In 2024, the Department of Science and Technology of Gansu Province fully leveraged the bridging role of the Gansu Institute of Strategic Studies on Engineering Science and Technology (referred to as the Gansu Institute), and with the intellectual and resource advantages of Chinese Academy of Engineering academicians and experts, deeply implemented strategic consultation research around the key industrial development of Gansu Province. It also carried out activities such as "Academician Tours" and technology transfer and transformation exchanges to provide scientific consultation for scientific decision-making and gather scientific research forces through high-level activities, injecting new vitality into the economic and social development of the entire province. Recently, a relevant official from the Department of Science and Technology of Gansu Province was interviewed by our website's reporter on the situation of the Chinese Academy of Engineering academicians deeply implementing strategic consultation research around the key industrial development of Gansu Province in 2024.

Question: What scientific suggestions did the academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering put forward in 2024?

Answer: Four strategic research and consulting projects were completed and accepted throughout the year. The project teams, led by academicians and experts, submitted nine academician suggestions to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the provincial committee and the provincial government of Gansu Province, and produced 19 research reports. These provided scientific suggestions and theoretical support for the transformation and upgrading of key industries in Gansu Province. Among them, the "Research on the Development Strategy of Battery Industry Chain in Gansu Province" project, led by Academician Pan Fusheng, produced high-quality results that attracted the governments of Pingliang City and Kongtong District. Through the coordination of the Gansu Research Institute, they signed an agreement with the relevant team of Chongqing University led by Academician Pan Fusheng, reaching a cooperation in the development and utilization of magnesium materials, achieving a "soft project, hard landing". The "Research on the Development Strategy of Metallurgy and New Materials Industry in Gansu Province" project, led by Academician Tu Hailing and jointly responsible by Academician Liu Zhengdong, Academician Wu Feng, and Academician Huang Xiaowei, submitted two academician suggestions to the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China regarding the key issues of platinum group metals flowing abroad and the green development of rare earths. The research team's suggestions submitted to the National People's Congress during the National Two Sessions were approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the suggestions submitted to the provincial committee and the provincial government of Gansu Province received instructions from provincial leaders.

Question: How can the quality of strategic research and consulting projects be improved during the research process?

Answer: In the process of continuously promoting ongoing strategic research and consultation projects, the Department of Science and Technology of Gansu Province has been focusing on enhancing the quality of these projects. In 2024, it organized the initiation of six strategic research and consultation projects centered on research directions such as three-dimensional transportation, sodium-ion batteries, digital transformation of traditional industries, comprehensive governance of desertification, quality and safety of traditional Chinese medicinal materials, and the development of high-tech agricultural industries. These projects were led by eight academicians including Du Yanliang, Chen Liquan, Zheng Nanning, Zhu Jiaojun, Liu Wenqing, and Tang Huajun, who spearheaded the project and sub-project research. By leveraging the aggregating effect of academicians and the open collaboration advantages of the projects, 12 units from both within and outside the province were invited to participate, forming a three-dimensional research network. Currently, there are 18 ongoing projects, and six academician suggestions have been submitted to the provincial committee and government through the "Science and Technology Decision-making Reference (Academician Special Issue)".

Question: How many times did academicians participate in meetings and activities organized by the department throughout last year? What achievements were made?

In July 2024, at the 30th Lanzhou Investment Promotion Conference's "Technology Investment and Industrialization Exchange Conference", two academicians, Li Can and Yang Weicai, delivered keynote speeches on green and low-carbon energy and chemical industries and modern breeding technologies. In August, the "China Academy of Engineering's Intelligent Manufacturing Empowering High-Quality Development of Manufacturing Industry in Gansu Province" event was successfully held in Lanzhou. Fifteen academicians and experts, including Shan Zhongde, Wu Guanghui, Fu Mengyin, Ma Yushan, and Gao Xionghou, were invited to offer suggestions on how intelligent manufacturing can empower the high-quality development of manufacturing in Gansu Province. The suggestions compiled into "Academicians' Joint Proposals for Promoting Gansu's 'Manufacturing' to 'Intelligent Manufacturing' Leap" received instructions from the provincial party committee's top leaders and were forwarded to relevant departments for reference and adoption. Throughout the year, a total of 13 conferences and activities were organized with the participation of academicians, involving 34 academician visits.

Question: What are the arrangements for the strategic research and consulting projects this year?

In 2025, the Department of Science and Technology of Gansu Province will, in accordance with the decisions and plans of the provincial Party committee and the provincial government, continue to strengthen the construction and development of the Gansu Academy. It will fully leverage the comprehensive advantages and innovative leading role of the academician group in terms of "across industries, departments and fields", and deepen innovation cooperation and technology transfer both within and outside the province through various forms such as strategic research and consultation projects, academic exchanges, and joint technological breakthroughs. It will actively seek effective solutions to the major engineering and technological problems in the overall development of Gansu's economy and society and the key bottlenecks in the development of key industries. It will strive to support the scientific decision-making of the provincial Party committee and the provincial government with professional and practical constructive research results, and contribute more to the high-quality development of Gansu's economy and society.