Technological innovation is fundamental to fostering new quality productive forces. It is within the nurturing ground of people's livelihood that the true charm of tech innovation can flourish.

A new drug developed by a Yangpu-based enterprise is poised to make history as the first domestic orphan drug in the central nervous system domain to hit the U.S. market this year. It significantly enhances patients' medication experience and eases the burden on patients and their families‌. Meanwhile, in the realm of education, a middle school has successfully implemented an intelligent system powered by the DeepSeek large-scale model, enabling students to refine their physics experiments through interactive "human-machine dialogue", thereby minimizing errors. This initiative, deeply integrated with school-level foundational data, marks a pioneering step in leveraging AI to assess and elevate students' scientific literacy‌.

In Yangpu's innovative endeavors of people's city building, how does tech innovation reshape the people's livelihood?

Yangpu and its enterprises are working together to carve out a new chapter in this field

As the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation surges forward, life science and biotechnology have emerged as one of the global hotspots for groundbreaking technologies. In Yangpu, life and health is both a key emerging sector and a vital cause for the people's livelihood. Now, Yangpu and its enterprises are working together to carve out a new chapter in this field.

In December 2024, Yangpu Riverside embraced a "new friend" with the arrival of Shanghai Auzone Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Auzone).

Auzone is dedicated to developing innovative drugs in the field of neurology. After years of exploration, the company has built a robust pipeline of three major drug varieties and over ten development programs. "Our district is home to numerous prestigious universities and top-tier hospitals. It boasts a thriving life and health industry ecosystem and a superior business environment. Relocating here is a strategic move for us to reach new heights and signifies a new starting point," said Hou Shangwei, Chief Scientific Officer of Auzone. "We are eager to quickly establish deep roots here and achieve a significant leap."

Edaravone stands as the sole neuroprotective agent backed by evidence-based medical proof for its antioxidant stress and free radical scavenging capabilities. Yet, current formulations of this drug, either injections or oral suspensions, necessitate low-temperature storage, creating substantial treatment challenges for patients. Auzone's self-developed central nervous system drug, TTYP01 Edaravone oral tablet, marks a substantial leap forward in medication convenience and patient adherence. This innovation allows for room-temperature storage, significantly enhancing patients' medication experience and easing the burden on patients and their families. This groundbreaking new drug is poised to become the first domestic orphan drug in the central nervous system domain to hit the U.S. market this year.

Pan Hualu, Senior Vice President of Auzone, outlined the company's ambitious vision: to introduce 3 to 5 new drugs to the market within the coming three to five years, successfully execute its overseas IPO, establish itself as a leader in China's neurological pharmaceutical innovation, and develop into a globally influential pharmaceutical powerhouse.

Leveraging its abundant scientific and educational resources, concentration of medical institutions, and vibrant innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, Yangpu has long been a driving force for the incubation, transformation, and industrialization of pharmaceutical and healthcare technologies. In 2024, the district established a chain leader system targeting 12 subdivided industrial chains, including pharmaceuticals and healthcare. Through monthly thematic research and quarterly comprehensive advancement, it coordinated efforts in mapping out industrial blueprints, integrating policy services, nurturing key enterprises, and ensuring the supply of essential elements.

For Pan, settling into Yangpu Riverside offers Auzone a strategic advantage. It allows the company to tap into the area's rich resources and engage in robust collaborations with leading domestic and international research institutions and enterprises. This move accelerates the transformation and application of technological achievements, ultimately propelling advancements in human health. "Our arrival in Yangpu signifies our commitment to set sail on the Huangpu River and embrace internationalization," Pan said. "Embedded in this vibrant land of innovation, Auzone is poised to serve as a dynamic and pivotal force in uplifting the life and health industry in our district."

Acute stroke and ALS have successfully concluded key clinical trials in both China and the U.S., with new drug marketing applications submitted. In late last year, the company launched Phase II clinical trials for autism in adolescents and children in China. Liu Xiaomei, Chief Development Officer of Auzone, emphasized, "We're committed to the mission of 'science as the foundation, patients as the priority', dedicating relentless efforts to overcome neuropsychiatric disorders and enhance global health."

The company's relentless pursuit of technological breakthroughs and exploratory advancements resonates with Yangpu's commitment to fostering the integrated development of industry, academia, research, and application, thereby igniting new growth momentum.

AI is now a "learning guide" that empowers students in their scientific exploration

Yangpu is harnessing big data and large-scale models to develop an intelligent assessment system for schools, and it is engaged in research to intelligently evaluate and monitor students' scientific literacy across the district.

Guided by the chief technology instructor and mentors from Tongji University, first-year high school students engaged with the "Learning Pavilion" AR-VR flight simulation environments and aircraft learning tools to explore and unpack the multidisciplinary knowledge of large aircraft design - spanning mathematics, physics, and engineering.

In the physics practice zone of the "Learning Pavilion", students in the advanced physics class performed extended experiments like "measuring magnetic induction intensity on the axis of Helmholtz coils". With the aid of "human-computer dialogue" with intelligent assistants powered by large-scale models, they refined their experimental plans to minimize errors. Recently, No. 1 High School Affiliated to Tongji University has developed a DeepSeek-based intelligent agent for scientific education, creating a new AI-driven paradigm for assessing students' scientific literacy through deep data integration.‌

According to a head of the school, the intelligent assistant, powered by DeepSeek, seamlessly connects with the school's "AI + Deep Learning Pavilion" platform. This integration facilitates precise analysis of students' experimental and research behaviors while empowering them to pursue independent, inquiry-driven, and project-oriented learning across both the offline "AI+Deep Learning Pavilion" and the online "Deep Learning Platform". The platform tracks students' progress from experimental design to product demonstration, enabling them to leverage mathematical knowledge and machine learning algorithms to fit regression models, uncover data patterns, and nurture a scientific mindset.

When discussing the value of AI in education, he said, "AI tools are more than just classroom efficiency boosters, they act as a learning guide that empowers students in their scientific exploration and cognitive development."

The school is actively developing AI teaching assistants to support STEM teachers with tailored suggestions for lesson preparation and customized teaching plans based on students' individual learning needs. These innovations aim to enhance precision in teaching. Furthermore, the school is advancing the development of lesson preparation assistants and departmental work assistants to streamline teaching management and boost operational efficiency. By providing convenient support for lesson preparation and intelligent solutions for school management, the school is fostering a high-quality educational environment.

No. 1 High School Affiliated to Tongji University, a pilot school for the district and university-level digital infrastructure, boasts a rich history of advancing "AI+ science education". By dismantling data silos and enabling seamless data integration, the school has harnessed data to deliver tailored and precise support for both teaching and learning. Now, the school is venturing into new territory in its digital transformation journey by leveraging AI to enhance learning spaces and generative large-scale models to foster students' holistic development.

In 2025, Yangpu will advance the high-quality development of science education in primary and secondary schools, establish the Youth AI Academy, and explore an early talent cultivation mechanism that bridges secondary and higher education to nurture top-tier innovative minds.

No. 1 High School Affiliated to Tongji University, in partnership with East China Normal University, has developed a large-scale model for scientific literacy. This collaboration involves leveraging educational AI agents to perform in-depth data analysis, creating intuitive visualizations of quantitative metrics to form comprehensive student profiles, employing learning analytics to track the entire learning journey, uncovering the effectiveness of STEM education, and constructing matrices to analyze strengths and weaknesses in order to refine teaching strategies, aiding in the development of top-tier innovative talents within the school.