The 2026 annual meeting of a National Key R&D Program project led by Jiangxi University of Science and Technology (JXUST) was held in Xining, Qinghai Province, from July 29 to August 2. The project, titled “Key Technology Integration and Demonstration for Supernormal Enrichment and High-Quality Utilization of Low-Grade Co-associated Rubidium and Cesium in Lithium-bearing Porcelain Clay Ore,” is part of China’s 14th Five-Year National Key R&D Program.
The hybrid meeting brought together more than 40 participants, including sub-project leaders, core researchers, and financial officers from the Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Central South University, East China University of Science and Technology, and the Institute of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences. An advisory panel of experts—comprising Professor Xu Shengming of Tsinghua University, Professor Min Xiaobo of Central South University, Professor Shen Liguo of Zhejiang Normal University, Researcher Zheng Shili of the Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, and Senior Accountant Meng Guihua of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology—provided guidance throughout the meeting.
During the meeting, Professor He Guichun, the project’s chief scientist, delivered a comprehensive report on the project’s third-year progress, covering core technological breakthroughs, advances in engineering demonstration, completion of assessment indicators, and budget execution. She also offered an objective analysis of existing technical bottlenecks and coordination challenges. The leaders of sub-projects one through five then reported on their respective experimental results, innovative outputs, demonstration base construction, and financial performance. The experts acknowledged the technical progress and offered suggestions on optimizing separation and enrichment processes for low-grade lithium, rubidium, and cesium, setting standards for industrial demonstration, and consolidating landmark research outcomes. Senior Accountant Meng Guihua gave detailed guidance on budget execution, standardizing expenditures, and key points for final financial audits, laying a solid foundation for the project’s standardized management and smooth financial acceptance.
Speaking on behalf of the project team, He Guichun said all expert recommendations would be fully accepted. She pledged to accelerate the construction of industrial demonstration facilities, consolidate research data and publications, and strengthen full-cycle budget management to address remaining gaps and ensure all performance indicators are met and the national comprehensive acceptance is passed in 2027.
After the main meeting, the project team held an internal session to review the expert panel’s feedback and clarify priorities for the final year. Representatives from participating institutions discussed next-phase research tasks, platform support, and staffing arrangements, reaching a consensus on a detailed work roadmap for the project’s concluding year.
