#China #Yili Group #Hohhot #Dairy Innovation #NCTID

NCTID's Annual Conference Focused on Dairy Innovations

The National Center for Technology Innovation for the Dairy Industry (NCTID) recently hosted its third annual conference in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, on September 27 and 28, 2025. This year's gathering brought together leading experts to discuss pivotal advancements that will shape the future of the dairy sector.

During the conference, the NCTID unveiled its ten major achievements for 2025, showcasing significant progress and setting benchmarks for the industry. Key highlights include:

• - Introduction of top-tier dairy cattle breeding
• - Progress in breast milk research
• - Increased production of essential dairy ingredients
• - Refinements in advanced dairy processing technologies
• - Development of dairy products aimed at promoting healthy aging
• - Initiatives to enhance sustainability across the sector

He Jian, General Director of NCTID, reflected on the organization's journey over the past three years. He stated, "The last three years have been a formative period of exploration for NCTID, during which we have established an open and collaborative industrial platform." He emphasized the commitment to further focus on research, particularly through the incubation of businesses, and elevating the conference to a high-level professional scientific forum in the future.

The conference featured contributions from esteemed institutions, including the China Agricultural University, Beijing Technology and Business University, Inner Mongolia University, and New Zealand's Bioeconomy Institute. Among the presenters was Dr. Stefan Clerens, head of the Smart Foods and Bioproducts Scientific Group at the Bioeconomy Institute. He highlighted innovative advancements in food science, particularly the development of food products targeting brain health, advocating for the use of gut-brain axis cellular models in product development to mitigate R&D risks and boost product innovation.

Moreover, the NCTID continues to bolster its international profile with the launch of the "Focal Point on Dairy Research in China," a special publication in Nature that encapsulates the collaboration between NCTID and its member organizations, including Yili. This initiative is pivotal in bridging research and industry application, promoting innovation, and fostering development in the dairy sector.

In a significant collaborative effort, the NCTID worked alongside the Intellectual Property Protection Center of Inner Mongolia to release their joint study titled "Study on the Legal Environment of Intellectual Property in Southeast Asia and Strategic Recommendations for the International Expansion of Dairy Companies" in 2025. This research is critical as it provides strategic insights relevant to dairy businesses looking to navigate international markets.

Under the leadership of the Yili Group, the NCTID is playing a crucial role in promoting advanced technologies within the dairy industry, fostering overall progress, and supporting the high-quality development of China's dairy sector. Looking ahead, NCTID plans to adopt a more open approach to collaboration, proactively involving governments, businesses, academic institutions, research institutes, and stakeholders throughout the supply chain. By emphasizing frequent innovations and providing more inclusive public services, NCTID aims to better support the long-term growth of the dairy industry in China.

This conference reflects NCTID's commitment to driving change and promoting advancements in the dairy sector, ensuring it remains competitive and sustainable in an ever-evolving market.