The Chinese chemists turning science into fortunes
Fan Daidi, a 59-year-old chemistry professor turned billionaire entrepreneur, epitomises China's booming chemical
sciences sector.
Advertisement
As dean of Northwest University's chemical engineering school in Xian, Fan has amassed a fortune by commercialising innovations in
collagen synthesis , catapulting her
skincare enterprise
Giant Biogene to a 75 billion yuan (US$10.4 billion) valuation.
Fan's ascent – from pioneering lab discoveries to leading a biomedical empire – highlights how state-backed scientific industrialisation is minting a new generation of academic tycoons.
According to a report by Shenzhen-based New Fortune magazine on May 9, Fan and her husband Yan Jianya's combined holdings are estimated to be valued at more than 40 billion yuan.
Advertisement
The couple own two major companies – Giant Biogene and XiAn Triangle Defence – which operate in the pharmaceutical and aerospace industries, respectively.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
What next for He Jiankui, the human gene editor locked in limbo?
He Jiankui looked a little tired and worn as he contemplated his future. With no home and no institution to host his research, the 41-year-old biophysicist and self-proclaimed 'pioneer of gene editing ' was weighing up what to do next while staying at an upmarket hotel in Beijing late last month. He, who caused a global uproar in 2018 with his announcement of the world's first gene-edited babies, planned to move to the United States to continue his research into gene-editing embryos to combat diseases such as Alzheimer's and cancer. 'My new lab in Austin, Texas is being prepared and I'll be settling down there,' he said. But with his wife barred from entering China and He banned from leaving it, those plans were in disarray. Nevertheless, the scientist was unbowed and determined to continue the work he had started.
South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Chinese brain implant reaches landmark clinical trial with operation on amputee
China has become the second country in the world to advance invasive brain-computer interface technology to a human trial, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday. Advertisement The trial is on a 37-year-old man who had to have all of his limbs amputated after a high-voltage electrical accident more than a decade ago. In March, researchers implanted a device roughly the size of a coin and a series of electrodes into the man's brain. A few weeks later, he was able to control a cursor on an electronic device, enabling him to play chess and video games, and perform computer operations at a near-normal level of proficiency, according to the report. The researchers plan to conduct a series of small-scale trials on patients with paralysis or the nervous system disease ALS this year, followed by trials on up to 40 patients in 2026. The trials are being led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Centre for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University in Shanghai, and industry partners. Advertisement
South China Morning Post
4 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's 1980s nightlife culture makes dazzling return at site of old Club Bboss
More than a decade after Club Bboss was closed , a new nightspot has launched on the same site where the once-glamorous establishment operated for 28 years, with the goal of attracting tourists and young revellers eager for a glimpse of Hong Kong's 1980s clubbing heyday. Advertisement The new spot – known as Big Boss Generation (BBG) – opened for business on Saturday in the old club's 56,000 sq ft site at the New Mandarin Plaza in Tsim Sha Tsui East. It will use the former occupant's old Chinese name, which translates to Big Boss Club. 'Big Boss Club is not only a household name in Hong Kong, but a well-known global brand,' said BBG CEO Edward Li at the grand opening ceremony that was also attended by Japanese actress Sola Aoi . 'We want to continue to develop this home-grown Hong Kong intellectual property.' BBG, which raised over HK$100 million (US$12.7 million) from mainland Chinese and Hong Kong investors, planned to revive some well-known features of the old club, according to Li. One such feature shown at Saturday's opening was the signature golden Rolls-Royce-themed vintage car, which the old BBoss used to transport customers to their private booth. The new establishment also revived Bboss' famous large dance floor – roomy enough for 500 guests – as well as 50 private rooms, Li said, adding that the club's total capacity could accommodate 1,900 guests at the same time. The signature golden Rolls-Royce vintage car of Club Bboss gets the spotlight at the launch of the Big Boss Generation nightspot in Tsim Sha Tsui East. Photo: Nora Tam Li said the large dance floor and all the private rooms could be rented for a wide range of activities, including concerts, exhibitions, press conferences, wedding receptions and birthday parties. BBG launch guest Aoi hosted a fan event at the premises, where she met hundreds of admirers.
