Jinguan Technologies Secures RMB 200 Million Angel Funding to Advance BTIT Integration of Integrated Circuit Chips and Life Sciences

VCBeat (WeChat: vcbeat) has learned that Jinguan Technology recently announced the completion of a RMB 200 million angel financing round. The round was led by Shanghai Alliance Investment Ltd., with participation from HLC, Shanghai New Alliance Investment Management Ltd., Suzhou Chenzhide Investment Partnership (L.P.), and Shanghai Industrial Technology Research Institute. The funds will be used for the research and development and commercialization of two core BTIT products.

Shanghai Jinguang Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Jinguang Tech”), founded in 2020 by Dr. Chen Chang and operated under the leadership of Dr. Mei Zhongtao, was incubated by the Shanghai Industrial Technology Research Institute (hereinafter referred to as “SITRI”). The company is a cross-disciplinary high-tech enterprise dedicated to integrating integrated circuit chip technology with biotechnology to serve the life sciences and general health industries.

Jinguan Technology’s initial R&D objectives focus on the interdisciplinary integration of biotechnology and information technology (BTIT) to achieve miniaturization, scalability, and chip customization for life science instruments and medical devices. The company prioritizes overcoming industry challenges by developing difficult-to-master technologies and products, such as portable non-invasive blood analysis (e.g., blood glucose monitoring) and single-molecule technologies (e.g., sequencing). Following this round of financing, Jinguan Technology will establish an integrated platform for the research, development, and application of customized chips, biotechnologies, and cross-disciplinary BTIT products, offering unique and comprehensive customized BTIT solutions.

Leveraging its platform advantages and integrating the integrated circuit infrastructure and industrial support provided by the Shanghai Industrial Technology Research Institute, Jinguan Technology has assembled and cultivated an international, high-caliber, and highly skilled team of innovative technological talents. Core team members are professionals from leading domestic and international R&D institutions, including imec, GE, GlobalFoundries (GF), IBM, Harvard University, Stanford University, Imperial College London, Tsinghua University, Peking University, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The team’s multidisciplinary expertise spans integrated circuit technology, silicon photonics, biotechnology, AI algorithms, bioinformatics, optical engineering, and clinical medicine.

Guided by its core mission to safeguard public health and support the nation’s strategic layout in BTIT, Jinguan Technology upholds the principles of bold innovation and fearlessness in the face of challenges. The company is dedicated to developing cross-disciplinary BTIT products (IVD on Chip), bringing personalized precision medicine and broader health technologies closer to everyday life.

Dr. Chen Chang, the founder of Jinguan Technology, is a national-level expert in the emerging field of Biotechnology and Information Technology (BTIT) convergence. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Zhejiang University, and his Ph.D. from KU Leuven and imec in Belgium. He currently serves as a Research Fellow and Deputy General Manager at the Shanghai Industrial Technology Research Institute, and concurrently holds a position at the Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.Distinguished AppointmentResearcher, Co-supervisor of Doctoral Candidates at the School of Microelectronics, Shanghai University, and Deputy Director of the Shanghai Institute of Laboratory Medicine. Dr. Chen previously served as a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University and a Guest Researcher at KU Leuven. He is dedicated to the integration of industry, academia, and research in semiconductor chip technologies for applications in general health and life sciences. Dr. Chen has published 50 papers or book chapters in top-tier academic journals, including Nature portfolio journals, and holds approximately 150 granted or pending patents. His accolades include the imec Outstanding Science Award, the Belgian Royal Society for Microscopy PhD Thesis Award, the First Prize in Science and Technology from DSM Western Europe, and the Zhangjiang Outstanding Talent Award. Currently, he leads a team undertaking or participating in nearly 10 national- and provincial/ministerial-level key research projects.

Shanghai Alliance Investment Ltd., established in 1994, is a state-owned investment company approved by the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government. With a mission to serve national strategies and promote scientific and technological innovation, the company focuses on key technologies and critical bottleneck areas, strategically investing in fields such as information technology, life and health, energy, and intelligent manufacturing. Its total external investments have exceeded RMB 10 billion. Portfolio companies include Hehui Optoelectronics, Shanghai Zhaoxin Semiconductor, Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite, United Imaging Healthcare, and Pristem Pharma.

HLC is an asset management company dedicated to driving technological innovation, leveraging deep industry insights as its core competency to empower key sectors such as biopharmaceuticals and consumer livelihood, thereby creating long-term value. HLC manages dual-currency funds in RMB and USD, with offices established in Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen. To date, HLC has invested in over 90 high-quality enterprises, more than 20 of which are listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, Shenzhen Stock Exchange, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and Nasdaq. Its investment portfolio includes WuXi Biologics, Mindray Medical, WuXi AppTec, SMORE International, Pharmaron, Tigermed, Yuwell Medical, Sansure Biotech, Jianhui Information, BrightGene, Nayuki, Baiyang Pharma, Vascular Interventional Technologies, Kemei Diagnostics, Chaoju Eye Care, and Kaiyin Technology.

Established in August 2008, New Alliance Capital is a fund management company specializing in private equity and venture capital investments. The firm currently manages multiple funds, with total assets under management exceeding RMB 10 billion. New Alliance Capital’s primary investment focus spans sectors such as TMT and healthcare, covering companies at various stages including early-stage, growth-stage, and mature-stage. To date, it has completed over 100 investments, with more than 30 portfolio companies having achieved IPOs or listings both domestically and internationally, thereby cultivating a cohort of industry leaders. Guided by the mission to “grow alongside great enterprises” and backed by profound industry expertise, New Alliance Capital has become the preferred partner for both investors and portfolio companies.

Chende Capital, established in 2013, is an investment firm focused on innovative medical technologies and cutting-edge biotechnology sectors. It manages multiple RMB and USD funds with a total asset under management exceeding RMB 7 billion. Led by a professional team with extensive experience in the healthcare industry, Chende Capital adheres to the investment philosophy of “focus, excellence, and reputation.” Leveraging its deep industrial resources and years of in-depth research and cultivation in the healthcare sector, the firm promptly identifies the latest international technological trends and seizes investment opportunities driven by technological innovation. To date, it has completed investments in over 70 projects and achieved successful exits from multiple portfolio companies.

Established in 2013, the Shanghai Industrial Technology Research Institute (SITRI) is Shanghai’s first R&D and commercialization functional platform, jointly built by the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission, the Jiading District Government, and the Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Dedicated to the innovation and industrialization of “More-than-Moore” technologies and Internet of Things (IoT) applications, SITRI integrates R&D, engineering, and incubation capabilities. It has completed the construction of three major R&D and incubation platforms covering process development, design services, and engineering testing, and has initially established technical platforms for advanced MEMS sensors, AlN, silicon photonics, and integrated biology. These capabilities enable SITRI to provide comprehensive services and solutions to innovative enterprises and partners. To date, it has successfully incubated 15 high-tech enterprises in the integrated circuit sector.