On November 30, Prof. Peng Zhang from SCCB and Mr. Jiamin Fang from Division of Scientific Research Administration of SIPPE attended the inaugural meeting of Cassava Industry Technological Innovation Strategy Alliance (CITISA), which was held at the Guangxi Academy of Sciences (GXAS). The alliance include 27 members from GXAS; Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences (SIBS), Chinese Academy of Sciences; Guangxi Mingyang Biochemical Science & Technology Inc.; Guangxi University etc.. The objectives of CITISA are to Integrate scientific and technological resources related to cassava industrialization, to promote the development of cassava industrial technology innovation system, and to optimize cassava industry structure for increasing the core competences. The final goal of CITISA is to set up new mechanisms for cassava industrialization coupled by an innovation-driven development and integration of Industry-Academia-Research. Vice-President Zhangliang Chen of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region attended the inauguration ceremony and jointly unveiled the name plate of CITISA with President Ribo Huang of GXAS. On behalf of SIBS, Prof. Peng Zhang took part in the signing ceremony.