On the afternoon of January 12, Xiong Sihao, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education, visited Jiangxi University of Science and Technology (JXUST). He was accompanied by Wu Yongming, Secretary of the Provincial Education Working Committee and Director of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education; Ge Shirong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Yang Bin, Secretary of the University Party Committee.
Yang Bin first reported on the university’s overall development as a pivotal talent cultivation and scientific research base for China’s nonferrous metals and iron and steel industries. Highlighting JXUST’s achievements, he emphasized its profound legacy in rare earth sector talent development, the establishment of industry-academia-research-application collaborative innovation platforms, significant breakthroughs in scientific research and independent intellectual property, and its robust contributions to advancing the high-quality growth of the rare earth industry.
Academician Ge Shirong delivered a thematic report, outlining China’s status as a global leader in mineral resource development and utilization. He underscored the international demand for strategic critical minerals, the importance of such resources to China’s strategic industrial security, the role of mining-focused institutions in nurturing high-end professionals, the urgent need to strengthen mining-related disciplines, and the imperative of cultivating specialized talent to underpin critical mineral development.
After these activities, Xiong Sihao and his delegation toured the university’s science and technology exhibition hall and the Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Additive Manufacturing for Implantable Medical Devices. The lab has pioneered a dry powder spheroidization system for additive manufacturing, developed innovative additive manufacturing equipment for biodegradable implants, and filled technological gaps in domestically produced additive manufacturing equipment. These achievements have been recognized as internationally advanced.
After reviewing the reports and conducting on-site inspections, Xiong Sihao emphasized that rare earth resources are vital strategic assets for the nation. He noted that research in this field is both forward-looking and highly applicable. He urged the university to leverage its disciplinary strengths and research capabilities to accelerate the high-quality development of the rare earth industry, further contributing to national strategic priorities and regional economic growth.
