On July 16, 2026, the R&D Center of Heilongjiang UnicornShell Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd. officially topped out in Keshan County. The Heilongjiang UnicornShell R&D Center actively explores an integrated "Party Building + Sci-Tech Innovation" model, giving full play to the vanguard and exemplary role of Party members, and injecting "red momentum" into the entire process of scientific research and production. The center houses a Party Building Center and, rooted in the agro-rural industry, focuses on three major directions — potato breeding, hydroxypropyl starch, and plant-based capsule R&D — to build a complete innovation chain from field to laboratory and from laboratory to production line. It will also construct a capsule science museum open to the public for plant-based capsule education.

Deep Cultivation in Agro-Rural Industry, Empowering Rural Revitalization

Keshan County is known as the "Hometown of China's Potato Seed Tubers," with a potato cultivation history spanning over a century and a track record of breeding multiple Kexin-series seed varieties. Grounded in this resource endowment, the Heilongjiang UnicornShell R&D Center uses potatoes as the core raw material to connect the entire chain of "potato cultivation — modified starch processing — plant-based capsule R&D and production," promoting the deep integration of agriculture and the pharmaceutical and health industry.

Upon reaching full production, the project is expected to drive the construction of large-scale local potato planting bases, directly increasing farmer income and agricultural efficiency, injecting sustained momentum into rural revitalization.

<Swipe left/right for more>

Key R&D Topics at the Technology R&D Center — Plant-Based Pharmaceutical Excipients and TCM Modernization

As the core raw material for plant-based capsules, the R&D of hydroxypropyl starch directly determines product performance. The R&D center focuses on the in-depth development of potato modified starch processing technology, prioritizing the following topics:

• Targeted regulation of starch chain structure: Studying the genetic regulation mechanism of amylopectin and amylose ratios in potato starch to breed specialty potato varieties suitable for pharmaceutical excipient production.
• Application of hydroxy-isomerized plant materials in biological capsules: Exploring spatial isomerization pathways of hydroxyl groups in starch molecules to improve the compatibility between hydroxypropyl starch and active pharmaceutical ingredients, reduce capsule disintegration delay, and enhance bioavailability.
• Targeted design of functional excipients: Designing hydroxypropyl starch product series with specific substitution degrees and viscosity gradients tailored to different drug release requirements (immediate release, sustained release, enteric-coated).
• Integrated research on plant-based pharmaceutical excipients and TCM modernization: Exploring compatibility principles between plant-based capsules and TCM extracts and functional foods, developing high-end capsule carriers suitable for TCM modernization.

<Swipe left/right for more>

Plant-Based Capsule R&D — 27 Years of Technological Accumulation, Entering the Global First Tier

Since launching plant capsule research in 1999 in collaboration with the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, UnicornShell has spent over 20 years of continuous R&D and now holds more than 30 core technological achievements including national invention patents, international invention patents, utility model patents, and software copyrights. Products have passed U.S. FDA registration, Halal certification, European BRC certification, and China NMPA associated review. In May 2026, a major breakthrough was achieved by extending product shelf life from 48 months to 60 months, placing UnicornShell among the global first tier of plant capsule technology.

Capsule Science Museum — Bringing the Public Into the Big World of "Small Capsules"

The capsule science museum built alongside the R&D center will be open to all sectors of society, systematically showcasing the complete journey from a single potato to a plant-based capsule, popularizing scientific knowledge on plant-based materials, and spreading health-conscious medication concepts. This initiative aims to fill the regional gap in plant-based material science education, fulfill corporate social responsibility, and help more people understand the technological depth of "Chinese capsules."

Looking ahead, UnicornShell will continue to explore the "Party Building + Sci-Tech Innovation" integration path, drive industrial upgrading through technological innovation, and contribute corporate strength to ensuring the security of the pharmaceutical excipient supply chain and promoting rural industrial revitalization.

<Swipe left/right for more>