Sichuan Micron Biotech Secures Tens of Millions in Pre-A Funding to Accelerate Industrialization of Microfluidic Manufacturing Technology

Recently, Sichuan Maikelong Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (“Maikelong”), an innovative high-tech enterprise specializing in intelligent microfluidics manufacturing, has successfully completed a Pre-A financing round worth tens of millions of yuan. The round was jointly invested by Chengdu Science and Technology Innovation Investment Group Co., Ltd. (CDIG) and Sichuan Development Industrial Fund Management Co., Ltd. The funds will be used to accelerate the company’s technology development and clinical project advancement, providing strong momentum for Maikelong’s industrialization journey in the field of microfluidics technology.

Maikelong, headquartered in the Chengdu Tianfu International Bio-Town, has emerged as a leader in the microfluidic platform for the controllable preparation of functional microspheres since its establishment in 2022. The company has established cutting-edge theories in microsphere fabrication via microfluidics, pioneered novel strategies for fluid manipulation in confined spaces, and developed new methodologies for chip design and development. Maikelong has innovatively created scalable microsphere production systems utilizing both closed and open amplification frameworks, successfully achieving the controllable preparation of over one hundred types of functional microspheres. Spun out from the Laboratory of Membrane Science and Functional Materials at Sichuan University, Maikelong has industrialized nearly two decades of research expertise in microfluidic microsphere preparation. It has successfully overcome critical bottlenecks in high-precision microsphere fabrication systems, addressing one of the 35 "chokehold" technologies hindering China's industrial development. Its related research achievements have not only received support from national-level research programs and the National Natural Science Foundation for Young Scholars but also won the First Prize of Sichuan Province for Scientific and Technological Progress.

Microfluidics technology, with its capability to manipulate fluids at the micro- and nanoscale, achieves uniformity in size, tunability in structure, customization in function, and linear scalability. Maikelong Biotechnology has implemented a comprehensive and in-depth strategic product layout, focusing on the fields of drug delivery and medical devices. It pioneers the application of microfluidics for the controlled preparation of drug-delivery microspheres, soft-tissue repair microspheres, and biodegradable interventional microspheres. With a clinical orientation, the company is developing novel controlled-release drug delivery products, precision anti-aging medical aesthetics products, and smart responsive embolization microspheres. Committed to launching innovative products in these areas, Maikelong also plans to extend its core technologies to broader application scenarios, aiming to secure a leading position in China’s biotechnology sector and drive the continuous advancement and innovation of precision medicine technologies.

Following its latest round of financing, Maikelong Biotechnology will further intensify its R&D efforts, accelerate the clinical validation phase, and optimize its market entry strategy. The company aims to achieve technological innovation and industrial application in key areas such as pharmaceutical formulations, soft tissue repair, and interventional devices, thereby meeting the urgent market demand for efficient and precise medical solutions. Maikelong looks forward to collaborating with industry peers and partners to jointly advance the development of microfluidics technology and usher in a new chapter for the microfluidics industry. Maikelong is confident that through continuous innovation and collaboration, it can bring revolutionary changes to multi-field microfluidic applications, co-creating a healthier and brighter future.

Chengdu Science and Technology Innovation Investment Group Co., Ltd. (CDIG) was established in March 2021 with a registered capital of RMB 10 billion. Founded by the Chengdu Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government to align with the new stage of development, implement the new development philosophy, and integrate into the new development pattern, CDIG supports the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin City Economic Circle. Through specialized operations, the company focuses on cultivating three core businesses: fund investment, direct investment, and value-added services. Targeting technological innovation and the new economy, CDIG prioritizes investments in hard-tech projects, the commercialization of major original technologies from universities and research institutes, major technological innovation platforms with top-tier global innovative resources, and key enterprises along the industrial chain with significant potential for transforming scientific and technological achievements. This strategy has established a comprehensive investment system covering the full life cycle of sci-tech innovation projects, from start-up and growth stages to maturity.

To date, the company’s fund size has exceeded RMB 22.7 billion, with cumulative investments in over 350 projects. Among these, 21 portfolio companies have gone public, 13 are unicorns, and 116 are Gazelle or Specialized and Sophisticated SMEs. The company has recently been honored with titles such as “Zero2IPO 2022 Top 30 State-owned Limited Partners in China’s Private Equity Market,” “Fund of Funds Weekly 2022 Soft Power Ranking of Investment Institutions – Top 20 Municipal-level Funds of Funds,” “CVSource 2021 Top 10 Emerging Venture Capital Firms in China,” “Fund of Funds Weekly 2021 Top 20 Industrial Institution LPs,” and “Chengdu Municipal Government 2021 Jingrong Venture Capital Star.”

Sichuan Development Industrial Fund Management Co., Ltd. is the primary fund management platform under Sichuan Development (Holdings) Co., Ltd. Leveraging its Military-Civil Fusion Fund, Digital Fund, Ji’an Fund, and Academician Fund, the company is oriented toward resolving “chokepoint” technologies, promoting import substitution, and ensuring autonomous controllability. It strengthens post-investment value-added services, intensifies enterprise incubation and cultivation, and plays a pivotal role in enhancing corporate value. Over the past two years, through direct investments and fund-of-funds strategies, the company has successfully cultivated one MIIT-recognized Manufacturing Single Champion enterprise, one National Ultra-High-Definition Video Innovation Center, 28 national-level “Little Giant” firms specializing in refined, distinctive, and innovative fields, 56 provincial-level specialized and sophisticated enterprises, 10 unicorn companies, 19 gazelle companies, 79 high-tech enterprises, and 59 technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises.