Fengyun | At Tiankai Jinnan Park, Our Gansu Entrepreneur Is Creating "Sugar That Won't Make You Fat"!

He has come all the way from Pingliang, Gansu.

Why did he choose to start a business in Tianjin?

The equipment produced by his company can artificially synthesize sugar.

What mysteries lie behind this?

He is the Executive Vice President of the Gansu Chamber of Commerce in Tianjin, Chairman and General Manager of Oushangyuan Process & Equipment Intelligent Co., Zhang Tianti.

Without the halo of a 985 prestigious university, how did he, a graduate from an ordinary institution, make a comeback and break through?

He is determined to make "Chinese products that Europeans admire." Where does this ambition come from, and can it be achieved?

"Jin Business Fengyun" Special Planning "Building Dreams in Tiankai, Creating the Future Together" - A Dialogue with Technological Entrepreneurs, focusing on the mission and positioning of Tiankai Park as a source of scientific and technological innovation, an incubator of scientific research results, and an ecological circle of technological innovation services.

In this episode, the host Sun Yang will have a conversation with Zhang Tianti, Executive Vice President of the Gansu Chamber of Commerce in Tianjin and Chairman and General Manager of Oushangyuan Process & Equipment Intelligent Co., to tell his entrepreneurial story.

Below is the full transcript of this interview

01

Rooted in Tianjin for over 20 years! Becoming a leader in "Sugar Technology"

Sun Yang

Hello Mr. Zhang, are you from Gansu? When did you come to Tianjin?

Zhang Tianti

I am from Gansu, my hometown is Zhuanglang in Pingliang. Zhuanglang is located in the eastern part of Gansu, at the junction of three provinces: Gansu, Shaanxi, and Ningxia. I came to Tianjin in 2003 to study at Tianjin Vocational and Technical Normal University, and after graduating in 2007, I have been working and starting businesses in Tianjin for over 20 years.

Sun Yang

This dates back 22 years ago when you came to Tianjin, studied here, graduated, and then settled down to start a business. Your company is named Oushangyuan. Oushangyuan is positioned in the overall design of synthetic biological technology and the research and development, production, and manufacturing of core intelligent equipment. Many people might think this company is very professional. Could you introduce the business of this company in a simple and understandable way?

Zhang Tianti

We mainly engage in process development in the field of biomanufacturing and the manufacturing of separation and purification equipment. In the industrial processing of all the food and pharmaceuticals we consume, many impurities are produced. It is necessary to remove pigments, metal ions, and other unwanted impurities. For example, glucose for infusions, these processes all require separation and purification. Oushangyuan mainly has two businesses. The first is the traditional field of biomanufacturing. We mainly produce separation and purification equipment, specifically for purifying food and pharmaceuticals. The other is in the field of synthetic biology. We take the new products developed by scientists, scale them up through pilot testing, develop a set of pilot processes that are industrializable and economically viable, customize a basic equipment, and then package and promote it to the market for the end-users.

Pilot equipment: Pilot production equipment is the transition link from small-scale experiments to industrial production. It is used to complete the transition from small-scale to production operations on model production equipment, ensuring that the required quality standard products can always be produced according to operating procedures. The design requirements, selection, and working principles of pilot equipment are basically the same as large-scale production. The purpose of piloting is to study industrially feasible processes and equipment selection to provide a basis for industrial design.

Laboratory sample testing 1

Laboratory sample testing 2

02

Unveiling the mystery of "sugar that won't make you fat"!

The synthetic biology behind the ten thousand-ton production line

Sun Yang

It is said that the equipment you produce can artificially synthesize sugar, right?

Zhang Tianti

Yes, it's Allulose. Allulose is a sugar found in figs in nature. Its sweetness is 70% that of white sugar, and its heat is only 1/10 of white sugar, so it is a "non-fattening" sugar. It is very suitable for the current high incidence of diabetes, especially for the hundreds of millions of people at risk of diabetes and those who are worried about diabetes. If we only extract it from figs, it would be very rare and expensive, and unaffordable. Our scientists use synthetic biology to create a strain through genetic engineering that produces an enzyme. This enzyme converts common substances in nature, especially fructose isomerized from glucose, to produce Allulose, thus achieving industrialization. At present, we have established a production line for Allulose with an annual output of tens of thousands of tons in China, and ordinary people can also eat products containing Allulose. At the same time, I want to clarify that Allulose has been approved in the United States, Japan, and South Korea for several years. China has stricter food safety controls. The draft for comments approved on April 20th, if there are no surprises, will be available to ordinary people in the second half of the year. They will be able to enjoy delicious and non-fattening Allulose.

Allulose sample display diagram

After the fermentation product (Allulose) strain production is promoted to a large scale and industrialized, it not only improves the manufacturing level of Allulose to a higher level but also significantly reduces the manufacturing cost. Oushangyuan can not only provide the entire Allulose production process but also provide more than 80% of the separation and purification equipment. Most of the main Allulose manufacturers in China use Oushangyuan's technology and separation and purification equipment.

Fermentation product (Allulose) front-end fermentation pilot line

Fermentation product (Allulose) back-end extraction pilot line

Sun Yang

We all say that the development of a company will not be smooth sailing. From the experience you just shared with us, I always think that the development of our company is very smooth and steady, and always making continuous breakthroughs and progress.

Zhang Tianti

Our company has not made any investments beyond my cognitive range. I focus on one thing, which is already very remarkable, so I have not been distracted or done anything beyond my cognitive range.

This mainly has two aspects. First, it is due to the trend development in the field of biomanufacturing in our country. Second, our company indeed puts technological innovation first. At present, we have developed 15 types of separation and purification equipment, with a wide variety, so the development of our company is relatively rapid.

03

Zero projects at the beginning of the business! Relying on reputation to gain industry fame

Sun Yang

Have you ever thought about a way out when encountering difficulties?

Zhang Tianti

No. Regarding entrepreneurship, I have always had a philosophy: do it until you are powerless. I will do everything I can and not give up easily. Entrepreneurs are like pushing a wheel up a hill. If they are not careful, they will fall into a ditch, so they can only continue to work hard and not slack off at all.

Let me tell a small story from more than ten years ago. When we first started our business, we happened to receive the first project. We received an order of more than 3 million, and then we started our business. After we started our business, we did not have any projects in the second year. We did not know where our customers were, and our customers did not know who we were. This made us feel lost. For nearly a year, we did not have any projects, and even one of our partners left to look for a job. The other four of us continued to persevere.

Later, the first set of automated production lines we made was recognized by our customers, and others learned about our company through other inspections. My customers recommended me. At this time, more customers came to our door, and we received the second order. After the second order, we successively received three or four production lines. After we gained a certain reputation in the industry, business became a bit easier. Everything is difficult at the beginning, and our beginning was quite difficult. Relying on my customers' endorsement, only good performance was recommended to their friends. Although this mode seems very primitive, the success rate is the highest.

Zhang Tianti introducing the valve array multi-unit continuous ion exchange system at the beginning of the business

Zhang Tianti introducing the valve array multi-unit continuous ion exchange system at the beginning of the business

My business philosophy is to share with customers and bring benefits to customers by improving quality and saving energy and reducing consumption. Therefore, we will first think from the customer's perspective, develop products, improve the quality of the production line, and reduce energy consumption. This is our dream.

When our company was very small, we put technological innovation and research and development first. Regarding honest business, I am very proud to express two things. The first thing is that we have never owed any employee's salary, no matter how difficult it was, we have never owed any employee's salary. Second, we have never owed suppliers' payments. This is a manifestation of our integrity.

I believe that entrepreneurs and businessmen should fulfill social responsibilities, which is their duty. For example, when our company was very small, we did not ask employees about marriage or childbirth when recruiting, worrying that it would affect work.

Sun Yang

You came to Tianjin in 2003. Do you think you have integrated into the city of Tianjin?

Zhang Tianti

I have integrated. I am especially grateful to the people of Tianjin. Tianjin is not exclusive. We are from rural Gansu. I have never been out of the county before going to school, and I have never eaten fish before going to university. In Tianjin, we have not felt any exclusion: unlike the online rumors that many big places look down on outsiders, this situation has not happened in Tianjin. I think Tianjin is a very inclusive city, and the citizens of Tianjin do not have discrimination issues. We feel very comfortable living here. Our family and children are all in Tianjin, and it is very good.

Photo taken at Panshan Scenic Area in Ji County, Tianjin

Sun Yang

You graduated from Tianjin Vocational and Technical Normal University, which is known as the cradle of craftsmen's teachers. Although you did not become a teacher or a teacher of craftsmen, I heard that you were hired as an entrepreneurial mentor by your alma mater?

Zhang Tianti

Yes, I just passed, and I was hired as an external guidance teacher.

Sun Yang

In the process of starting a business, can the experiences you learned in school be used?

Zhang Tianti

They can be used. My alma mater is a very pragmatic university, emphasizing the use of both hands and brain. I remember when we graduated from university, we went for interviews to find jobs. Others might only read "pressure transmitters and flowmeters" in textbooks, but I (when I was in university) used these instruments and debugged them. After I entered the job, I was the fastest to get started. I always have a philosophy - being half a step ahead of others is enough, which allows us to integrate into society more quickly. At the same time, some of our students come from technical schools and are directly admitted to undergraduate studies from technical schools. These students are more pragmatic. This has a great impact on my entrepreneurship. I am also very pragmatic. I understand the pain points and problems that customers need, and I start my business, product research and development, and business management with this idea. In this way, I have avoided many detours, and I am especially grateful to my alma mater for cultivating my very rigorous and pragmatic work style.

Sun Yang

Nowadays, many young people have innovative ideas, including in universities, where they may have already started their own companies while studying. Do you think it is better to work first to gain experience or start a business directly?

Zhang Tianti

It depends on the person and what you have done in college. As you said, if I wanted to start a business in college, there are many successful examples. For example, Bill Gates and Li Xiang of Li Auto are models of starting a business without completing college; there are more successful examples of starting a business after graduating from university. Most people start a business after gaining some work experience, so when to start a business, I think it varies from person to person. I suggest that students in college who only attend classes every day and go from textbooks to textbooks should accumulate some experience before starting a business.

If you have considered how to start a business in college and have read relevant entrepreneurial knowledge and have a certain understanding of entrepreneurship, it is not impossible to start a business just after graduating from university. The key is the main foundation at that time. I cannot advise my juniors and sisters in a one-size-fits-all way. Both approaches are correct, but do not be overly ambitious. Some children have no money of their own and use their parents' savings, such as opening a very low-end hot pot restaurant or milk tea shop, which is very risky, and I do not recommend parents supporting their children in this way to start a business.

The initial capital for starting a business can be your own, venture capital, or angel investment funds. If you can convince those people to invest in you, it at least proves that your business project is reliable, rather than playing on emotions and using your parents' pension money. I have seen many people, for example, opening a hot pot restaurant, how big is the area, how many tables can be placed in total, how much does a person charge on average, how many times can a meal be turned over to make money, and they do not know these things. The risk of starting a business in this way is very high. Therefore, I suggest not using your parents' money to start a business (you should use investor's money or your own money to start a business). If you are confident, I think it is not too early to start a business at any time, and it is not too late to start a business at any time. When you are confident, it is the best time for you to start a business.

Sun Yang

Do you remember what Tiankai Nan Yuan looked like when it first started in 2023?

Zhang Tianti

At first, there were only two buildings, with small business scale and fewer companies. Now the situation is completely different. Jinnan District has made Tiankai Park and Haihe Education Park as technological sources, and will also use the development zone of Jinnan District as a result transformation area. From industry, academia, and research to pilot testing, and then back to the carrier industrialization of the Jinnan Development Zone, a one-stop service is realized.

This year, Oushangyuan is preparing to establish a second production base in Jinnan District. I think after this is connected, a company can grow from nothing to something, from small to large, and from large to strong, achieving the entire chain development.

Currently, many foreign companies are coming here to attract investment. Why haven't I left? Moreover, Oushangyuan's first phase of production has not been long, and we have obtained a piece of land? There are mainly two reasons: First, Tianjin's business environment is indeed the best. The second aspect is the talent advantage. If I cannot recruit useful talents in Tianjin, there is only one reason: the money is not enough. If the money is in place, there are all kinds of talents. But if you go to a place with relatively scarce talents, it's not about money: the region has no talents, so how can the company develop?

04

Be an investment ambassador, create a cooperation model!

To make the world fall in love with "Made in China"

Sun Yang

Will you use your personal strength to introduce better companies to Tiankai Jinnan Park?

Zhang Tianti

Yes, I am an investment ambassador of Jinnan District. I will tell the story of Tiankai Park, especially Tiankai Jinnan Park. I suggest that my customers put their research and development centers in Tianjin. Tianjin University, the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Tianjin University of Science and Technology are all very famous in the field of synthetic biology. So I suggest to my customers that you can build your pilot base or research and development center in Tianjin and hope they can start a business in Tianjin.

Sun Yang

We all know that Tiankai Park is committed to promoting in-depth integration of industry, academia, and research. How do you view the possibility of further deepening cooperation between Oushangyuan and university research institutions under the background of Tiankai Park?

Zhang Tianti

We understand each other through the platform. After understanding, we enter the next step of work. For example, Tiankai Park has very good policies, such as listing and leading, which transform our cooperative horizontal topics into small and medium topics that university teachers value very much. This is very attractive for them. On the one hand, it completes the scientific research tasks for the enterprise, and on the other hand, it completes the provincial and ministerial topics for them. Its appeal far exceeds the horizontal industry-university-research contract that I sign with the university alone, which is very important for them.

On the other hand, I think we should free the hands of scientists. Scientists should only be responsible for laboratory development, at most to "pilot testing", and engineers need to complete economic evaluation, only to 0 to 1, but the work from 1 to 100 should be completed by enterprises. With the support of Tiankai Park, we have built a pilot platform for synthetic biology, hoping to introduce the scientific research results of scientists, we carry out pilot amplification, and then package and promote them to the market.

Sun Yang

Oushangyuan is your child. Watching the child grow up day by day, parents must have a particularly beautiful expectation. What specific expectations do you have for the future of Oushangyuan?

Zhang Tianti

We hope to make Oushangyuan a company respected by the world. Once involved in the separation and purification of the field of biomanufacturing, people can think of Oushangyuan. Our goal is to become an explorer and a leader in the industry. When I retire and hand over the company to the next successor, I hope Oushangyuan will become a well-known company in the field of separation and purification globally. This is my vision.

*The text and audio are reprinted from Tianjin News Radio "Jin Business Fengyun