of “Ningxia Food and Bio-fermentation Industry Development Strategic Consultation”. He suggested that the project should be put in the highest level, with strict process management, reasonable use of funds, give consideration to both innovation and practicability, strengthen the transfer, transformation and application of results, and strive to become a model for East-West cooperation projects. The Ministry of Science and Technology will closely focus on the decision-making and deployment of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Party Committee governments of the autonomous region, conscientiously perform relevant responsibilities, and strengthen the support, guidance and management of this project.