Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Collaborative Innovation Research Institute

What Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Collaborative Innovation Research Institute does

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Collaborative Innovation Research Institute (粤港澳大湾区协同创新研究院) is a government-backed research institute established on August 29, 2019, in Guangzhou's Huangpu District by the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Guangzhou Municipal Government, Guangzhou High-Tech Zone, and Beijing Collaborative Innovation Research Institute, with co-construction by five leading Greater Bay Area universities (South China University of Technology, Southern University of Science and Technology, HKU, HKUST, and University of Macau). It operates a linkage mechanism with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei National Technical Innovation Center — China's first comprehensive national technical innovation center — and has established international R&D branches in the United States, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom. The institute's mission is to translate fundamental research outcomes from universities and national laboratories into industrial applications, structured around four core research platforms: Optoelectronics Technology, Materials and Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Intelligent Manufacturing. Its overarching positioning is to serve as an international-class Original Innovation Source Center, Emerging Industry Cultivation Center, and Innovation Talent Training Center.

The institute's commercial portfolio spans industrial simulation software (SimPARTICLE SPH-based, TF-Lattice LBM-based, TF-Dyna nonlinear FEA, TF-eMag electromagnetic, TF-Thermal thermal, TF-QFLUX general-purpose CFD, TF-AIDEA AI optimization platform, TF-AIMDO multidisciplinary optimization), scientific instruments (HIS-SIM intelligent super-resolution microscope, Pharos 310 e-beam lithography — China's first domestically produced commercial e-beam lithography equipment, Light Operator S1 optical tweezers, static cathodoluminescence analysis system, GSC-MK02 cryo-stage), medical devices (Breath Sequencer micro gas chromatograph, miniaturized two-photon microscope), and new materials (metal-based nano-level transparent electrodes, glass surface armor-type self-cleaning coatings). Embedded AI/ML capabilities include predictive analytics for breath VOC disease detection, computer vision for live cell super-resolution microscopy, and chemometrics-based water quality monitoring. The institute operates an 'Innovation Elite Program' — a dual-classroom, dual-mentor, dual-identity, dual-assessment training model — for engineering doctoral and master's students jointly with global partner universities.

The institute's revenue mechanics operate through technology commercialization via equity stakes in newly formed enterprises, technology injection into existing companies, and management of internal industrial investment funds including Xiechuang No.1 and No.2 (Guangzhou) Industrial Investment Fund Partnerships, plus a 500 million RMB Tongxin Technology fund closed in November 2025. To date it has cultivated over 15 high-tech companies spanning biomedical imaging, medical devices, electron beam lithography, breath diagnostics, industrial simulation software, and new materials. Its primary segments are research universities and national laboratories (supplying foundational research outcomes with industrialization potential) and high-tech enterprises (seeking access to breakthrough technologies and innovation talent). As a quasi-government research institute, it does not publicly disclose product pricing and operates more as an innovation ecosystem orchestrator than a traditional B2B vendor.

Name

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Collaborative Innovation Research Institute

Legal name

广东粤港澳大湾区协同创新研究院

Website

https://gba-ci.cn

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Collaborative Innovation Research Institute is a government-backed research institute in Guangzhou that commercializes academic research from partner universities into industrial applications across optoelectronics, biomedical engineering, materials science, and intelligent manufacturing, cultivating 15+ high-tech subsidiaries through equity investment and industry fund management.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research and Technology Transfer Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Engineering Services (541330)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technology Transfer & Innovation-Driven Research Universities (High Commercialization) (EDAHABAH), Technical Universities with Specialized Engineering Domains (EDAHAEAI), Technical Universities with Strong Industry Partnerships (EDAHAEAG)

Keywords

• Technology transfer services
• Collaborative innovation
• Industrial simulation software
• Scientific instruments development
• Research commercialization

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Technology Commercialization: The institute commercializes technologies through equity stakes in newly formed enterprises or technology injection into existing companies to cultivate emerging industries.
2. Fund Management: Operates industry investment funds including Xiechuang No.1 and No.2 (Guangzhou) Industrial Investment Fund Partnerships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The institute operates as a collaborative innovation platform that selects core technologies with industrialization potential from universities and national laboratories, then designs customized development models and accelerates R&D and industrialization through partnerships with enterprises and investment vehicles. It commercializes technologies by taking equity stakes in newly formed enterprises or injecting technology into existing companies, while also training innovative entrepreneurial graduate students via the Innovation Elite Program jointly with global top universities. The institute hosts four core research platforms (Optoelectronics Technology, Materials and Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Intelligent Manufacturing) and has cultivated over 15 high-tech companies developing industrial simulation software, scientific instruments, medical devices, and new materials.

Product overview

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Collaborative Innovation Research Institute operates as a collaborative research institution focused on original innovation, new industry cultivation, and talent training. The institute hosts four core research institutes (Optoelectronics Technology, Materials and Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Intelligent Manufacturing) and manages a portfolio of nurtured high-tech companies developing industrial simulation software (TF-Lattice, TF-Dyna, TF-eMag, TF-Thermal, TF-QFLUX, SimPARTICLE), scientific instruments (HIS-SIM super-resolution microscope, Pharos electron beam lithography system), medical devices (Breath Sequencer micro gas chromatograph, GSC-MK02 cryo-stage), and advanced materials (nano-transparent electrodes, armor-type self-cleaning surfaces). The institute also operates talent training programs combining academic and innovation mentorship for doctoral and master's level students across electronic information, biomedicine, and mechanical engineering disciplines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TF-Lattice Automotive Aerodynamics Simulation Software (TF-Lattice汽车空气动力学仿真软件) LBM-based CFD software for automotive aerodynamics and aeroacoustic simulation, supporting large-scale CPU/GPU parallel computing for vehicle wind resistance and wind noise prediction.
• SimPARTICLE Fluid Simulation Software (SimPARTICLE流体仿真软件) SPH-based fluid simulation software for multi-phase flows, free surfaces, and complex fluid-structure interactions in environmental engineering, ship/ocean engineering, and manufacturing.
• TF-Dyna Structural Mechanics Simulation Software (TF-Dyna结构力学仿真软件) Nonlinear finite element software combining meshless SPH algorithms with advanced contact algorithms for simulating insertion, impact, and forming processes.
• TF-eMag Electromagnetic Simulation Software (TF-eMag电磁仿真软件) Electromagnetic simulation software integrating FEM, MoM, and PO methods for signal integrity analysis across 2D/3D and axisymmetric models.
• TF-Thermal Thermal Simulation Software (TF-Thermal热仿真软件) Finite volume-based thermal simulation software for chip, device, PCB, and system-level heat analysis with intelligent modeling capabilities.
• TF-QFLUX General-Purpose CFD Software (TF-QFLUX通用流体仿真软件) General-purpose CFD software with comprehensive turbulence models and physical models for flow, heat transfer, acoustics, and multiphase simulations.
• TF-AIDEA AI Simulation Optimization Platform (TF-AIDEA AI仿真优化平台) AI-powered simulation platform for automotive aerodynamic design optimization, enabling rapid prediction and multi-objective optimization.
• TF-AIMDO Multidisciplinary Optimization Platform (TF-AIMDO多学科优化平台) Multidisciplinary optimization platform for impeller design automation, significantly improving design efficiency and reducing reliance on manual experience.
• HIS-SIM Intelligent Super-Resolution Microscope (HIS-SIM智能超灵敏超分辨显微镜) General-purpose super-resolution microscope for single-cell fluorescence microscopy using structured illumination technology for dynamic live cell imaging.
• SUPERNOVA-SMART Miniaturized Two-Photon Microscope (SUPERNOVA-SMART微型化双光子显微镜) Miniaturized two-photon microscope for freely moving animal deep brain imaging and neuroscience research applications.
• Breath Sequencer Micro Gas Chromatograph (Breath Sequencer芯片化超灵敏气相色谱仪) Micro gas chromatograph achieving ppt-level detection of 100+ VOC components in breath samples within 15 minutes for disease screening.
• GSC-MK02 Low-Temperature Cryo-Stage System (GSC-MK02低温冷台系统) Multi-dimensional controllable cryo-stage system installed in FIB/SEM sample chambers for temperature-sensitive material protection.
• Pharos 310 Electron Beam Lithography System (Pharos 310电子束曝光机) High-precision electron beam lithography system, China's first domestically produced commercial e-beam lithography equipment certified by Beijing.
• Light Operator S1 Optical Tweezers Micro-Nano Manipulation Platform (Light Operator S1光镊微纳操控平台) Optical tweezers micro-nano manipulation system for high-throughput single-cell无损筛选, enabling rapid cell sorting within 1 day.
• Static Cathodoluminescence Analysis System (静态阴极荧光分析系统) Cathodoluminescence spectral analysis system for wide-spectrum material characterization, China's first domestically developed static CL system.
• Miniaturized Multiphoton Microscope (微型化多光子显微镜) Miniaturized two-photon microscope for brain imaging in freely moving animals, world-leading technology for neuroscience research.
• Innovation Elite Program (创新菁英计划) Joint educational program with global top universities for innovative doctoral and master's training, using a dual-classroom, dual-mentor, dual-identity, dual-assessment model for engineering disciplines including electronic information, biomedicine, mechanical, materials and chemical, and resources and environment.
• Technology Commercialization Service (技术产业化服务) Service for selecting core technologies with industrialization potential from universities and national laboratories, designing customized development models, and accelerating R&D and industrialization through partnerships with enterprises and investment vehicles.

Quantifiable outcome

• Established international first-class 'Original Innovation Source Center, Emerging Industry Cultivation Center, Innovation Talent Training Center'

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Guangdong Province Department of Science and Technology (广东省科技厅)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2019Co-founded the institute in 2019 to serve the Greater Bay Area International Science and Technology Innovation Center construction
• Guangzhou Municipal Government (广州市人民政府)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2019Co-founded the institute to advance innovation in the Greater Bay Area
• Guangzhou High-Tech Zone (广州高新区)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2019Co-founded the institute as a key innovation platform in the high-tech zone
• Beijing Collaborative Innovation Institute (北京协同创新研究院)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2019Co-initiated the establishment and serves as the parent organization providing operational guidance
• South China University of Technology (华南理工大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2019University partner for talent cultivation and research collaboration in the Greater Bay Area
• Southern University of Science and Technology (南方科技大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2019University partner for joint talent cultivation and technology development
• University of Hong Kong (香港大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2019International university partner for collaborative research and talent exchange
• Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (香港科技大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2019International university partner for joint innovation programs and doctoral training
• University of Macau (澳门大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2019Regional university partner for collaborative innovation in the Greater Bay Area
• Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei National Technical Innovation Center (京津冀国家技术创新中心)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2019Established linkage mechanism as China's first comprehensive national technical innovation center to enable cross-regional collaboration

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Hsinchu Science Park / ITRI incubation ecosystem: Taiwan's flagship government-backed incubator and industrial park anchored to ITRI's research output. Comparable in the integrated university–research–incubator model, but anchored to Taiwan rather than mainland China.

Direct peers

• Beijing Collaborative Innovation Research Institute (BICI): Co-founder and parent organization of the institute. Operates the same collaborative R&D and technology commercialization model across Beijing, with shared operating philosophy, structure, and management practices — the institute is essentially a Greater Bay Area sister institution of BICI.
• Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI): Hong Kong government-funded R&D center focused on applied research and commercialization in electronics, photonics, and AI. Closely comparable in scale, mission, and operating model, and a natural partner/competitor in the Greater Bay Area R&D ecosystem.
• Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI): Taiwan's flagship government-backed applied research organization. Highly comparable in mission, technology transfer model, industry investment funds, and spin-off culture; the institute's governance and venture-style funding model appear directly influenced by ITRI's playbook.
• Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences: Chinese government-backed research institute with a comparable mandate of translating foundational research into commercial applications across biomedical engineering, advanced manufacturing, and materials. Directly comparable along activities, business model, and target customer base.
• Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei National Technical Innovation Center: China's first comprehensive national technical innovation center, with which the institute has a formal linkage mechanism. The two share the same national-level mandate to bridge academic research and industrial commercialization, and the institute's operating model is anchored to this partner.

Broad incumbents

• Tsinghua Holdings: Major Chinese university-affiliated technology transfer and investment platform. Comparable in purpose — commercializing research from a top Chinese university — but operates at a much larger scale and broader portfolio across China.
• Fraunhofer Society: Germany's applied research organization network with a comparable applied-research-to-industry commercialization model. Comparable in mission and operating logic, though at significantly larger scale and in a different policy environment.
• Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) institutes: China's largest government research network with more than 100 institutes performing R&D and commercialization. Many CAS institutes operate in the same nomenclature (研究院) and run similar technology transfer activities; the institute is a smaller, regional counterpart.
• Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR): Singapore's lead government R&D agency with a similar mandate of bridging public research and industry, but at a much larger scale and broader portfolio. Comparable in mission and funding model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments6 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Collaborative Innovation Research Institute