On November 27, roadshow for over a dozen projects was launched at Songshan Lake New Materials Forum
In November,Dongguan witnessed the opening of three major events sharing the same keyword “materials”.
“Whoever possesses materials has a say in the future”, Academician Wang Enge’s words echo forcefully. Dongguan learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that it should strive to lead in industrial upgrading and attach importance to development of materials industry by facilitating transformation through technology and solving a series of “stranglehold” problems. In November, Dongguan hosted three major materials-related events, including International Summit on Composite Materials, theme salons of Academician Advisory Committee and Songshan Lake New Materials Forum. As an international manufacturing city, Dongguan focuses on new materials and other four key areas and is dedicated to developing ten industries such as advanced materials. Dongguan now has gradually formed world-class innovation capability in the field of materials science.
Stories behind a face mask machine
“In February this year, a box of face masks as a gift represents the greatest bond one could show to another”, said a person with Dongguan Grand Resource Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Grand Resource).
In the first half of this year, following the outbreak of the COVID-19, face masks were almost impossible to get and other epidemic-prevention supplies were also in short supply. At such critical juncture, Dongguan undertook the task of manufacturing epidemic-prevention supplies in Guangdong and even South China at large.
Grand Resource is the largest manufacturer of polypropylene in Guangdong. During the epidemic, the company worked tirelessly to develop the melt-blown nonwovens suitable for the use of face mask machines, which largely ensured supply of face masks in Guangdong. The tiny melt-blown nonwovens functioned as lifeline for epidemic prevention and control. The earlier the nonwovens could be developed and put into operation, the earlier people’s live and health could be guaranteed.
The key of a face mask machine lies in melt-blown nonwovens, while the key of melt-blown nonwovens lies in chemical materials. Dongguan’s experience of epidemic prevention and control shows that new materials lead the development of modern industry and that whoever finds the materials has a say in the future.
“The reason why we could put supplies of epidemic prevention into production so fast is that we have mastered material technology which is of paramount importance in modern industry,” said a person with Grand Resource.
In the future, Dongguan will realize effective alignment of the industrial chain, innovation chain, service chain and capital chain of composite materials and strive to build itself into a world-famous materials science research center and global new materials base that leads the development of materials science.
Dongguan’s confidence gets boosted with its environment for technological innovation being extended to national level
Dongguan has the confidence to develop new materials industry as it derives its confidence from its national-level environment for technological innovation and its strong capability of transforming technological achievements.
In July 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Science and Technology approved of “Guangming Science City-Songshan Lake Science City” being the key component of the comprehensive national science city in the Greater Bay Area, which marked that Dongguan’s scientific and technological innovation has been elevated from local to national level. Dongguan plays a prominent role in China’s innovation layout and emerges as an important force to participate in global competition and cooperation on behalf of the country.
Currently, Dongguan boasts the world’s fourth and China’s first pulsed spallation neutron source and the Southern Advanced Photon Source test platform is already under construction. Planning is underway for the advanced attosecond laser facility. Technological achievements keep emerging from major research platforms such as Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory. Dongguan gradually demonstrates world-class original innovation capability in the field of materials science.
At the same time, Dongguan has nurtured strong capability of transforming technological achievements over the years and converges a batch of leading enterprises in the industry such as Silver Age, Xionglin, Guoli and Jinkun. It has developed a completeecological chain of composite materials from basic research, technique development to industrial application.
“Scientific and technological innovation will become a new label for Dongguan. Dongguan will endeavor to improve its technological innovation capability by proceeding from advancing development of Songshan Lake Science City, strengthening breakthroughs in scientific research and nurturing of enterprises, enhancing its comprehensive innovation capability and accelerating convergence of technology talents,” said Xiao Zhengyong, Deputy Director of Dongguan Science and Technology Bureau.
Matching technology enterprises with investors
What are the takeaways of the three materials-related events for Dongguan has been the most concerned problem.
The three events held in November saw the star-studded gathering of about 60 fellows of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Engineering and the US National Academy of Engineering. Just as the storm cannot irrigate the crops, technology and wisdom must be retained to generate perpetual impetus for Dongguan to realize industrial transformation and upgrading.
Dongguan has produced a characteristic answer sheet regarding how to retain these technologies and wisdom.
On the Songshan Lake New Materials Forum held on November 27, roadshow for over a dozen projects was launched, including frontier areas that integrate industry, university and research such as flexible battery, micro-nano materials and semi-conductor materials.
Teams in charge of the projects gave an introduction respectively hoping to seek the suitable investors through the platform. Jiang Biwang, Chairman of Suzhou Nanomicro Technology Co., Ltd., has been dedicated to research of micro-nano technology for many years and he once pursued his doctoral degree in the United States. He wishes to realize domestic production with the core technology in the field through his efforts and obtain independent innovation while lowering development costs for enterprises in the lower reach.
“As the fundamental material for modern industry, microsphere has long been monopolized by foreign enterprises. Throughout the world, only one or two Japanese companies are able to provide key materials of the liquid crystal panel—spacer microsphere and conductive gold ball. These materials are like chip, appearing as bottlenecks,” said Jiang Biwang.
“I believe the next step is to look for investors and expand production after we have been equipped with good projects and advanced technologies and realized achievements transformation. Fortunately, the materials forum offers us a platform to align with investors and we hope to find partners in Dongguan,” said Wang Weiyun, Executive Director of SINOVIO Semiconductor (Dongguan) Technology Co., Ltd.
Having built an increasingly comprehensive platform with various events, Dongguan will definitely unleash more business opportunities and cooperation for participated enterprises and research teams.
