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Yili Group has announced a partnership with an affiliate of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) to "upgrade" the dairy industry through space technology. The collaboration between Yili and the China Center for Aerospace Science and Technology International Communications (CCASTIC) will see the inauguration of a 'Space Lab for Future Dairy,' with the aim of leveraging space technology to bring new innovations to the dairy health sector. According to the companies, research on space biology and new space materials will introduce "new solutions to upgrade the dairy industry". Zhang Jianqiu, CEO of Yili Group, said: "Yili will strive to develop more healthy dairy products that fulfil consumers’ nutritional demands and meet strict quality standards. We will drive and contribute to the upgrading of the dairy industry through space technology." Yili is looking to participate in future space experiments – applying research to dairy products under special conditions such as long-term microgravity, strong radiation and extreme temperatures.