On the morning of January 12th, the expert demonstration meeting for the preparatory plan of Honghu Laboratory, jointly led by Jingzhou Municipal People's Government and Yangtze University, was held at the East Campus of Yangtze University. Twelve renowned scholars in related fields, including seven academicians and three recipients of National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, participated the meeting as demonstration experts. They reviewed the preparatory plan for Honghu Laboratory, offering suggestions and unanimously agreeing that the establishment of the laboratory is timely and should strive to become a Hubei Laboratory. The ceremony of the meeting consisted of two phases: the launch and unveiling ceremony of Honghu Laboratory, presided over by Wang Jianping, Secretary of Party Committee of the university; and the expert demonstration meeting for the preparatory plan, chaired by Academician Gui Jianfang from Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The event was attended both in-person and online by predominant experts and leaders, including Gui Jianfang, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Wu Fengchang, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE); Wang Yanxin, Academician of CAS; Wang Chao, Academician of CAE; Ni Jinren, Academician of CAS; Xu Zuxin, Academician of CAE; Wang Qiao, Academician of CAE; Xu Zhen, Researcher at the Institute of Hydrobiology, CAS; Tan Wenfeng, Professor at the College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University; Sun Xiulan, Professor at Jiangnan University; Zhou Yongshun, Senior Vice Chairman of Charoen Pokphand Group; Zhao Yingnian, Director of the Science and Technology Innovation Department of the Hubei Agricultural Development Group Co., Ltd. Attendees also included Jin Peng, Member of the Jingzhou Municipal Standing Committee and Executive Vice Mayor; Shen Xianwu, Vice Mayor of Jingzhou; Liu Yongsheng, President of Yangtze University; Jiang Houshun and Xu Feng, Vice Presidents of Yangtze University; Representatives from relevant departments of Department of Ecology and Environment of Hubei Province, Department of Natural Resources of Hubei Province, Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Hubei Province, and Department of Education of Hubei Province; Leaders from relevant municipal units in Jingzhou and departments of Yangtze University; and representatives of collaborating institutions.
Wang Jianping, Secretary of the CPC Committee, Yangtze University, said that Chinese president Xi Jinping pointed out that it is necessary to pay close attention to the layout of national laboratories guided by national goals and strategic needs, and aim at the international frontier of science and technology. In recent years, Hubei Province has placed high importance on the development of its laboratory system. Focusing on national strategic needs and the innovation-driven development of local industries, the province has established a number of high-level laboratories, continuously strengthening its strategic scientific and technological capabilities. These efforts have provided solid support for tackling key technological challenges and advancing the goal of building a strong province in science and technology. Water is one of Hubei's most significant natural resources, and Jingzhou is a major hub for fisheries, home to Honghu Lake—the largest lake in the Hubei province. With its unique geographical advantages, Jingzhou is exceptionally positioned to excel in “water-related research”. Therefore, Jingzhou Municipal People's Government and Yangtze University have prioritized the establishment of a Hubei Laboratory. And with water as the central theme, they will focus on addressing core scientific challenges including comprehensive watershed governance; genetic improvement and green aquaculture of special freshwater species; sustainable processing technologies for freshwater products and overcoming critical "bottleneck" technologies. They will also integrate top-tier research and industrial resources from across Hubei and beyond and build Honghu Laboratory.
In his speech, Shen Xianwu stated that Jingzhou City is committed to freshwater ecology and industrial development. To strengthen the supportive role of science and technology in industrial development, unblock the complete innovation chain from basic research to applied development, accelerate the fundamental improvement of the ecological environment in the Honghu Basin, and create a model for coordinating high-level protection and high-quality development, the construction project of Honghu Laboratory has been launched. In the next step, taking the construction of Honghu Laboratory as an important opportunity, the city of Jingzhou will build a new-type scientific and technological innovation platform integrating R&D incubation, industrial cultivation, resource sharing and cooperative exchanges. This platform will not only serve local economic and social development but also focus on national industrial strategic needs, helping Hubei Province transition from a major ecological province to an ecological strong province.
During the expert deliberation session, Xu Feng, Vice Presidents of Yangtze University, presented the construction and operational plan for Honghu Laboratory, covering five key aspects: project background, research focus, R&D team composition, collaborative enterprises, and operational management framework.
After listening to the report and reviewing the paper documents, 12 demonstration experts, heads of relevant departments of the provincial department, and enterprise representatives, based on their respective research, management and professional fields, conducted in-depth discussions and demonstrations on the laboratory's construction plan. They put forward opinions and suggestions on the laboratory's development from aspects such as optimizing the direction, improving mechanisms, and cultivating talents, ultimately forming the final demonstration opinions. The experts believed that the Honghu Laboratory has accurate construction goals, excellent basic conditions, and has drafted comprehensive management systems, which will effectively empower ecological civilization construction and regional economic development.
Subsequently, representatives of the 14 co-construction units took the stage. Vice President Jiang Houshun, Deputy Secretary-General of Jingzhou Municipal Government Zheng Zuohao, Researcher Ji Ningning from the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, and Deputy Dean Xie Xianjun of the School of Environment at China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) simultaneously pressed the start button above the crystal column. Leaders of 10 units, including Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yangtze River Scientific Research Institute of the Changjiang Water Resources Commission, Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Hubei Agricultural Development Group Co., Ltd., Wuhan Zhengda Aquaculture Co., Ltd., Wuhan East Lake High-Tech Group Co., Ltd., Hubei Huagui Food Co., Ltd., Jiangsu United Water Technology Co., Ltd., Jingzhou Urban Development Holding Group Co., Ltd., and Honghu Anjing Food Co., Ltd., witnessed the event together, marking the official launch of the construction of Honghu Laboratory.
Wu Fengchang, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) stated in his address that Honghu Laboratory is located in Jingzhou - China's premier freshwater fisheries hub, leveraging the comprehensive strengths of Yangtze University and 14 collaborating institutions, which represents a timely response to strengthen strategic scientific capabilities and foster the development of new quality productive forces. He expressed confidence that Honghu Laboratory would produce a series of internationally leading achievements in integrated watershed management, freshwater organism breeding, and sustainable processing of aquatic products, ultimately becoming a driving engine for the freshwater industry's development in Jingzhou and even throughout Hubei Province.
Zhang Zhonghua, Director of the Science and Technology Cooperation Department at Department of Ecology and Environment of Hubei Province, stated in his address that the inauguration of Honghu Laboratory marks a significant milestone in the ecological protection and restoration of the Honghu Lake basin. He noted that this initiative represents an active response by Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee, Municipal Government, and Yangtze University to promote high-level conservation and quality development along the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Zhang expressed his expectation that the laboratory would adhere to its mission of serving national strategies, focusing on research and breakthroughs in core technologies while emphasizing the translation of research outcomes into practical applications. With a research orientation aimed at addressing regional ecological and environmental challenges, he anticipated the laboratory would strive to become both a leading hub for ecological and environmental research in Hubei province and an important base for talent cultivation.
Liu Yongsheng, President of Yangtze University, stated in his concluding remarks, “The launch and construction of Honghu Laboratory is an important measure to thoroughly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech during his inspection of Hubei and the spirit of the national and provincial science and technology work conferences. We will coordinate and advance the work, and accelerate its implementation based on the opinions of the experts”. He emphasized that we must keep in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's instructions, firmly establishing and practicing the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, taking the market and demands as the orientation, strengthening application-driven innovation, and building a new model for comprehensive governance of the Sihu Basin through interdisciplinary integration and innovation, so as to achieve high-quality coordinated development of the ecological environment and the economy and society. Efforts should be made to promote the establishment of a centralized research mechanism, to break down boundaries among regions, units, and disciplines, and to build a scientific and technological work pattern of extensive collaboration. In line with the construction standards for Hubei laboratories and the requirements of industrial development, we will further refine the construction goals and research directions, and continuously improve the mechanism for transforming scientific and technological achievements. He hoped that academicians, experts, government and enterprise leaders will continue to care for and support the construction of Honghu Laboratory, gathering wisdom and strength for its high-quality development, and working to build it into a new source of scientific and technological innovation in Hubei as soon as possible, thereby driving industrial development and upgrading and making new and greater contributions to local economic development.
