A launch meeting for the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) key advisory project, “Strategic Research on the Integrated Advancement of Education, Science and Technology, and Talent in Jiangxi’s Rare Earth and Other Critical Mineral Sectors,” was held at Jiangxi University of Science and Technology on the afternoon of June 30.
The project leader, Ge Shirong—a CAE member and president of the university—outlined the project’s background, research scope, work plan and expected outcomes. He called on the research teams to collaborate closely and produce high-quality advisory findings that can inform decision-making by central and provincial authorities on the coordinated development of education, science and technology, and talent in critical minerals.
Other leading experts attending the meeting included CAE member Yang Chunhe, a senior researcher at the Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and deputy director of the State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering; Liu Qingxia, a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and chair professor at Shenzhen Technology University; and Gao Zhiyong, a leading talent under the National Ten Thousand Talents Program and vice dean of the School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering at Central South University. Industry specialists Liao Chunsheng of the China Rare Earth Group Research Institute, Zhang Chenglei of the Ganjiang Innovation Academy, CAS, and Zhan Yijie, a senior R&D manager at JL Mag Rare-Earth Co., also participated. Vice President Wang Hang chaired the meeting. Zou Hui, deputy director of the Jiangxi Academy of Engineering Science and Technology Development Strategy, and Fei Honglin, director of the Jiangxi Provincial Center for Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements, were also in attendance.
During the discussion, the experts explored practical ways to advance the integration of education, science and technology, and talent in Jiangxi’s rare earth and critical mineral sectors. They recommended that the project team strengthen field research, adopt a global perspective, and align its work with the characteristics and demands of Jiangxi’s trillion-yuan rare earth industry, so as to chart a realistic path for integrated progress.
Fei Honglin introduced Jiangxi’s latest policies on technology transfer and expressed the hope that the province’s “1+M+N” service system for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements will enhance full-chain support for academician-led teams and contribute to the high-quality growth of Jiangxi’s trillion-level industries.
Zou Hui reviewed the progress of the academy’s advisory projects across the province and emphasized the importance of producing high-quality policy reports, ensuring that research outcomes are implemented effectively, and standardizing the use of project funds.
In his concluding remarks, Wang Hang thanked the experts and the Jiangxi academy for their guidance. He urged the project team to carefully absorb the suggestions and reflect them in the research plan, with the goal of generating higher-level studies and actionable policy recommendations. Such efforts, he said, would provide strong support for Jiangxi’s education-science-talent development strategy and contribute both wisdom and strength to safeguarding China’s critical mineral resources and advancing high-quality regional development.
Representatives from the Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics of CAS, Sinosteel Maanshan General Institute of Mining Research, the Jiangxi Academy of Engineering Science and Technology Development Strategy, the Jiangxi Provincial Center for Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements, China University of Mining and Technology, and Jiangxi University of Science and Technology also attended the meeting.
