From October 16 to 18, 2024, the 5th China Advanced Materials Industry Development Conference and the Inaugural New Materials Device Exhibition were grandly held in Wuhan, Hubei, organized by the Chinese Materials Research Society and Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone Administrative Committee. Nearly 8,000 representatives, including global academicians, experts, entrepreneurs, investors, and government officials in the field of advanced materials, attended this event.

With the theme of "Accelerating Breakthroughs in Key Strategic Materials and Promoting High-Quality Development of New Production Forces," the conference aimed to address the significant demands of emerging industries, explore substantial breakthroughs in cutting-edge advanced materials, and support the cultivation and growth of new productive forces. The conference is anchored in China’s 2035 goal of technological supremacy, focusing on the "15th Five-Year Plan" strategic requirements and advancements in critical materials. It featured nearly 80 forums or sessions covering seven primary categories, including key basic materials, energy materials, information materials, biomedical materials, health and comfort materials, environmental engineering materials, and safety engineering materials.

For frontier materials, high-level forums discussed the industrialization and application of materials such as bio-based materials, photothermal functional composites, hydrogen storage materials, flow batteries, flexible electronics, high-entropy alloys, two-dimensional materials, additive manufacturing, nanomaterials, graphene, electronic packaging materials, nanoporous materials, neuromorphic materials, and perovskite luminescent materials. In key strategic materials, discussions focused on major advances in fields like information storage materials, photoresist materials, functionalized implant materials, liquid crystal materials, functional information materials, aviation materials, high-performance fibers, and membrane materials. In advanced basic materials, forums explored the high-performance and multifunctional development of copper alloys, high-performance steels, smart fibers and fabrics, magnetic and rare earth materials, titanium alloys, advanced powder metallurgy, refractory metals, polymers, ceramics, green building materials, advanced glass, marine materials, advanced nuclear energy materials, welding materials, photovoltaic materials, and solid-state batteries.

Each forum aimed at building new productive forces, focusing on key technological breakthroughs of the past five years to promote in-depth collaboration between the scientific, industrial, and investment communities. Results from the forums will form a guiding development report, be submitted to relevant departments and released to the public to guide China’s scientific progress in advanced materials.

On the morning of October 17, the opening ceremony of the conference took place in a packed sports arena with nearly 3,000 attendees. Eye-catching slogans such as "Strength in Education," "Strength in Talent," "Strength in Technology," and "Strength in Industry" adorned the venue. At the center, a large red backdrop proclaimed, "The advanced materials industry is a strategic and fundamental industry and a key field in high-tech competition. We must strive to catch up and surpass," reflecting President Xi Jinping's expectations for material science workers.

Professor Yuanyuan Li, President of the Chinese Materials Research Society, hosted the opening ceremony, highlighting the conference’s role in learning and implementing the spirit of the 20th CPC Central Committee’s third plenary session, advancing science, education, and talent. The conference is firmly aligned with China’s 2035 technological powerhouse goal, focusing on major breakthroughs in key strategic materials in the 15th Five-Year Plan.

Professor Bingbo Wei, President of the Chinese Materials Research Society, emphasized that as the world faces a new wave of technological and industrial transformation, advanced materials play a critical threshold role in this revolution. The China Advanced Materials Industry Development Conference, as an essential event in this field, has consistently met national demands, propelled by scientific innovation. Since its inception, the conference has built a high-standard, high-level exchange platform for academia, industry, and finance to accelerate the commercialization and application of key strategic materials, supporting the development of high-tech and emerging industries in China. Bingbo Wei underscored that material science workers should keep President Xi’s expectations close to heart, uphold their national mission, and contribute to the realization of China's dream of strength through wisdom and dedication.

Ziqing Liu, Standing Committee Member of the Wuhan Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Economic and Technological Development Zone Party Working Committee, noted that in recent years, Wuhan Economic Development Zone has prioritized the advanced materials industry. Focusing on automotive materials and supported by integrated circuit and display materials, the area is bolstered by an industrial cluster featuring energy and advanced materials. He extended a warm invitation for experts and industry elites to exchange ideas and seek collaborative opportunities to drive the high-quality development of Wuhan’s economy.

Chao Tang, Director of the Wuhan Economic Development Zone Administrative Committee, enthusiastically presented Wuhan's development zone to attendees under the theme "Building Dreams in the Car Valley with Materials." He detailed the foundations, strengths, and directions of Wuhan's advanced materials industry, welcoming academicians, experts, and business leaders to share opportunities and create a brighter future together.

At the opening ceremony, Professor Jianxin Xie and Professor Guangxian Li unveiled the "Chinese Materials Research Society Wuhan Industry Innovation Center." Bingbo Wei and Ziqing Liu inaugurated the "Chinese Materials Research Society Wuhan Advanced Materials Application Demonstration Base." Additionally, the "Wuhan Economic Development Zone Advanced Materials Industrial Park" was unveiled by Yuanyuan Li and Zhi Yang.

The conference reports were hosted by Professor Guangxian Li, Supervisor of the Chinese Materials Research Society, Professor Kechao Zhou, Vice President of the Society, Senior Engineer Baiqing Xiong of China ENFI Technology Group, and Researcher Xiaolin Wang from the China Academy of Engineering Physics. Keynote presentations were delivered by Professor Min Zhu of South China University of Technology, Senior Engineer Baiqing Xiong of China ENFI Technology Group, Researcher Xiaolin Wang from the China Academy of Engineering Physics, Chairman Jin Hyeok Kim of the Korean Materials Research Society, President Zhongmin Yang of South China Normal University, Professor Gaohui Wu, Director of the National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Metal Matrix Composites at Harbin Institute of Technology, Professor Yunhui Huang, Vice Chair of the Academic Committee at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and Professor Jianpeng Shi, Deputy Director of the R&D Institute at Dongfeng Motor Corporation. Each shared insightful and impactful perspectives in their fields.

The conference also incorporated the 2nd China Advanced Materials Technology Application Conference and the 3rd China Advanced Materials Investment Conference, alongside a series of significant activities such as the first Advanced Materials Device Exhibition, closed-door summits, disruptive technology forums, industry-oriented innovation sessions, expert and market needs sessions, and technology transfer training. This extensive event is set to greatly boost the industrialization and application of advanced materials in China, driving the construction of high-level technological self-sufficiency and strengthening China’s position in global science and technology.