中国农业科学院生物技术研究所

What 中国农业科学院生物技术研究所 does

The Biotechnology Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (中国农业科学院生物技术研究所) is a government-funded research institute that develops and operates eLab, an open-access bioinformatics platform serving the global plant genomics and epigenomics research community. The platform provides curated databases and computational tools for analyzing plant genomic and epigenomic data, with core products including eRice (a rice epigenome database), MEMD (plant memory/expression-related database), PirD (a plant immune receptor database), SMEP (a CNN-based epigenome prediction tool), RCAR (a single-cell RNA-seq analysis resource), Presyncodon, Preoptem (a deep learning–based codon optimization tool), and Premuse. The institute's underlying work spans genome assembly curation, machine learning–based prediction tools (including CNN and deep learning architectures), and integrative database infrastructure intended to support academic and institutional plant biology research worldwide.

The institute operates as a non-commercial research organization. All eLab resources are provided free of charge and on an open-access basis for academic and non-commercial use; there is no disclosed pricing model, subscription tier, or revenue-generating product line. Go-to-market is therefore passive and inbound, driven by publications, web discoverability, and adoption within the academic research community rather than by a sales motion. The customer base consists of academic and institutional plant genomics and epigenomics researchers globally, with no named enterprise customers, channel partners, or commercial licensees.

The institute's strategic posture centers on expanding the depth and AI-enabled analytical capability of its database ecosystem — evidenced by a cluster of product launches between 2019 and 2021 (eRice v1.0 in January 2019; PirD v1.0 and Premuse in November 2020; Preoptem in January 2021; plus SMEP and RCAR) — rather than on commercial expansion, M&A, or monetization. As a government research body, its funding is institutional and not disclosed through market-facing signals.

Name

中国农业科学院生物技术研究所

Legal name

中国农业科学院生物技术研究所 (Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

Website

https://elabcaas.cn

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Government-funded research institute operating eLab, an open-access bioinformatics platform providing curated plant genomics databases and AI-powered analytical tools (eRice, MEMD, PirD, SMEP, RCAR, Preoptem) for global academic researchers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Bioinformatics Software

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Trait Discovery & Functional Genomics (Target ID/Validation) (AFABALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Molecular Biology & Genomics Instruments (PCR/qPCR, Sequencing, Microarrays) (HLAGAIAF), Digital Breeding & Bioinformatics Software (Breeding informatics, decision tools) (AFABALAL), Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization) (HLAAAIAC)

Keywords

• Plant genomics research
• Epigenomics databases
• Bioinformatics tools
• Protein engineering
• Rice genome annotation

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. Non-commercial Research Platform: All databases and tools are provided free of charge for non-profit academic research. No revenue generation model; this is a government-funded research institution providing open-access scientific infrastructure.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Biotechnology Research Institute of CAAS develops and maintains free, open-access bioinformatics databases and web-based computational tools for plant genomics, epigenomics, and protein engineering. Its core offerings include curated rice and maize genomic/epigenomic resources, single-cell transcriptome atlases, and prediction servers for DNA methylation, protein thermal stability, and mutation effects, all made available at no cost for non-profit academic research.

Product overview

The eLab in BRICAAS is a comprehensive bioinformatics research platform operated by the Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. It comprises multiple specialized databases and tools focused on agricultural genomics and plant biotechnology. The core products include: eRice (epigenomic/genomic annotation database for japonica and indica rice), MEMD (maize EMS mutant database for reverse genetics), PirD (protein engineering and rational design platform), SMEP (CNN-based epigenetics prediction for plants), and RCAR (single-cell RNA-seq atlas for rice roots). These products share common infrastructure (BRICAAS) and interoperate through shared genomic references (e.g., RCAR links gene sequences to eRice). Additional tools like Preoptem, Premuse, and the 6mA Predictor are sub-modules within the PirD and eRice platforms providing specialized deep learning-based predictions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• eLab in CAAS: Electronic laboratory at Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences - main brand for computational biology and bioinformatics research
• eRice
• MEMD
• SMEP
• RCAR
• PirD
• Presyncodon

Products and services

• eRice A rice epigenomic and genomic annotation database that contains DNA 6mA modification profiles and other epigenomic data across 38 rice accessions, with a built-in CNN-based web server for predicting 6mA sites in rice genomes. Targeted at plant genomics, epigenomics, and rice biology researchers.
• MEMD (Maize EMS-induced Mutant Database) A public database of EMS-induced mutations in maize built on deep sequencing of 1,839 maize samples, with the EBSD-correction method applied to identify bona fide mutations. Designed for maize functional genomics researchers and breeders seeking validated mutant resources.
• SMEP (Smart Model for Epigenetics in Plants) A web-based computational model for predicting epigenetic modifications in plants, supporting analysis of DNA methylation and related epigenetic marks. Targeted at plant biologists and computational epigenetics researchers.
• RCAR (Rice Cell Atlas at Resolution) A single-cell transcriptome atlas of rice that maps cell-type-specific gene expression profiles across major rice cell types. Designed for plant developmental biologists, cell biologists, and rice genomics researchers.
• PirD (Protein Improvement and Rational Design) A web-based protein engineering suite that integrates tools for predicting optimal protein temperatures and mutation effects to support rational protein design. Targeted at protein engineers, enzyme developers, and structural biology researchers.
• Presyncodon A web server for codon optimization of gene sequences, enabling researchers to design optimized coding sequences for heterologous expression. Targeted at molecular biologists, synthetic biology researchers, and protein expression scientists.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2.2-fold higher contiguity for Nipponbare genome assembly (contig N50: 16,974 kb vs 7,711 kb)
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

AI capability12 records

Feature9 records

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Araport (Arabidopsis Information Portal): Open Arabidopsis portal providing gene information, expression data, and community tools. Comparable scope to the Arabidopsis layer of eLab's SMEP epigenetic platform, serving the same model-plant research community.
• PLAZA (Ghent University): Plant comparative genomics platform focused on gene family and orthology analysis across plant species. Comparable niche open-access bioinformatics resource aimed at academic and breeding research.

Broad incumbents

• Phytozome (DOE JGI): Department of Energy plant comparative genomics portal hosting dozens of annotated plant genomes. Broad incumbent that overlaps with eRice/MEMD for genome annotation and BLAST against plant references.
• Ensembl Plants (EMBL-EBI): Major international genomics browser with plant-specific gene annotations across dozens of species including rice and maize. Broader incumbent that covers similar annotation and comparative genomics use cases at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• MaizeGDB: Primary maize genetics and genomics database for the maize research community. Direct peer to MEMD, supporting mutant searches, gene annotations, and stock ordering for B73 and related lines.
• MSU Rice Genome Annotation Project: Long-standing reference rice genome annotation resource (MSU7 / RAP) for japonica Nipponbare. Direct predecessor and benchmark for eRice's improved Nipponbare assembly, serving the same plant genomics research community.
• TAIR (The Arabidopsis Information Resource): Primary community database for Arabidopsis thaliana genomics. Directly comparable open-access model-plant resource with similar citation-driven distribution model and shared users to eLab's Arabidopsis-related epigenetic work.
• Gramene: Open comparative genomics database for plants including rice, maize, and Arabidopsis with curated gene annotations, pathways, and ontologies. Directly comparable as an open-access plant genomics platform serving academic and breeding communities.

Regional players

• National Genomics Data Center (NGDC / GSA): Major Chinese genomics data repository and analysis platform under CAS. Regional peer providing archival and analysis infrastructure that parallels CAAS eLab's role in supporting domestic plant genomics research.
• China National Center for Bioinformation (CNCB): China's national bioinformatics data center under CAS, hosting omics archives and tools. Regional peer providing infrastructure that overlaps with and potentially competes against CAAS eLab for Chinese life-science users.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E5%86%9C%E4%B8%9A%E7%A7%91%E5%AD%A6%E9%99%A2%E7%94%9F%E7%89%A9%E6%8A%80%E6%9C%AF%E7%A0%94%E7%A9%B6%E6%89%80

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about 中国农业科学院生物技术研究所