Beijing Institute of Genomics

What Beijing Institute of Genomics does

Beijing Institute of Genomics (BIG; 中国科学院北京基因组研究所) is a government-funded research institute operating under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, founded in 2003 and elevated in 2019 to serve as China's National Bioinformation Center. The institute operates the National Genomics Data Center (NGDC/CNCB-NGDC), a public bioinformatics infrastructure platform that hosts 100+ specialized databases and manages approximately 93PB of curated genomic data accessed by researchers in 182 countries — most visibly via the RCoV19 resource during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its user base spans academic, clinical, and translational life sciences communities globally, with documented activity across 563 institutions and 5,423 projects.

The institute's core product portfolio spans data archiving (GSA family of submission systems), AI-driven analytics (HELIX deep-learning RNA splicing, scHILL single-cell masked autoencoders, PGS-hub polygenic score computation with LDpred2 integration, X-Age Digital Human multi-modal aging clock), and translational infrastructure (Aging Biobank, BIT integrated toolbox). Underlying technical components include proprietary ML models published in Nature Computational Science, Nature Communications, and Cell, backed by 99 patents and 163 software copyrights. Operational reach is reinforced through the BHBD international alliance (now 18 member countries) and formal INSDC data interoperability with NCBI and the European Bioinformatics Institute.

The institute's business model is non-commercial. Operations are sustained primarily through Chinese government grants under CAS and the Ministry of Science and Technology, with most services provided free of charge as open-access research infrastructure. MOST has designated the institute as the national authority for human genetic resource management. Revenue mechanics are not per-database pricing but rather institutional grants, competitive research awards, and international collaborative funding — making this analytically closer to a sovereign R&D asset than a commercial enterprise.

Name

Beijing Institute of Genomics

Legal name

中国科学院北京基因组研究所（国家生物信息中心）

Website

https://big.cas.cn

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Beijing Institute of Genomics is a Chinese Academy of Sciences institute operating China's National Genomics Data Center (NGDC), providing open-access bioinformatics databases, AI-driven genomics and aging-research tools to global life sciences researchers under government mandate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Genomics Data Infrastructure / Bioinformatics Platforms

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Bioinformatics & Multi-omics Analysis Software (HLAGAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bioinformatics, Multi-Omics Data Analysis & Interpretation Services (HLAGANAI), Genomics & Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Services (HLAGANAA), Laboratory-Based Surveillance & Genomic Epidemiology (WGS/NGS) (HLAJABAC)

Keywords

• Genomics data management
• Bioinformatics analysis services
• Multi-omics databases
• Polygenic scoring tools
• Biological data archiving

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Government Research Funding: The institute operates as a government-funded research institution under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, receiving annual research grants from national and provincial science and technology programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Beijing Institute of Genomics operates as China's National Biological Information Center and National Genomics Data Center (NGDC/CNCB-NGDC), providing unified omics data submission, storage, management, and sharing services across more than 100 specialized databases spanning 9 major data categories. It develops and maintains bioinformatics analysis tools (PGS-hub, HELIX, scHILL, BIT, X-Age Digital Human), deep learning frameworks for genomic and aging research, and real-time infectious disease genomic surveillance databases such as RCoV19. The institute serves academic researchers, healthcare institutions, and government agencies both domestically and globally through open-access data infrastructure.

Product overview

Beijing Institute of Genomics operates as the National Bioinformation Center of China, managing a comprehensive multi-database ecosystem centered on the National Genomics Data Center (NGDC/CNCB-NGDC). The core infrastructure consists of the NGDC data management platform integrating GSA (Genomics Sequence Archive) for raw omics data, GWH (Genome Warehouse) for genome sequences, GVM (Genome Variation Database), and RCoV19 for coronavirus information. The center provides specialized analysis tools including PGS-hub for polygenic scoring, HELIX for RNA splicing prediction, scHILL for single-cell immune analysis, and the X-Age Digital Human framework for aging assessment. Additional products include BIT bioinformatics analysis platform, the Aging Biobank database, and the Human Genetic Resource Information Management Backup Platform. Together, these products form an integrated omics data resource system spanning 9 major data types across more than 100 databases, supporting population health research, precision medicine, and international scientific collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 国家基因组科学数据中心 (National Genomics Data Center, NGDC): National science data center established in 2019 to manage and share national genomic data resources

Products and services

• National Genomics Data Center (NGDC/CNCB-NGDC) The central scientific data management platform of the National Bioinformation Center, providing unified omics data submission, storage, management, and sharing services. Manages 9 major data types across 100+ databases including GSA, GWH, GVM, and specialized resources for genomics, epigenomics, and biomedical research. Serves academic, clinical, and government researchers globally.
• GSA (Genomics Sequence Archive) Family Domestic first omics raw data submission, storage, management and sharing platform consisting of GSA (General Sequence Archive), GSA-Human (Human Genetic Resource raw data archive), and OMIX (Multi-omics Data Archive). Recommended by major international publishers including Springer Nature, Elsevier, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, and Cell. Used by researchers worldwide for data archival tied to scientific publications.
• 2019 Novel Coronavirus Information Library (RCoV19) Real-time tracking and integration platform for global coronavirus genome data, monitoring mutations, transmission and evolution dynamics. Provided data services to 182 countries/regions with over 20 billion data downloads. Selected into China's COVID-19 Science and Technology Actions White Paper. Recognized with the 2022 World Internet Leading Technology Achievement award.
• PGS-hub Integrated online calculation platform for polygenic score methods benchmarking, supporting single and multi-ancestry PGS computation with standardized workflows. Provides parallel multi-method calculation and result output for disease risk stratification research. Integrates multiple PGS methods including LDpred2 and LDpred2-multi.
• HELIX (Hierarchical Explainable LSTM for Isoform eXpression) Deep learning framework for transcript-level RNA splicing prediction, integrating genomic sequence with tissue-specific RNA-binding protein expression matrices. Uses hierarchical LSTM networks to predict splicing site strength and isoform usage patterns. Includes scHELIX extension for single-cell analysis. Target users: researchers studying alternative splicing and cancer typing.
• X-Age Digital Human (衰老数字人体) Multi-modal, multi-level interpretable aging clock system generating quantifiable, simulatable, and interventional digital twins of human aging. Includes CC-clock (core capability clock), MM-clock (multi-modal clock), and Organ-clock for six organs. Used by aging researchers for biological age prediction and organ-specific aging rate assessment.
• scHILL (scRNA-seq data for deciphering Heterogeneity at the Individual-LeveL) Individual-level single-cell immune heterogeneity analysis tool developed by CNCB-NGDC. Takes individual single-cell expression matrices as input and uses masked autoencoders to decipher immune heterogeneity at the individual level. Target users: immunologists and single-cell genomics researchers.
• BIT (Bioinformatics Online Analysis Platform) Online bioinformatics analysis platform with six modules: data visualization, sequence alignment, gene expression, epigenetics, genome composition, and COVID sequence analysis. Deploys BLAST online tools for sequence analysis. Provides researchers with browser-based access to standard bioinformatics workflows.
• Human Genetic Resource Information Management Backup Platform Platform for management, backup, release and sharing of human genetic resource information, operated by NGDC. Entrusted by Ministry of Science and Technology. Integrates GSA-Human, GWH, GVM and OMIX for one-stop data submission and management. Used by researchers and institutions handling human genetic resources under national regulatory oversight.
• Aging Biobank Public data resource platform for human aging research, jointly developed with the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Zoology. Systematically integrates, standardizes, manages, and openly shares multi-dimensional aging-related data resources. Target users: aging researchers, longevity studies, and biomarker discovery teams.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served over 1.78 million visitors from 182 countries/regions with 20+ billion data downloads through COVID-19 database
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability8 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and strategic.

• International Bio-diversity and Health Big Data Alliance (BHBD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2018Founded in October 2018 with initial members from Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. By 2025, expanded to 37 member institutions across 18 countries. Supported by IUBS and ANSO, the alliance promotes global bio-diversity and health data sharing and collaboration.
• US National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)coreTechnology or IntegrationINSDC partner for international nucleotide sequence data exchange. Achieved metadata integration with NCBI SRA, enabling cross-border data access and retrieval.
• European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI)coreTechnology or IntegrationINSDC partner for European data exchange. Integrated with BIG Search for cross-database searching across major international bio-data centers.
• Capital Medical University Affiliated Luhe Hospital (首都医科大学附属北京潞河医院)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on PGS-hub platform development and polygenic score method benchmarking research.
• Broad Institute (美国博德研究所)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research with MIT and Harvard-affiliated institute on polygenic score methods and precision medicine.
• Pakistan NIH/Jinnah UniversitystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing and evolution analysis collaboration.
• Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai Institute of BiologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-building unit of National Genomics Data Center, contributing to multi-omics data infrastructure development.
• Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of BiophysicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-building unit of National Genomics Data Center, contributing to proteomics and structural biology data resources.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/beijing-institute-of-genomics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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