On April 27, the New Materials Science Forum, one of the nine parallel forums of Guangming Science City Forum 2023, was held in Guangming District of Shenzhen.

The Guangming Science City Forum 2023 has brought together top intellectual resources from home and abroad to discuss the forefront of scientific and technological development trends, and jointly assume the responsibility of leading innovation.

The New Materials Science Forum was hosted by the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government and jointly organized by the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) and Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (Tsinghua SIGS).

Jing YU, Deputy Director of Shenzhen Development and Reform Commission, Gaoke YAO, Deputy District Mayor of Guangming District, Xueming YANG, Vice President of SUSTech, leading scientists in the field of new materials and major scientific and technological infrastructures, and representatives from the materials industry and investment and financing institutions attended the event.

The forum focused on the application of major key technologies in the new materials industry, and discussed how major scientific and technological infrastructures can solve key technical problems in the field of new materials and help the technological development of the new materials industry.

Jing YU noted that universities and scientific research institutions in Shenzhen would continue its innovation and development momentum, focusing on the country’s major strategic needs, introducing and cultivating more high-level talents, and making more breakthroughs in first-class scientific research achievements.

The Shenzhen Development and Reform Commission will, as always, strive to create a better environment for all kinds of scientific research talents to work and live in Shenzhen, work together to build a high-level talent highland in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and strive to make greater contributions to education, science, and technology in the country.

Gaoke YAO emphasized that Guangming District is an important part of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong- Macao Innovative Technology Corridor, and has undertaken the mission of building a world-class science center and city in northern Shenzhen.

Focusing on the construction and operation of major scientific and technological infrastructures and creating a first-class scientific and technological innovation ecology, Guangming District strives to create an original source of innovation, a pioneer for scientific research, and a place for innovative talents to gather, and is committed to providing new momentum in the high-quality development of Shenzhen.

Gaoke YAO added that he looks forward to more scientists and entrepreneurs carrying out scientific and technological research and the transformation of scientific research achievements in Guangming to create a bright future together.

Vice President Xueming YANG said that through the strong support from Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, and the country, SUSTech has achieved high-quality development in the introduction of talents and scientific research, and has become one of the youngest “Double First-Class” universities.

With its focus on basic research, SUSTech has integrated strategies to enhance the development of the Shenzhen Pilot Demonstration Zone, the GBA, and the country, gathered high-level talents, promoted interdisciplinary integration, strengthened basic frontier explorations and key technological breakthroughs, and strived to make more significant contributions to the development of Shenzhen’s comprehensive national science center and the country’s high-level scientific and technological self-reliance.

Other keynote reports were presented by scholars on their research progress in the field of new materials at the forum. They included Jin ZHANG, Vice President of Peking University; Zhentang ZHAO, Director of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility; Shou PENG, Chief Engineer of China National Building Material Group Co., Ltd.; Tianshou ZHAO, Director of the Energy Institute for Carbon Neutrality at SUSTech; Shu-Hong YU, Director of the Institute of Innovative Materials at SUSTech; Zhiping XU, Professor at Tsinghua University; Jiaqing HE, Associate Dean of the College of Science at SUSTech; and Decheng WU, Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at SUSTech.

In the roundtable forum session, scholars and experts from the materials industry and investment and financing institutions, which included Shu-Hong YU, Director of the Institute of Innovative Materials at SUSTech, Changdan TANG, Managing Director of Shenzhen Rayitek Hi-Tech Film Co., Ltd., Bin YU, representative of Shenzhen Stock Exchange’s Scientific and Technological Achievements and Intellectual Property Trading Center, Xinjian LI, General Manager of Shenzhen Angel Investment Guidance Fund Co., Ltd., and Haidong FAN, General Manager of Investment Division of Sinocare Group, held in-depth exchanges and discussions on how to promote the coordinated development of science and technology innovation and industry in the field of materials, and effectively promote the integration of government, production, education, and research.

At the forum, Shu-Hong YU and Changdan TANG also unveiled the newly established SUSTech Institute of Innovative Materials-RAYITEK Joint Laboratory.

The Guangming Science City Forum is held annually with the permanent theme of “Guangming: Building Dreams for the Future”, and the keywords for this year’s session were “Creating Ideas”, “Setting Sail”, and “Pursuing Dreams”.