The 2005 China (Zibo) New Materials Technology Forum and Members Scientific & Technological Trip to Zibo Bear Rich Fruits

From September 5 to 10, 2005, the 2005 China (Zibo) New Material Technology Forum and the Members Scientific & Technological Trip to Zibo, jointly sponsored by the CAE and the Shandong Provincial People s Government, and jointly organized by the Division of Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering of the CAE, Shandong Science and Technology Bureau and Zibo Municipal People s Government, were held in Zibo.
A series of activities held during the New Materials Technology Forum achieved great success.
1. With a clear-cut theme, the New Materials Technology Forum pointed out the orientation for the rapid development of Zibo City s new materials industry. CAE members Yang Jinzong and Jiang Shicheng, along with two other experts, delivered farsighted keynote reports on their latest research achievements and the development trend of international new materials technology, making profound analyses of the characteristics of Zibo s new materials industrial structure, its technological advantages and development orientation, the building of a new materials center and its great influence in China, and other important related issues. They pointed out that Zibo has many traditional industries, but only by combining with new- and high-tech industries, such as the new materials industry, can the traditional industries be rejuvenated. The new materials industry is the leading industry of Zibo s new- and high-tech industries. When developing the new materials industry, first, we should not ignore the traditional industries; second, we should conduct technological development according to demand; third, we should attach great importance to economic benefits of scale; and fourth, we should strive to cooperate with scientific research institutes. This new materials forum gathered scientific and technological research personnel in this field, and the leading figures of the backbone enterprises of the new materials base in Zibo. All the participants maintained that the forum had an outstanding theme and clear aims, which are geared to the country s actual conditions, and the forum clearly pointed out the orientation for Zibo in its effort to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the new materials field, upgrade the development quality of the Zibo new materials industry, and build the leading enterprises of China s new materials industry.
2. The Members Scientific and Technological Trip to Zibo was particularly successful. A total of 21 CAE members, including CAE Vice-President Wu Hequan, Director Zhou Lian and deputy directors Wang Xieqing and Xue Qunji of the Division of Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, 73 other experts, and 300 representatives from the 150-odd relevant enterprises in Zibo attended this activity. During the activity, 47 technological cooperative contracts, agreements and letters of intent were signed, including 22 member-related projects and 25 expert-related projects, for a total investment of 470 million yuan. The projects involve new materials, new medicines and biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, environmental resources, fine chemicals, textiles, chemical fibers and related fields. The activity produced records in the number of signed projects, quality of projects and total investment. 3. The Members Forum on Zibo City s 11th Five-Year Plan was a particularly bright spot in this forum. The Zibo Municipal Government invited Wang Xieqing, six other members and two other experts to a special forum, asking them to give constructive suggestions on Zibo s economic and social development during the 11th Five-Year Plan period. This forum is of great significance for Zibo to clarify its goals and work out its 11th Five-Year Plan according to the scientific viewpoint of development and the demand for building a small society in an all-round way.
The great success of the forum and the members trip to Zibo played an important role in upgrading Zibo City s independent innovation ability, pushing forward the construction of the State-level new materials industrial base, speeding up the development of Zibo City s new- and high-tech industry and readjustment of the economic structure, and accelerating the implementation of a large number of important new- and high-tech projects of the State and Shandong Province.