The groundbreaking ceremony for Phase II of the National Center of Technological Innovation for Dairy (NCTID) was held in the Yili Future Intelligence and Health Valley on April 15, marking another leap forward in innovation for China's dairy industry. This milestone will inject new momentum into the industry's high-quality development.

Approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology and led by Yili Group, China's leading dairy company, NCTID is the country's only national-level technological innovation platform dedicated to the dairy sector. It provides comprehensive, diversified innovation services and systematic solutions for all enterprises in the dairy industry.

The groundbreaking ceremony. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

He Jian, the center's general manager, stated that the Phase II project will focus on key links across the entire dairy industry chain. It aims to enhance innovation in high-yield, long-lifespan, and low-carbon dairy cattle breeding and farming, striving to reduce farming costs at the source, increase the overall value of dairy cows, and ensure the security of China's milk supply.

The project will also see the establishment of a smart and flexible deep-processing pilot base for the dairy industry to support the localization and industrial application of core dairy ingredients such as lactoferrin, β-casein, and α-lactalbumin.

It will focus on developing key technologies for the efficient utilization of milk proteins tailored to Chinese dietary habits, accelerating the creation of a uniquely Chinese dairy deep-processing system and offering consumers more high-quality, innovative milk-based products.

In addition, Phase II will deeply integrate cutting-edge intelligent digital technologies, including AI and digital twin technology, to build a modular and flexible pilot platform — laying a solid foundation for the future of the dairy industry.

As the main hub for innovation in dairy technology in China, the center has recruited top-tier talent from around the world. It now boasts a team of over 10 academicians, more than 100 senior industry experts, over 20 overseas specialists, and over 1,000 core researchers – forming a full-industry-chain innovation talent pool of more than 5,000 people.

The center has carried out extensive scientific research and made major breakthroughs in key areas such as bovine sex control technology and lactoferrin production. In several areas, it has achieved global leadership or made world-first innovations.