A computer-generated image of BGI Center, the company's global headquarters complex that was completed June 26.

BGI, the globally leading institution focusing on life science, saw its global headquarters complex completed in Yantian District on June 26. The new complex marks a breakthrough for BGI to further promote life science and gene technology, according to Wang Jian, the chairman of BGI.

The headquarters complex consists of the main building, an annex building as well as three apartment buildings, with a total construction area of over 300,000 square meters.

In addition to the office areas, supporting facilities that include an international convention center and laboratories for spatiotemporal omics, synthesis and mass spectrum research will be put into use.

Founded in 1999, BGI is devoted to the cause of scientific research on life sciences, covering a wide range of studies varying from the genomes of animals and plants, synthetic biology, gene editing and genetic therapy. Thanks to its research findings, BGI has formed a unique development model with the integration of market-oriented production and research studies.

Planning to build the center as an interdisciplinary gathering place for attracting more experts and scholars of different nationalities and research fields, BGI aims to bring the benefit of gene technologies to more people through global cooperation in life sciences.

Also yesterday, the Yantian Life Science Museum and the Life Science Popularization Lecture Hall opened. In cooperation with the Yantian District Science and Technology Innovation Bureau, BGI and Heyi Museum, the Yantian Life Science Museum is hosting an education exhibition featuring specimens of 14 kinds of extinct animals, providing detailed information including morphological characteristics, growth habits, and genomic information.