Cutting-edge tech accelerates scaled commercial deployment; AI creates entirely new virtual-world experiences | Rongbao · March

Spring is in full swing, and vitality is everywhere. In this March edition of the Gaorong Monthly, we round up the scaled commercialization of frontier technologies — from new energy storage and LiDAR to nanopore gene sequencing — the immersive virtual worlds made possible by advances in AI, and how new consumer products are becoming part of a better life.

Mar

Funding

WeView Closes Series A Round to Lead Scaled Smart Manufacturing of Flow Batteries

On March 18, WeView, a company focused on smart manufacturing of new energy storage batteries, announced the completion of its Series A financing of over RMB 600 million. The round was jointly led by Guohe Xinli and Zhuhai Da Hengqin Group. Gaorong Ventures had led WeView's Pre-A round in 2022 and participated in subsequent rounds.

WeView has long been committed to R&D of new energy storage technologies and smart manufacturing of storage batteries. All proceeds from this round will go toward building multiple gigawatt-capacity "Super-G factories," continuously expanding production capacity for WeView's zinc-iron flow batteries, and driving down costs.

Drawing on deep expertise in high-tech manufacturing, WeView has proactively deployed fully digitized intelligent production lines. Its first 100-megawatt "flow battery stack intelligent production line" went live in January 2023. This strong digital backbone provides a replicable model for rapidly scaling smart manufacturing capabilities across multiple WeView "Super-G factories." WeView's first gigawatt-capacity "Super-G factory" is scheduled to begin production in mid-2023, a milestone that will usher the flow battery storage industry into a new era of intelligent manufacturing. Read more

Xinhuazang Secures Strategic Investment to Strengthen Full-Flow Digital Verification Services

Recently, Xinhuazhang, a provider of system-level verification EDA solutions, announced a strategic investment from the CICT 5G Fund. Gaorong Ventures had led Xinhuazhang's Series A round and continued to participate in its A+ and Pre-B rounds.

The proceeds will accelerate product mass production and commercial deployment, strengthen the company's expert technical support team, and further solidify Xinhuazhang's full-flow digital verification service capabilities — providing the digital industry with secure, reliable, high-quality toolchains.

Based on advanced digital verification EDA tools, Xinhuazhang will work with its strategic investor to build a more robust digital industry collaborative ecosystem, actively exploring deep cooperation in AI, intelligent connected vehicles, high-performance computing, and smart industrial IoT.

Since its founding, Xinhuazhang has built its platform on four technical pillars — intelligent debugging, intelligent compilation, intelligent verification cockpit, and intelligent cloud-native technologies — offering a comprehensive product portfolio covering all digital chip verification needs, and providing partners with independently developed, secure, and reliable chip industry solutions and expert consulting services. The company is also committed to researching and developing EDA 2.0, an intelligent electronic design platform for the future, using technological innovation to accelerate electronic system innovation efficiency.

Mar

Data Points

Hyperparameter Releases GAEA, a Milestone in Exploring L3 "AI Society" and Building AI NPC Ecosystems

Recently, Hyperparameter released GAEA (Massive AI-driven NPC System) — a technical system with the capability to build AI NPC ecosystems. In a technical demo set in a virtual "Chang'an City," Hyperparameter showcased AI NPCs with distinct personalities living, connecting, and influencing one another, generating an endless stream of emergent events.

Hyperparameter is committed to building ultimate AI Bots around an L1-L4 development path (L1: AI individuals, L2: AI squads, L3: AI society, L4: AI world). GAEA represents a milestone in its exploration of L3 "AI society." In early 2023, GAEA also integrated LLM capabilities, with a focus on enhancing plot generation and natural language interaction.

The key to building GAEA lies in creating "living" AI NPCs and establishing feedback mechanisms. To this end, Hyperparameter built two subsystems for GAEA: the Environment system, which handles interaction and feedback with massive numbers of AI NPCs and drives the self-sustaining operation of the entire AI NPC ecosystem; and the Soul Module, which creates "living" AI NPCs. The two subsystems interact through GAEA's feedback mechanism, influencing each other to enable the perpetual operation of "AI society."

In the "AI society" created by GAEA, any action by an AI NPC activates the entire ecosystem. Through constant interaction and feedback among massive numbers of AI NPCs, content emerges endlessly. Past decisions by AI NPCs affect each other's futures, achieving a dynamically balanced, self-sustaining ecosystem that ultimately evolves into an "AI society" of remarkable complexity.

XVERSE and Tsinghua Collaboration Accepted by Two Top International Speech Conferences; "3D AIGC-Digital Human Multimodal Interaction" Module Goes Live

In early March, two AI research collaborations between XVERSE and Tsinghua University's Human-Computer Speech Interaction Lab (THUHCSI) were accepted by two top international conferences: ICASSP (the premier conference in acoustics, speech, and signal processing) and INTERSPEECH (the international speech communication conference).

Four papers on speech interaction were accepted by ICASSP, with technologies spanning music-to-dance generation, speech synthesis, and speech recognition gaining international recognition. Last June, three additional joint papers were presented at INTERSPEECH, covering speech synthesis, voice conversion, singing voice synthesis, and speech enhancement.

These research outcomes have been deployed in XVERSE's "3D AIGC-Digital Human Multimodal Interaction" business module.

XVERSE and Tsinghua's forward-looking industry-academia collaboration on human-computer speech interaction aims to explore efficient interaction between "human-machine-environment," enabling AI to interact with people in more natural ways and serve human needs. The collaboration focuses on two directions: first, "voice cloning algorithms" to build personalized, small-data, thousand-person-thousand-voice speech synthesis systems, improving similarity, intelligibility, and naturalness of synthesized voices; and second, "music-to-dance generation," innovating skeletal animation generation algorithms that allow AI to learn human movement patterns from simple to complex, generating natural and vivid body language.

GalaxySpace's "One Rocket, Four Satellites" Forms World's First Wheel-Formation Satellite Constellation

On March 30, China used a Long March 2D carrier rocket at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center to successfully launch four InSAR satellites (Hongtu-1 01 group satellites) developed by GalaxySpace in a "one rocket, four satellites" mission. The satellites entered their planned orbits and the launch was a complete success.

The four satellites comprise one primary satellite and three auxiliary satellites, forming the world's first four-satellite formation-flying X-band InSAR Earth imaging system — and in orbit, the world's first wheel-formation satellite constellation.

The constellation is capable of 1:50,000 scale mapping of non-polar regions worldwide, enabling rapid and efficient high-precision land surveying; millimeter-level deformation monitoring, providing data support for surveying and prevention of ground subsidence, collapse, and landslides — a powerful tool for early identification of major geological hazards in complex areas; and sub-meter high-resolution wide-swath imaging for all-weather, all-day high-quality Earth observation, with overall technology reaching internationally leading standards.

For small-batch civil SAR satellite manufacturing, GalaxySpace dramatically improved development efficiency through digital simulation, automated testing, and process optimization across satellite design, integration, and launch site testing — reducing typical development time by over 60%. Read more

Innovusion Announces Multiple Partnerships to Drive Multi-Scenario Deployment of High-Performance LiDAR

In March, Innovusion, a global provider of image-grade LiDAR, announced partnerships with multiple industry-leading companies.

These include a strategic partnership with EACON, a mining autonomous driving company, to supply image-grade ultra-long-range LiDAR Falcon as the forward-facing main radar integrated into EACON's autonomous driving solution; a designated partnership with ZhiTu Technology, a leader in commercial vehicle autonomous driving, to explore deep integration of high-performance LiDAR with multi-scenario intelligent logistics solutions; a strategic partnership with Cao Cao Mobility, a leading ride-hailing platform, to enhance safety and comfort in advanced intelligent driving for both drivers and passengers; and a mass production designated partnership with Plus, a global leader in heavy truck autonomous driving technology, focusing on highway logistics scenarios to achieve breakthroughs in high-speed heavy truck autonomous driving.

Innovusion is committed to helping more scenarios achieve intelligent breakthroughs through forward-looking, high-performance LiDAR products. Leveraging product technological advancement and cost controllability, Innovusion is also actively cooperating with multiple industry leaders in connected vehicles, smart highways, rail transit, and industrial automation both domestically and internationally.

Geekplus AMR Robots Cut Carbon Emissions by 140,000 Tons in 2022, Continuing to Build a Green Logistics Future

Recently, Geekplus, a global leader in warehouse robotics, published its ESG achievements. Through scientific comparison of energy consumption between AMR smart warehouses and traditional warehouse operations, Geekplus's goods-to-person robot fleets saved over 16 million kWh of electricity and nearly 140,000 tons of carbon emissions globally in 2022 — equivalent to the coal capacity of 887 train cars.

Committed to integrating carbon neutrality into its core business, Geekplus accelerates its own production carbon reduction through local sourcing of raw materials and modular robot design, while empowering customers to reduce emissions, cut costs, and improve efficiency through advanced logistics robotics solutions — taking concrete action to support a green future for logistics.

In helping customers achieve sustainability goals, AMR robots can operate autonomously and efficiently 24/7 in dark environments, significantly reducing energy consumption from lighting, air conditioning, and other equipment in warehouses, supporting customers in building "dark factories." Additionally, Geekplus AMR robots themselves have low energy consumption advantages, with battery life 60% above industry average.

To maximize resource utilization, Geekplus achieves component reuse rates of up to 80% or higher, maximizing material savings, energy conservation, and environmental protection.

Qitan Tech Boosts Nanopore Gene Sequencing Single-Read Accuracy to 97%; Medium-Throughput Sequencer Coming This Summer

On March 10, Qitan Technology unveiled its latest upgrades at a technical launch event: the new K2 nanopore protein, silicon-based sequencing chip QCell-S, and next-generation sequencing algorithm suite Hound v1.2 — delivering substantial overall performance improvements.

Compared to the previous-generation nanopore protein, K2 brings higher sequencing precision with more uniform effective signal distribution, clearer current step transitions, and better signal-to-noise ratio. The silicon-based QCell-S chip features upgraded fluidics and manufacturing processes for more stable sequencing performance — better mass production accessibility, higher chip utilization, and sequencing sample input reduced to just one-third of previous requirements. The Hound v1.2 algorithm suite builds on existing high-precision and high-speed models to comprehensively improve sequencing accuracy, with sequencing efficiency boosted by 120%.

Overall, under the K2 system, Qitan Technology's nanopore gene sequencing delivers more accurate, stable, and efficient sequencing, with single-read accuracy jumping from 90% to 97% and consensus accuracy improving from Q40 to Q50 — that is, 99.999% at 70x coverage.

As China's first upstream nanopore gene sequencing platform company, Qitan Technology has continuously refined its product matrix, forming a sequencing platform centered on gene sequencers with supporting reagents, chips, and software, plus laboratory automation and bioinformatics analysis products — building a complete nanopore gene sequencing solution.

This summer, Qitan Technology will launch its first medium-throughput nanopore gene sequencer, equipped with the K2 system, offering both higher sequencing throughput and superior performance to适配更多应用场景.

JingHe Biotech Signs Lu-177 Clinical Priority Supply Agreement; First Candidate Drug Enters Clinical Development in 2023

Recently, JingHe Biotech, a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing next-generation theranostic targeted radioligand therapies, announced a clinical priority supply agreement for Lu-177 isotope with China Isotope & Radiation Corporation (CIRC), a domestic leader in nuclear medicine. Under the agreement, CIRC will provide JingHe Biotech with Lu-177 nuclide supply, ensuring priority access for clinical and later-stage commercial use.

JingHe Biotech will use CIRC-supplied Lu-177 to accelerate development of its theranostic pipeline, aiming to provide transformative radiopharmaceutical therapies for cancer patients worldwide. Building a stable clinical nuclide supply chain is a key competitive advantage for targeted radiopharmaceutical innovators, and JingHe Biotech noted it is establishing diversified nuclide supply channels with leading domestic and international partners.

Founded in 2021, JingHe Biotech built proprietary technology platforms from day one for ligand screening, modulated conjugation factors (J-Linker technology), and clinical translation — critical capabilities for radiopharmaceutical development. The company's first candidate drug is expected to enter clinical development in 2023.

Vision

Nothing Releases Latest Wireless Earbuds: Ear (2) TWS

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Gaorong Hub

Gaorong Hub "Capital Markets" Series Events

Recently, full registration-based IPO reform was officially implemented in A-shares, while new overseas listing filing management rules took effect. How can technology innovation enterprises seize opportunities amid these changes and better formulate capital market and long-term development strategies? What are the latest trends in domestic and overseas capital markets? How should high-growth potential innovative companies plan their listing pathways and prepare practically?

In March, Gaorong Hub invited experts from CICC's Investment Banking Department and Commerce & Finance Law Offices to share capital strategy choices with innovative enterprises based on latest policies and cases. Additionally, experts from JPMorgan Chase's China Technology Investment Banking Department conducted an online sharing session on recent capital market updates and key considerations.