May 12, Municipal High-tech Zone – Inside the production workshops of Hebei Messi Biology Co., Ltd., workers are operating at full capacity to fulfill a surge of orders. “The active magnesium oxide we developed has become a critical component for petroleum catalysts in the Middle East, with cumulative sales reaching 360 tons so far this year,” said Feng Wenjie, the head of the company. He noted that at the end of last year, the High-tech Zone assisted them in establishing an “Innovation Consortium,” which has led to a simultaneous increase in both production volume and quality. Since the beginning of this year, the company’s sales revenue has already reached 25 million RMB.
In the past, Messi Biology operated in isolation regarding product R&D and market sales. Faced with insufficient scientific resources, the company struggled to overcome key core technical bottlenecks, and market sales once hit a plateau. Recognizing the enterprise’s needs, officials from the Science, Industry, and Statistics Bureau of the High-tech Zone stepped in to coordinate partnerships with universities, research institutes, and leading upstream and downstream companies.
They successfully connected Messi Biology with the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences for R&D support, a company in Tibet for hydromagnesite raw materials, and a company in Henan for sales terminals. This formed an integrated, full-process workflow spanning R&D, production, and sales. At the end of last year, these four entities officially formed the first Innovation Consortium in the High-tech Zone.
“Previously, the magnesium oxide used in medical rubber stoppers relied heavily on imports. Costs remained high, and we were technologically dependent on foreign suppliers. Recently, with the assistance of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, we developed a high-activity magnesium oxide, achieving a successful transition from import reliance to independent domestic production,” Feng Wenjie stated.
Thanks to the joint efforts of the consortium members, Messi Biology’s products are now widely applied in sectors such as silicon steel, food and pharmaceuticals, optical glass, and 5G new materials. Building on this success, the company continues to increase its R&D investment. Feng introduced that their high-activity magnesium oxide has now been upgraded to its third generation, with performance indicators exceeding international standards. Once in full production, this single product line is expected to achieve annual sales of 20 million RMB.
To date, the Innovation Consortium has helped the enterprise solve three major technical challenges, leading to a year-on-year doubling of economic benefits.
Currently, Messi Biology’s high-end magnesium salt R&D center has been completed, and the company is in urgent need of expanding production. An Cong, a staff member from the High-tech Zone, provides regular and personalized assistance to the company. “We will continue to rely on the Innovation Consortium to help the enterprise apply for provincial and municipal research projects. At the same time, we will create more opportunities for technology matching and achievement transformation for more enterprises, accelerating R&D and fueling high-quality corporate development.”