Empower high-quality development of bamboo industry

From May 14 to 15, Chen Ruiguo, deputy director of the International Centre for Bamboo and Rattan (ICBR) and vice president and secretary-general of the China Bamboo Industry Association (CBIA), led an expert team to Huaihua, providing on-site industrial diagnosis and technological consulting for local bamboo enterprises. Focusing on key areas such as R&D of bamboo-based new materials, efficient utilization of bamboo resources, and transformation of scientific and technological achievements, the event aimed to deeply integrate national-level scientific research strengths with the local bamboo industry, supporting Huaihua in building a national manufacturing and export base for bamboo-based new materials.

The expert delegation was composed of 9 specialists from the Industrial Development Department, Institute of Materials, Institute of Chemistry, Institute of Resources and Environment of ICBR, and CBIA, covering research fields including hard carbon anode materials, bamboo fiber, bamboo panels, bamboo juice, and bamboo shoot processing.

On-Site Diagnosis for Enterprises

On May 14, the expert team visited Jiutong New Materials in Huaihua High-Tech Zone, Dalong Agriculture in Hongjiang City, Hengyu Bamboo and Wood and Carbon-Bamboo New Materials in Hongjiang District. They also conducted field investigations at Jingzhou Bamboo Technology Industrial Park (Yiou New Materials, Linggao New Materials, Chenming Bamboo and Wood) and Huitong Green Low-Carbon All-Bamboo Industrial Park (Dazhuang Bamboo Industry, Rongjing Bamboo Industry, Huida Bamboo Industry), to learn about the current development of Huaihua’s bamboo industry, as well as enterprises’ technological demands and development bottlenecks.

During the visits, the experts focused on enterprises’ R&D progress and production applications in bamboo fiber molded products, bamboo-based carbon new materials, bamboo-wood residential technology, and low-carbon utilization of all-bamboo materials. They highly praised Huaihua’s abundant bamboo resources and solid industrial foundation, and offered guidance on formulating industrial standards and expanding markets.

Exchange and Cooperation for Mutual Development

On the morning of May 15, the Symposium on Bamboo Industry Cooperation Between Huaihua and International Centre for Bamboo and Rattan was held at the Huaihua Forestry Bureau. Attendees included the ICBR expert team, officials from the Municipal Forestry Bureau and Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, representatives from Huaihua University, the Municipal Forestry Research Institute, and key bamboo enterprises.

ICBR shared its platform advantages in bamboo technology R&D, industry-university-research collaborative innovation, and achievement transformation and promotion. Huaihua University introduced its scientific research on the bamboo industry and the preparation of the Huaihua Key Laboratory of Bamboo-Based New Materials. Enterprise representatives had in-depth discussions with experts on specific R&D projects, production technologies, industrial development, and market prospects, with preliminary cooperation intentions reached.

Chen Ruiguo highly commended the organization of the event and congratulated on its initial outcomes. He noted that Huaihua boasts rich bamboo resources, a solid industrial foundation, a complete industrial chain, and strong innovation enthusiasm. ICBR will fully leverage its role as a national-level scientific research platform to carry out all-round cooperation with Huaihua in R&D of bamboo-based new materials, high-value utilization of bamboo resources, formulation of bamboo industry standards, joint construction of innovation platforms, transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and talent training for the bamboo industry, helping Huaihua accelerate the building of a national manufacturing and export base for bamboo-based new materials.

The event was warmly welcomed by bamboo enterprises, which suggested holding similar activities on a regular basis. Relevant person in charge of the municipal bamboo industry chain stated that taking this event as a starting point, Huaihua will continuously deepen industry-university-research cooperation with ICBR, speed up the construction of the Huaihua Key Laboratory of Bamboo-Based New Materials, strengthen enterprises’ awareness as innovation entities, establish a regular docking mechanism with national-level scientific research institutions, and strive to build a highland for bamboo industry technological innovation and industrial agglomeration radiating the Wuling Mountain Area.

(Translated by Tian Xia)