Algerian lured to SZ by its biotech potential

Editor's Note

Shenzhen has been attracting more and more foreign professionals to the city, who contribute to its high-quality development while advancing their careers. 

Shenzhen Daily is publishing a series of stories about high-caliber expats, sharing their stories and the reasons why they chose to work and live in Shenzhen.

Video and photos by Lin Jianping

Nihad Cheraga, adorned in formal attire, has a bustling schedule, including meetings, communication with representatives from different companies, making international growth strategies, and handling international cooperation and partnerships, among other responsibilities.

The Algerian is the business development manager of Times High Tech Park, which manages Weiguang Life Science Park in Guangming District. Currently, Cheraga is in charge of the internationalization of Weiguang Life Science Park.

Nihad Cheraga bathes in the golden embrace of the sunset at Weiguang Life Science Park in Guangming District.

The park, located in the core science and education area of Guangming Science City, is a professional biomedical park that specializes in the translation of scientific results in synthetic biology. It covers an area of 100 mu (arond 66,700 square meters) and provides a total planned construction area of approximately 300,000 square meters.

A view of Weiguang Life Science Park.

Cheraga chose to further her study in China after obtaining her bachelor’s degree in pharmacy back in Algeria. She successfully earned her master’s and Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Southeast University in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province.

“After completing my studies and graduating with distinction, I conducted some research on the internet because I’m interested in further developing in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry,” Cheraga said, adding that Shenzhen emerges as one of the prominent hubs in China, offering significant opportunities for foreign talents like her.

Cheraga receives an exclusive interview with Shenzhen Daily.

“Shenzhen is becoming the major technology hub in China, with a highly supportive ecosystem for startups. As a doctorate holder in biomedical engineering, I’m really interested in learning more about the biotechnology industry in Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area, and what it’s going to offer for the global economic development,” Cheraga said.

Cheraga works in her office.

And here she is - Cheraga arrived in Shenzhen and joined Times High Tech Park in May this year. Her role involves spearheading the internationalization of Weiguang Life Science Park by establishing and cultivating strategic partnerships with accelerators and incubators worldwide. She is also responsible for attracting new biotech companies and startups to relocate to Guangming Science City.

“Weiguang Life Science Park is the first biomedical industrial park in the Great Bay Area, featuring translational research of synthetic biology. The park is fairly new, with construction starting in 2020. It is divided into three phases, with phases one and two already in operation. Phase three will start construction in January 2024,” Cheraga introduced.

Cheraga introduces the park.

The park offers services and resources specifically designed for biotech and biomedical startups, including laboratories, manufacturing spaces, shared offices, consulting services, as well as fundraising and networking opportunities.

“For now, we have officially registered about 33 companies in the entire park and we are expecting to have 10 more by the end of this year. We are in the process of negotiation and contract signing with them. So it’s going to be between 45 to 50 companies by the end of the year,” Cheraga said.

A view of Weiguang Life Science Park.

According to Cheraga, currently, most of the companies are Chinese companies, with some founded by overseas returnees. “We also have two big State research centers, which is the Shenzhen Bay Laboratory and SMART (Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation). We call it SMART,” she said.

“Guangming Science City is a relatively new project in Shenzhen, but has quickly become a major center for technology and innovation,” Cheraga commented. For her, Guangming Science City’s business environment is very favorable for companies to develop and operate.

She cited several reasons. First, government support policies, including tax incentives and subsidies, coupled with easy access to capital, play a crucial role. Second, the excellent infrastructure, encompassing transportation, communication, and other resources, makes it highly convenient for companies to function and also attract and retain talents. Third, Guangming boasts a large and continuously growing pool of skilled professionals.

So far, Cheraga has been working in Guangming for around half a year. Her fluency in Chinese and strong grasp of Chinese culture allows her to efficiently handle her job tasks. However, given that Guangming Science City is still in the process of development, she faces difficulty in engaging with international peers.

Cheraga poses for a photo at the park.

“I’m still working to expand my international friend circle for support when I feel lonely or a bit homesick,” she said.

Cheraga has been working closely with the Guangming District Government on a strategy to attract more foreign talents to the district. “Guangming is a new district in Shenzhen, so it’s on its way to becoming a global hub for biotechnology. So we need to work on the strategy to make it more approachable and more appealing to foreign talents,” Cheraga said.

Furthermore, she reached out to Shenzhen Daily to connect with more international friends. “They helped me join EyeShenzhen’s Global Communication Ambassador program. Through this, I already had the opportunity to meet various foreign talents and content creators, with whom I became friends,” she said.

A view of Guangming District.

In general, the Algerian enjoys living in Guangming and employed several key words to depict the district: vibrant, innovative, green, and promising.

Cheraga poses for a photo at the park.