At Zhejiang Shengda Bio-pharm Co in Tiantai county, Taizhou, Zhejiang province, workers are engaged in setting up state-of-the-art equipment at the company's new factory, with the spotlight on the production line for its innovative product, active folic acid, Zhejiang Daily reported on March 10.

The bio-based production process of the active folic acid is a groundbreaking achievement on a global scale, enhancing the company's stronghold in the realms of vitamins and biopreservatives.

The milestone is attributed to the collaboration between the company and Zhejiang University of Technology. Previously, a team of over 60 researchers at the university conducted pilot production of the active folic acid product, which paved the way for large-scale production at the company, streamlining the production process and significantly reducing costs and safety risks.

This success story is a testament to Tiantai's commitment to university-enterprise collaborations for industrial advancement. By partnering with 12 universities and research institutions, Tiantai has established platforms for technology transfer and industry-college-institute cooperation, with an annual investment of nearly 30 million yuan ($4.14 million) to support these initiatives.

The cooperation between Shengda and Zhejiang University of Technology has been a strategic one. "The university provides technical expertise and research support while we focus on industrialization to promote mutual development," said Liang Chao, general manager assistant at the company.

In the past three years, over 50 universities and research institutions have converted 106 research projects into tangible outcomes in Tiantai, with contracts totaling 60 million yuan.