Recently BGI, one of the world's biggest genomics companies, settled in the Sino-German Ecopark in the West Coast New Area of Qingdao, to start the construction of a national marine gene pool, as well as to develop a modern agricultural industry and life sciences.

BGI will set up the national marine gene pool in the Sino-German Ecopark, which is devoted to the comprehensive collection and preservation of major marine biological resources, as well as bioinformatics data generation to promote information sharing and exchange, in the exploitation and utilization of marine resources.

BGI will also build its Qingdao base into a world-class modern agricultural demonstration site, by undertaking intensive breeding using environmentally friendly methods.

A precision medicine and health research center will also be set up in Qingdao by BGI, and will be the largest one in Shandong province to develop more targeted diagnostics and treatments for specific diseases, through advanced medical science and technology.

Precision medicine has recently become a buzzword in the United States and China, and both countries have been making progress in the field.

According to an industry specialist, the development of genomics, metabolomics and proteomics, allow physicians to design the most effective treatment plans for many patients, which in turn aids the development of precision medicine.

Founded in 1999, Shenzhen-based BGI participated in the Human Genome Project on behalf of China. It also helped to set up the China National Genebank, a national nonprofit institute supported by the government of China to provide a platform for information sharing and exchange of biobank materials, omics data acquisition, and multi-omics scientific research.