First Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory Council Holds Its First Meeting

On the afternoon of June 20, 2022, the first meeting of the first council of the Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory wrapped up in Tianfu New Area Management Committee. Attendees included: Zhang Yuanhang, He Kebin, and Xu Weilin, Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) Academicians; Lei Xianzhang, an academician of the German National Academy of Science and Engineering; Yang Pinhua, Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province and Director of Sichuan Provincial Administration of Foreign Experts; Chen Lizhang, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Working Committee and Director of Management Committee of Sichuan Tianfu New Area; Qiu Xudong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Working Committee of Sichuan Tianfu New Area and Secretary of the CPC Working Committee of Western China (Chengdu) Science City. Lin Qiang, a member of the CPC Working Committee and Deputy Director of the Management Committee of Sichuan Tianfu New Area, presided over the meeting.

During the meeting, the list of the first council of Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory was announced, and the selection of major positions, such as the Director, Co-Executive Director, Deputy Director, as well as the Director of the Academic Committee of the Laboratory, were reviewed and discussed. As a result, the position list of the Academic Committee of the Laboratory was decided, along with the organization's articles, strategic development planning, annual work plan, startup funds, and other key items. This marked the start of the Laboratory's operation and overall development.

In his speech, Mr. Yang Pinhua expressed his hope for the Laboratory to take national laboratories as a benchmark in comprehensively implementing the new national system. Starting from the new stage, they should bear in mind the new development concepts to serve the current development patterns. Regarding the building of technological sources and industrial engines as two major development paths, they will strive to create an integrated, high-level sci-tech innovation platform capable of making breakthroughs, leading the industry, and bridging multiple sides.

Also, Academician Zhang Yuanhang, Director of the Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory, gave an overall introduction to the Laboratory's strategic advantages for the council members presented. He clarified the essence of carbon neutrality and described the progress made by the Laboratory so far in high-level consultancy. According to Academician Zhang, Sichuan boasts unique advantages in carbon neutrality and also brilliant opportunities to make leading breakthroughs. Aiming at the international cutting-edge, Sichuan characteristics, and low-carbon industries, the Laboratory will make vigorous steps toward technological breakthroughs, with a highlight on original and integrated innovation. By doing so, it strives to achieve major technological results with great influence both at home and abroad, thus boosting the green and low-carbon industry. 

At last, Chen Lizhang, Chairman of the first council of the Laboratory, made several summaries in his concluding speech for the future development of the Laboratory. First of all, it is necessary to operate the Laboratory with strategic thinking. With more emphasis placed on overall planning, we should see the future with a global vision while accelerating the gathering of strategic scientific and technological forces for carbon neutrality, so as to systematically improve the capability of green and low-carbon innovation, and strive to build a world-leading and nationally excellent laboratory in the field of carbon neutrality. Second, it is required to operate the Laboratory with innovative thinking. We should give full play to the advantages of new R&D institutions, break the traditional institutional barriers, and promote the modernization of the Laboratory management system and the marketization of the operation mechanism. The third thing is to operate the Laboratory with industrialized thinking. We should match different markets with scientific research in the Laboratory through in-depth research and understanding of market demands, thus making a layout for a sustainable "laboratory economy". As the blueprint of the Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory started to take shape, it is time for us to strive for further progress. With a sense of urgency and an open and innovative mind, we will make concerted efforts and gather wisdom and a joint force in a pragmatic manner to fulfill the needs of independent sci-tech research, thus building and operating the Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory at a high standard. In doing so, we aim to serve China's dual-carbon strategy and make our contributions to green and low-carbon development.

Attendees of the meeting also include heads of relevant departments in Tianfu New Area, Chengdu City, and Sichuan Province; representatives from higher education institutions, such as Sichuan University, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu University of Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Southwest Jiaotong University, and so on; people in charge of council members, such as Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Energy Internet Research Institute of Tsinghua University, Institute of Transportation Development Strategy and Planning of Sichuan Province, State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Company, Chengdu Environmental Investment Group, DEC Academy of Science and Technology, Sichuan Tianfu New Area Investment Group, and more.

Contributor(s): Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory Special Work Team

Photo credit: Tianfu New Area Convergence Media Center