China’s first concept verification center for time-honored brands established in Henan

Henan Daily

Zhengzhou: On July 6, the Zhengzhou Technology Exchange Market–Caoshanhu Health Concept Verification Center (also known as the Caoshanhu Health Innovation Center) was officially inaugurated at Zhongyuan Science and Technology City in Zhengzhou, the capital of Central China’s Henan province. As the first concept verification center in China’s health sector jointly established by a technology exchange platform and a time-honored domestic brand, its launch marks a new step forward in Henan’s efforts to transform scientific and technological achievements into real-world applications. Caoshanhu is a renowned traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) brand with decades of history in the health industry, widely recognized for its commitment to integrating ancient remedies with modern innovation.

Concept verification is a crucial process in transforming scientific research into practical, market-ready technologies. By systematically validating ideas and developing viable prototypes, it effectively reduces risks in technology transfer and enhances the efficiency of securing investment.

In recent years, the development of concept verification platforms in China has flourished across multiple regions. After Henan launched the construction of a concept verification center collaboration network in 2024, the Zhengzhou Technology Exchange Market took the lead in exploring a collaborative innovation model combining market mechanisms with time-honored brands. This latest partnership with Caoshanhu, a domestic brand with a 67-year history, has pioneered a new paradigm integrating traditional industry upgrading with technological innovation.

As a well-known time-honored domestic brand, why did Caoshanhu choose Zhengzhou to collaborate on establishing a concept verification center?

“There are currently 36 nationally recognized time-honored Chinese brands and 272 provincial-level heritage brands in Henan, covering industries like agricultural and sideline food processing, handicrafts, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and Henan liquor,” said Che Zhongrui, head of the Zhengzhou Technology Exchange Market. “Through this partnership between time-honored domestic brands and the local technology exchange market, we aim to explore how to closely integrate these heritage brands with Henan’s existing scientific and technological innovation resources, empowering them with new technologies to revitalize their vitality and catch up with the new trends in consumption and retail.”