The Jinan Area of China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone signed 22 cutting-edge technology project deals on Jan 11, as part of its efforts to boost the opening-up and development of its biomedical industry.

These projects involve clinical applications, advanced biological technology, cell technology, and minimally invasive surgery robots, and are sponsored by companies from Hong Kong, Shanghai and Shandong province.

According to the agreements, the projects will be developed on an industrial service platform for the clinical transformation of advanced medical technology, which was launched the same day.

The service platform plans to take advantage of the free trade zone's institutional innovation, medical resources and preferential policies at provincial and municipal levels to facilitate the application of advanced medical research results at home and abroad.

The Jinan Free Trade Zone intends to provide comprehensive support to the projects' development and to attract more high-end innovation resources from home and abroad to set up operations in the zone, according to an official from the zone's administration.

The official added that the local authority will promote reform and pioneer the application in key industries such as the digital economy, industrial internet and cross-border e-commerce, continue to enhance the ability of institutional innovation to empower the open development of industries, and give full play to the zone's leading role in stabilizing foreign investment, foreign trade and institutional opening-up.