The experiment that the Zhou consortium invested in was not so much for the progress of all mankind as it was more to overcome a certain weakness in the Zhou consortium's genetic inheritance.
The reason why he returned to the island was most likely because he had made an important breakthrough in his research. It was also possible that his body could no longer allow him to delay any longer. It was even more likely that there was a new discovery on the island that had lured him back to this abandoned experiment Island.
Mr. Zhou's words were half true and half false. This way, it would be easier to convince people and use them.