Graphene as a New Quality Productive Force in Life and Health: Innovations, Applications, and Strategic Outlook

Source: Long Liangzhen, Vice President of GRAPHENE TIMES and Manager of the Super Graphene Technology IP. Republished with permission from VCBeat.

The concept of “new quality productive forces” was first proposed in September 2023 during an inspection and research tour in Heilongjiang Province. On January 31, 2024, at the eleventh collective study session of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, emphasis was placed on accelerating the development of new quality productive forces and solidly promoting high-quality development. It was pointed out that “developing new quality productive forces is an intrinsic requirement and a key focus for advancing high-quality development; we must continue to make significant strides in innovation and drive the accelerated development of new quality productive forces.”

New Quality Productive Forces: The Starting Point is "New," the Key Lies in "Quality," and the Ultimate Goal is "Productivity." The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China emphasized that "science and technology are the primary productive force, talent is the primary resource, and innovation is the primary driving force." New technologies developed in laboratories must be translated into new industries to continuously generate new momentum for economic and social development. The proposal of new quality productive forces is an inevitable choice for responding to profound global changes unseen in a century, seizing the opportunities presented by the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, fulfilling the historic mission of achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and meeting the intrinsic demands of productivity development. It represents the future direction of productivity development and serves as a key force in promoting high-quality economic and social development.

Graphene, a two-dimensional carbon nanomaterial composed of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in sp² hybridized orbitals forming a hexagonal honeycomb lattice, has stunned the scientific community with its unique physical and chemical properties since its successful isolation in 2004. Its discoverers were awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics. As the thinnest and hardest nanomaterial known to date, graphene is nearly completely transparent, absorbing only 2.3% of light. It also boasts extraordinary thermal conductivity (with a thermal conductivity coefficient as high as 5,300 W/m·K, ten times that of copper) and exceptionally high electron mobility (exceeding 15,000 cm²/V·s at room temperature). These superior characteristics have endowed graphene with immense application potential in fields such as electronic devices, energy storage, life and health, and aerospace. Hailed as a revolutionary material of the future, graphene is leading a new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation.

Historically, every technological revolution has been accompanied by the discovery and application of new materials. In the Bronze Age, the use of bronze made tools and weapons more durable, driving advancements in agriculture and military affairs. In the Steel Age, the widespread application of steel spurred the Industrial Revolution, transforming manufacturing and construction. In the Silicon Age, the development of silicon materials propelled advances in semiconductor technology, bringing about the electronics and computer revolutions. The discovery and application of new materials have directly driven technological progress, facilitated breakthroughs and advancements across various scientific and technological fields, and elevated the overall level of technological development.

China has achieved remarkable progress in graphene research, ranking first globally in the number of graphene-related publications. According to the latest data, China’s research output in this field has surpassed that of the United States. The next step is to translate these research achievements into practical applications, ensuring that China also attains a global leading position in the commercialization of graphene. This represents the best embodiment of new quality productive forces, driving the development of high-tech industries and promoting high-quality economic growth.

Graphene, the miraculous substance hailed as the “King of Materials,” is gradually penetrating the life and health sector with its unique physical and chemical properties, particularly its significant far-infrared radiation characteristics, thereby emerging as a new quality productive force driving high-quality development in this field. The discovery of graphene has not only opened new avenues for scientific research but also brought unprecedented opportunities for transformation to the life and health industry.

It is important to emphasize that the graphene discussed in this article refers to pristine graphene material, rather than composite graphene materials or other derivatives such as graphene oxide. Graphene-based composites and graphene oxide are derived from graphene and possess distinct physical and chemical properties. Although these derivatives hold certain application potential in the field of life and health, their properties and application scenarios differ significantly from those of pristine graphene. Therefore, a clear distinction must be made during research and application processes to fully leverage the respective advantages of each material.

In recent years, China has made significant progress in healthcare system reform and public health investment, raising the average life expectancy of its residents to 78.2 years. However, a substantial gap remains between rural and urban areas. As sanitary conditions improve, economic incomes rise, living standards enhance, and environmental protection awareness strengthens, China will enter an era of greater longevity, facing new health issues and the challenges of population aging.

Healthy longevity is our goal. Chronic conditions such as inflammation and cancer pose challenges not only to individual health but also to national healthcare expenditures, the efficiency of medical systems, and the financial burden on the public. Leveraging graphene—a foundational advanced material—as a driver of innovation in life and health, we can provide novel approaches for disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. By emphasizing early intervention and preventive care (“treating potential diseases before they manifest”), we promote healthy aging and proactively address population aging. This strategy holds significant strategic importance for building a new-quality community dedicated to human health and well-being.

Far-infrared rays are an essential "light of life" for the human body, capable of penetrating deep into tissues to promote blood circulation, enhance cellular activity, and accelerate metabolism. As a far-infrared emitting material, graphene emits far-infrared rays whose wavelengths resonate with human cells, helping to alleviate pain, promote wound healing, and improve microcirculation. Therefore, graphene holds broad application prospects in fields such as rehabilitative therapy and chronic disease management.

It not only promotes human blood circulation and accelerates metabolism, but also enhances cellular immunity and boosts the body’s resistance. As a highly efficient far-infrared emitter, graphene emits far-infrared rays that resonate with human cells, penetrating deep into them to activate cellular activity and promote cell repair and regeneration. This property gives graphene broad application value in fields such as health and wellness, beauty and skincare, and sports recovery.

The application of graphene in the field of medical devices and equipment is equally remarkable. Its superior electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and mechanical strength make graphene a key material for enhancing the performance of medical devices. For instance, graphene-based electrodes offer higher sensitivity and stability, making them suitable for developing high-performance bioelectrical signal acquisition devices. Meanwhile, graphene-based composites, owing to their lightweight and high-strength properties, can be used to manufacture lighter and more durable medical instruments. More importantly, the far-infrared radiation characteristics of graphene open up new functional possibilities for medical devices. For example, incorporating graphene into heating pads and physiotherapy devices enables thermal therapy through the emission of far-infrared rays, thereby improving treatment efficacy and efficiency.

Biomaterials and tissue engineering constitute a significant branch of the life and health sector, aiming to replace or repair damaged tissues with artificial materials to restore human physiological functions. Graphene and its derivatives demonstrate substantial application potential in this field. Graphene-based biomaterials not only exhibit favorable biocompatibility and degradability but also possess superior mechanical and electrical properties, making them ideal scaffold materials for tissue engineering. In particular, the far-infrared radiation characteristics of graphene play a unique role in tissue engineering. By emitting far-infrared rays, graphene-based biomaterials can promote cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation on scaffolds, thereby accelerating tissue repair and regeneration. Furthermore, far-infrared radiation facilitates angiogenesis and nerve regeneration, providing robust support for the comprehensive recovery of damaged tissues.

With the rapid development of wearable devices and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, health monitoring and prevention methods are gradually evolving towards intelligence and personalization. As a high-performance sensing material, graphene holds broad application prospects in the field of health monitoring. By integrating graphene sensors into wearable devices, real-time monitoring of various physiological indicators such as heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose becomes possible, providing users with personalized health management recommendations. The far-infrared radiation properties of graphene offer new approaches to health monitoring. Utilizing graphene-based far-infrared sensors to monitor changes in temperature distribution on the body surface can help identify potential disease risks at an early stage; furthermore, observing internal thermal radiation patterns through graphene-based far-infrared thermal imaging technology can provide physicians with more intuitive and comprehensive diagnostic information. These innovative methods contribute to early disease warning and effective health management, thereby improving people’s quality of life and overall health standards.

New Quality Productive Forces in Life and Health Powered by Graphene refer to the innovative role played by graphene, as a cutting-edge material, in maintaining and improving population health. Characterized by its novel starting point, high-quality essence, and productivity-generating capacity, this concept transforms laboratory-based technologies into new industries that drive economic and social development. In the field of life and health, it can also breakthroughly advance the qualitative state of productivity related to future upgrades in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.

The hallmark is the increase in the volume, depth, and breadth of innovative graphene research, which can significantly boost and enhance the efficiency of disease treatment and health improvement in clinical applications. The core element lies in technological innovation in graphene, where scientific materials are integrated into basic life and health services, combining human and material factors of production to directly translate into more efficient and higher-quality productivity in life and health.

The physicochemical properties of graphene that have been identified and applied to date play a significant role in promoting blood circulation, reducing inflammation, and accelerating wound healing through its far-infrared emission. This characteristic grants graphene broad application prospects in physical therapy and rehabilitation medicine. By leveraging graphene’s far-infrared radiation, it provides non-invasive and highly effective therapeutic methods, demonstrating unique advantages in the healthcare sector.

In addition to the aforementioned overall connotations and characteristics, a prominent feature of new quality productive forces is their emphasis on original and disruptive innovation. Consequently, the value of new quality productive forces in graphene-based life and health applications is particularly reflected in revolutionary materials as well as product and service models.

I. Through research and breakthroughs in graphene, previously unrecognized health risks have been identified, enabling original innovations to address human health issues that were previously unsolvable.

II. As a Nobel Prize-winning material, graphene possesses the most robust physical and chemical properties to date, embodying the characteristics of new quality productive forces and significantly enhancing the efficacy and efficiency of therapeutic interventions for diseases. In existing research and practical applications, it has achieved remarkable results in numerous areas of disease treatment and rehabilitation, warranting broader expansion and deeper exploration.

III. Amid the vigorous development of the new wave of technological revolution, we must leverage our leading advantage in advanced materials to drive and create upgrades in industrial products and services. With advancements in internet technologies, big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence, we have the opportunity to popularize and promote life and health solutions across society and among the general public. As we accumulate more data and feedback, we can deliver more effective technological transformations in life and health, positioning ourselves at the forefront of global life and health technology.

Develop new quality productive forces in graphene-based life and health, comprehensively deepen reforms in healthcare, and advance reforms in materials science and technology. Continuously improve and introduce policies and standards across areas such as standard systems, incentive policies, approval mechanisms, application guidelines, and health consumption. Meanwhile, strengthen talent development and standardize regulatory frameworks to achieve an integrated combination of new-quality labor force, new-quality tools of production, new-quality labor markets, and new-quality labor institutions. This will enhance both the quality and quantity of life and health outcomes, thereby raising public health awareness, health literacy, and health efficiency, while also driving the transformation and upgrading toward new-quality service models in social governance.

Basic research is the key to driving the development of new quality productive forces in graphene-based life and health applications. By leveraging the advantages of the nationwide coordinated system, we should increase investment in basic research on graphene and its far-infrared radiation properties, deeply explore its mechanisms of action and application potential, and achieve innovative breakthroughs addressing current and future major health issues and disease risks among the population, critical technological bottlenecks, and medium- to long-term strategic needs in life and health. We must strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and exchange to promote the integration and innovation of knowledge across different fields. In terms of applied research and development, we should focus on specific application needs of graphene in disease treatment, diagnosis, medical devices, biomaterials, and health monitoring, thereby accelerating the translation of graphene technology as a new quality tool of labor into industrialization. Through research and innovative breakthroughs in the new material graphene, we aim to enhance China’s global competitiveness in original innovation, clinical research, and market translation within traditional Chinese medicine, innovative drugs, novel medical devices, and emerging technologies.

A robust industrial chain layout and policy support are the foundation for advancing new quality productive forces in graphene-based life and health applications. Strengthening integration and collaboration among upstream and downstream enterprises in the graphene industry will help establish a complete industrial chain and foster a new-quality ecosystem characterized by collaborative innovation. Meanwhile, the government should introduce relevant policy measures—such as financial support, tax incentives, and innovation rewards—to create a favorable policy environment for the development of these new quality productive forces. Furthermore, international exchanges and cooperation should be enhanced to draw on advanced global experience and technological achievements, thereby propelling China’s graphene-based life and health innovations to the forefront of the world.

By systematically promoting multi-party, multi-channel, and multi-dimensional collaboration among the government, industry-academia-research institutions, and market entities, we can accelerate the combinatorial optimization of new quality productive forces in graphene-based life and health applications. First, the government should fully leverage the guiding role of public procurement to provide graphene-related innovative products and services in basic medical care and for the health needs of vulnerable populations, thereby practicing the important concepts of “prioritizing prevention and early intervention” and “delivering tangible benefits to the people.” Greater support should be extended to graphene as a form of “new infrastructure” in life and healthcare, guiding and encouraging medical institutions, research organizations, and enterprises to jointly explore and achieve breakthroughs, thus laying a solid foundation and providing strong momentum for enhancing the new quality productive forces of graphene. Second, efforts should be accelerated to include graphene-based technological products in the medical insurance reimbursement system, which is crucial for expanding market share and achieving widespread acceptance. Hospitals and related primary healthcare systems should be enabled to offer graphene-based health services according to patient needs.

Furthermore, the multi-tiered protection function of commercial health insurance should be leveraged by developing insurance products focused on early disease control and health management for critical illnesses. By incorporating more graphene-based medical products into reimbursement coverage, the widespread application of graphene technology in the healthcare sector can be promoted. Innovative products often adopt a “small-scale, high-price” model in the early stages of market entry, which limits their accessibility and reach, resulting in high costs and significant barriers to access. As health is fundamental to human well-being, such high barriers should not be imposed. The government should accelerate the coordination of public resources, leverage economies of scale, and rapidly establish a new “large-scale, low-price” model to address market and demand challenges.

By establishing reasonable commercial value on the foundation of demonstrating and realizing the value of innovation, we can not only accelerate the widespread adoption of innovative products but also facilitate their rapid optimization and iteration. This will significantly enhance the accessibility and industrial competitiveness of graphene-based products and services. Technological progress should serve all people, ensuring that everyone has more convenient access to equitable health resources. Shifting consumer mindsets is equally critical; the government can promote the value of innovative products through various channels and expand access pathways, enabling more people to understand and accept these new products, thereby driving the healthy development of the entire industry. These comprehensive measures will ensure that technology truly fulfills its original intention of providing equitable health for all.

Talent is the core resource driving the development of new quality productive forces in graphene-based life and health sectors. Efforts should be intensified to cultivate talent in the field of graphene, strengthen comprehensive research on the application of materials in traditional Chinese medicine, and establish a multi-level, multi-type talent cultivation system. Through collaborative training models involving universities, research institutions, and enterprises, we aim to develop interdisciplinary professionals with innovative capabilities. Meanwhile, a balanced matching mechanism between talent supply and demand should be established to form a talent cultivation and employment system for the life and health sector with Chinese characteristics. By actively introducing top-tier global talent and teams, we will inject new vitality and momentum into the development of China’s new quality productive forces in graphene-based life and health applications.

International cooperation and exchange are vital pathways to advancing the development of new quality productive forces in graphene-based life and health applications. It is essential to strengthen communication and collaboration with international peers in fundamental graphene research, applied R&D, and industrialization. By jointly establishing international innovation platforms, conducting collaborative research projects, and sharing scientific achievements, we can promote the coordinated global development of the graphene life and health industry. Furthermore, active participation in the formulation and promotion of international standards will enhance China’s voice and influence in the global graphene sector.

As the application of graphene in the life and health sector continues to deepen, the establishment of standards, regulatory frameworks, and approval processes has become an urgent issue to address. It is essential to accelerate the development and improvement of relevant standards and regulatory systems to provide robust support for the research and development, production, sales, and use of graphene products. Regulatory oversight of graphene product quality should be strengthened to ensure their safety and efficacy. To expedite the market launch of graphene products, approval processes should be optimized, approval cycles shortened, and fast-track channels established to prioritize the review of innovative and high-potential graphene-based life and health products, ensuring their timely entry into the market. Meanwhile, assessment and research on the safety of graphene products should be enhanced to promptly identify and address potential safety risks.

GRAPHENE TIMES was founded in 2015 by Professor Feng Guanping, the founding dean of the Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School and the pioneer of China’s graphene industry. In 2009, Professor Feng introduced graphene to China from the United States. He subsequently raised the first graphene industry fund, established the country’s first Jiangnan Graphene Research Institute, and incubated more than 20 early-stage graphene commercialization companies, earning him the reputation as the “pioneer of the graphene industry” within the sector.In December 2014, during General Secretary Xi Jinping’s inspection tour of Jiangsu Province, Professor Feng presented a report on the graphene industry to the General Secretary on behalf of Jiangsu Province. The General Secretary affirmed on the spot that the graphene industry held broad prospects and directed the development of graphene products for both military and civilian applications. In 2015, during his visit to the United Kingdom, the General Secretary specifically visited the University of Manchester, where graphene was discovered, and designated graphene as a strategic emerging industry for China. Recently, regarding the application of graphene in the integrated circuit industry, the General Secretary issued specific instructions: “We must undertake earth-shattering endeavors and remain down-to-earth individuals.”

GRAPHENE TIMES is an industry-leading enterprise with a complete graphene industrial chain, encompassing upstream technology R&D and raw material production, as well as downstream product development, applications, and sales. With more than ten subsidiaries and branches across China, its business spans four major graphene sectors: medical and general health, thermal management, modified anti-corrosion coatings, and super copper. GRAPHENE TIMES has filed over 500 patent applications and obtained more than 330 granted patents. It is recognized as a National High-Tech Enterprise, a “Specialized, Refined, Differential, and Innovative” (SRDI) Little Giant enterprise designated by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, a core member of the National Graphene Manufacturing Innovation Center, a council member of the Guangdong Provincial Graphene Manufacturing Innovation Center, the Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Graphene Conductive Film Applications, and the president unit of the Shenzhen Graphene Association. The company has received more than 100 honors, including being named among the Top 70 Innovative Enterprises in Shenzhen, the Future Healthcare 100, and receiving the Outstanding Contribution Award to China’s Graphene Industry.

To date, GRAPHENE TIMES has collaborated with authoritative medical institutions both domestically and internationally to conduct over 50 graphene-based medical studies, publishing more than 30 research findings in top-tier medical journals worldwide. Significant breakthroughs have been achieved in clinical research on challenging conditions in modern medicine, including tumor therapy, thyroid nodules, knee osteoarthritis, chronic lower back and leg pain, glucose and lipid metabolism disorders, and immune enhancement. The company’s series of developed medical device products are now being widely promoted and applied in the market, offering broad application prospects.

Jointly developed with Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, the “Spectral Light Wave Therapy Room,” the first large-scale graphene-based medical device in China using novel graphene as its base material, has obtained a Class II Medical Device Registration Certificate (Registration No.: Gui Xie Zhu Zhun 20212090236). It features a broad range of therapeutic indications and significant application prospects, offering benefits such as promoting blood circulation, improving hemorheology, enhancing metabolism, improving nervous system function, and boosting immune capacity. It can be used for the adjunctive treatment of bronchitis, bronchial asthma, chronic gastritis, duodenal ulcer, chronic hepatitis, enteritis, constipation, diarrhea, prevention of wound infection, poor wound healing, chronic prostatitis, soft tissue injury, lumbar muscle strain, osteoarthritis, cervical spondylosis, eczema, minor burns, pressure ulcers, chilblains, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, dysmenorrhea, pediatric pneumonia, and mumps.

Development of heated pad therapeutic devices (far-infrared waist supports, knee braces, and shoulder supports) as medical devices for the treatment and rehabilitation of arthritis, with Guangdong Medical Device Registration Approval No. 20192090979. For thyroid nodules, a thyroid nodule therapeutic device is being developed as a medical device; clinical trials are being conducted, and product registration testing is underway, with preparatory work for medical device registration currently in progress. For various chronic conditions, graphene heat-sensitive moxibustion therapy is being developed in collaboration with Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Based on high-temperature graphene components, this product aims to replace traditional moxibustion. Clinical comparative studies for multiple chronic conditions are being conducted, and preparatory work for medical device registration is underway.

In collaboration with the scientific research team at Nanjing Medical University in their exploratory study on “non-invasive tumor therapy,” subwavelength graphene electrothermal/light radiation source devices independently developed by GRAPHENE TIMES were employed as a novel far-infrared light/heat source. The research findings demonstrated that the far-infrared radiation emitted by these subwavelength graphene electrothermal/light radiation source devices possesses a stronger capability to induce tumor cell apoptosis and enhanced therapeutic penetration depth. These devices significantly inhibited the malignant proliferation and metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer cells in nude mice, exhibiting superior efficacy and fewer side effects. The related achievements were published as a cover article in the biomedical journal Advanced Therapeutics (Advanced Therapeutics, 2020, 3, 1900195).

Research on Graphene-Based Devices for Enhanced Drug Permeation and Absorption: GRAPHENE TIMES, in collaboration with medical schools and research institutes, has conducted studies on a combined chemotherapy system integrating graphene devices with pharmaceuticals for challenging or chronic conditions such as colon cancer. The results demonstrate that graphene devices exhibit unique synergistic enhancement advantages in combination chemotherapy. These findings were published as a cover article in Macromolecular Bioscience, a top-tier journal in the field of biomedicine (Impact Factor: 4.979).

A team from the Academy of Military Medical Sciences conducted a study on “Anxiety Behaviors Induced by High-Fat Diet (Obesity).” The results indicated that graphene far-infrared (FIR) therapy can activate energy metabolism processes in mice, promoting lipid breakdown and consumption. Meanwhile, graphene FIR therapy also improved insulin resistance and lowered blood glucose levels in mice, further reducing fat accumulation. These mechanisms collectively contributed to the significant weight-loss effects observed with graphene far-infrared therapy.

Graphene Life and Health: An Interdisciplinary New Quality Productive Force Integrating Next-Generation Materials with Healthcare"New quality productive force" originates from "newness," hinges on "quality," and culminates in "productivity." Graphene aligns well with these three characteristics. As a Nobel Prize-winning material with comprehensively superior properties, it is poised to significantly enhance, and even disrupt, productivity across various sectors of the healthcare industry. The application of graphene in the life and health sector marks a significant breakthrough and represents an original innovation from China. Previously, it was unforeseen that industrial-grade graphene could be utilized in the health field. To date, graphene-based products have obtained four Class II medical device certifications in China and have achieved remarkable efficacy in the treatment of numerous diseases. These advancements constitute major innovations in new materials and biomaterials. Such innovation will inevitably drive effective upgrades in future medical services and treatments, thereby substantially boosting productivity in the healthcare sector.

New materials constitute the foundational infrastructure for the new era of holistic health, also referred to as the new infrastructure for life and health. As the globally recognized "king of new materials," graphene presents an opportunity for us to take the lead during this early stage of worldwide attention and research. Just as Intel served as the core foundation of the PC era, Qualcomm set the industry standard for the mobile phone era, and NVIDIA is leading the new age of artificial intelligence, graphene has the potential to become the underlying infrastructure for the next generation of life and health. We aspire for graphene to serve as the essential "water and electricity" of the life and health industry, uncovering greater new value, creating more innovative services, and truly becoming a driver of new-quality productive forces. This will help address the profound changes unseen in a century, seize and lead the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, fulfill the historic mission of achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and become a key force promoting stable, high-quality, healthy, and sustainable social development, thereby jointly building a new-quality community with a shared future for human life and health.