From "Laboratory Technology" to "Industrial Product": Zhongguancun Science City Builds a Full-Lifecycle Scientific Innovation Service System

(Source: Shanghai Observation News)

In recent years, cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum science, and robotics have continuously emerged, leading to an active period for hard tech startups. However, compared to the past, the growth path of tech companies has also changed significantly: breakthroughs in technology are no longer the only challenge. How to overcome industrialization barriers, connect with real application scenarios, and build a complete ecosystem have become new challenges that companies must face.

In Beijing Zhongguancun Science City, a comprehensive innovation service system covering the entire lifecycle of enterprises is gradually taking shape. From transforming technological achievements to building industrial spaces, from policy services to capital connections, these services are helping more and more startups cross critical stages from lab to market, continuously injecting momentum into the regional innovation ecosystem.

From “Single-Point Breakthrough” to “Systematic Clearance”

Compared to ten years ago, the challenges faced by hard tech startups today are no longer just about the technology itself.

In practice, within the innovation service system of Zhongguancun Science City, a clear change is—more startup teams come from top universities and research institutes, possessing advanced technological成果, but often encounter multiple constraints during industrialization. For example, how to take technological成果 out of the lab, how companies can obtain suitable R&D spaces, how early-stage teams connect with policies and capital resources, and how to avoid risks in operational compliance.

“Today’s challenges in hard tech entrepreneurship have shifted from ‘single-point breakthroughs’ to ‘systematic clearance,’” said Ren Chuang, Chairman of Zhongguancun Science City Innovation Service Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Zhongguancun Innovation Service”). During research, he found many technical teams hold core patents but face difficulties in moving from “technical prototypes” to “market-ready products.”

For example, some teams struggle to find pilot platforms or real industrial scenarios, making technical validation difficult; some companies face hardware limitations such as testing space and power supply during growth; others miss development opportunities due to unfamiliarity with policies or financing channels.

These issues cannot be solved by a single环节 but require systematic service support.

Bridging the Key Link from “Technology to Market”

Focusing on the critical link of technological成果转化, Zhongguancun Innovation Service is attempting to help enterprises find application scenarios through industry matching.

For example, in molecular breeding, related teams cooperate with agricultural experimental bases through industry connections, enabling the first seed sowing verification of lab technologies in real experimental fields; in medical AI, some companies engage with medical institutions via medical-enterprise matching mechanisms, pushing AI-assisted diagnosis systems into practical application stages; others gain overseas orders by participating in international科技展会 and further collaborate with industry ecosystem partners.

In Zhongguancun Innovation Service’s view, the core value of such matching is to help technology make the critical leap from科研成果 to产业产品—through matching industry scenarios, international交流平台, and产业合作网络, technologies that once stayed in papers and labs are gradually moving toward market application.

Innovation Space Moving from “Office” to “Industrial Carrier”

With the development of frontier industries like artificial intelligence and quantum science, companies’ space requirements are also changing.

In the past, companies seeking office space mainly needed “workspace and registration,” but in cutting-edge fields like quantum science and AI, space needs have evolved. Companies now require not only basic offices but also specialized laboratories and environments capable of supporting high-precision equipment operation. Meanwhile, as companies grow, they also have demands for large-scale expansion.

For startups, such space renovations and power capacity upgrades involve high costs, often beyond their independent capacity.

Against this backdrop, Zhongguancun Innovation Service has begun promoting upgrades of园区载体. By 2025, Zhongguancun Innovation Tower, a core园区载体, will be upgraded, setting a benchmark for innovation space upgrades in Beijing’s Shangdi area. Additionally, around frontier fields like quantum science, the园区 has developed customized产业空间 to address key needs such as power and environment for high-precision equipment, attracting over ten quantum companies and forming a特色产业集群.

Meanwhile, the园区 is also upgrading人才公寓, providing integrated “office + residence” facilities to offer better生活保障 for talent. Future plans include building a超导量子计算综合测试公共服务平台 and expanding building power capacity as重点工作, reducing企业研发基础设施投入成本 through improved公共服务设施.

Dual Support of Policy Services and Capital Connections

Beyond technology and space, policies and capital are also crucial for startup growth.

Many tech创业团队 focus on研发, unfamiliar with policy申报流程 and资本市场运作, leading to information gaps that can directly impact development.

To address this, Zhongguancun Innovation Service offers policy咨询 and融资对接 to help enterprises access resources. For example, providing申报辅导 for high-tech企业认定, specialized and新兴企业培育, and assisting companies apply for创新专项资金,人才补贴等政策支持. Data shows that through policy guidance, some companies have successfully obtained multiple government扶持资金.

In terms of financing, platforms such as创新创业赛事,投资峰会, and产业论坛 enable enterprises to directly connect with投资机构. Some companies have thus completed larger-scale融资.

Additionally, Zhongguancun Science City has established funds to invest in early-stage projects, providing longer-term support for startups.

Innovation Service Building an Ecosystem of Innovation

Innovation services have become an essential part of the innovation system.

Ren Chuang believes that the innovation ecosystem is more like a “tropical rainforest,” with universities, research institutions, enterprises, capital, and government forming different elements, and innovation services playing a vital connecting role.

On one hand, these services help transform成果 into产业; on the other, they support企业成长 through continuous服务—from驻入 to融资—covering the entire lifecycle.

Meanwhile, through forums, competitions, and other activity platforms, these services enhance交流与合作 among different创新主体, fostering an environment of innovation共生.

Ren Chuang emphasizes that a true innovation ecosystem is not about chasing短期热点 but about持续培育产业土壤, allowing companies to grow gradually over the long term. In such an ecosystem, more and more technologies from labs can truly reach the market, becoming new动力 for产业发展.

Original Title: “From ‘Lab Technology’ to ‘Industrial Products,’ Zhongguancun Science City Builds a Full Lifecycle Innovation Service System”

Chief Editor: Wang Chenghao Cover Image Source: Visual China Image Editor: Shao Jing

Source: Author: Jiefang Daily Zhang Yu