On January 30th, the Steel Industry Science and Technology Innovation Conference was held at the Shougang International Convention and Exhibition Center in Beijing.

Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Yin Ruiyu, Weng Yuqing, Mao Xinping, and Jiang Tao; Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Li Dianzhong; and Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Han Enhou, Liu Ripeng, Zhang Fucheng, and Li Hongxia attended the conference. Zhao Minge, President of the China Iron and Steel Association and Chairman of the Board of Shougang Group, delivered a speech. Tian Zhiling, Executive Vice President of the Chinese Society for Metals, gave an address. Gan Xiaobin, Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, also spoke. Jiang Wei, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Vice President, and Secretary-General of the China Iron and Steel Association; Huang Yixin, Chairman of the Board of Nanjing Iron and Steel Group; and resident leaders of the China Iron and Steel Association Xia Nong, Luo Tiejun, Liu Andong, Chen Hongfei, Tang Zujun, and Li Yiren attended the conference. Xia Nong chaired the meeting, which was attended by approximately 600 representatives from national ministries, steel companies, and related production, research, and service units in the upstream and downstream industries.

In his keynote speech entitled "Adhering to Innovation-Driven Development, Empowering Industry Development, and Contributing Scientific and Technological Strength to a Good Start for the Steel Industry in the 15th Five-Year Plan," Zhao Minge comprehensively reviewed the fruitful achievements of technological innovation in the steel industry during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. He stated that currently, my country is at a crucial stage of building a modern industrial system and consolidating and strengthening the foundation of the real economy. More than ever before, we need to rely on technological innovation to solve development problems, cultivate new productive forces, and build long-term competitive advantages. The 15th Five-Year Plan period is a crucial period for laying a solid foundation and making comprehensive efforts to basically realize socialist modernization. Steel enterprises must, with a strong sense of mission and urgency, pragmatically promote high-level technological self-reliance and self-strengthening in the industry, contributing to the construction of a modern industrial system.

In his address, Tian Zhiling pointed out that currently, a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is developing in depth, and developing new productive forces has become an inherent requirement and important focus for promoting high-quality development in the industry. As a traditional pillar industry, the steel industry must place technological innovation at the core of its overall development, shaping new momentum and new advantages for development through technological self-reliance and self-strengthening. To this end, he proposed four points: First, strengthen basic research and cutting-edge exploration to solidify the foundation of scientific and technological innovation; second, focus on green, low-carbon, and intelligent manufacturing to create a "dual engine" for industrial upgrading; third, deepen collaborative integration and open cooperation to build a high-efficiency innovation ecosystem; and fourth, focus on talent cultivation and mechanism innovation to stimulate the vitality of innovation entities.

In his speech, Gan Xiaobin stated that as a fundamental and strategic industry of the national economy, the technological progress of the steel industry is not only related to the industry's own transformation and upgrading but also to the overall construction of a manufacturing powerhouse. Regarding the deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation in the steel industry, he proposed four points: First, deeply understand the Party Central Committee's strategic deployment of "integration of innovation and entrepreneurship" and bravely shoulder the mission of innovation; second, fully grasp the new situation and new requirements facing current industrial technological innovation and firmly establish confidence in innovation; and third, facing the opportunities and challenges of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, bravely forge the path of innovation.

Zhang Fucheng delivered a special report entitled "Thoughts on the Innovative Development Direction of New Steel Materials—Science and Technology of Steel Concrete Processing," systematically introducing the value concept, practical achievements, research content, and philosophical implications of steel concrete processing. From practical results, the basic ironmaking process mainly includes zero-carbon emission low-temperature molten salt in-situ solid-state electrolysis technology and blast furnace carbon recycling ironmaking technology; the basic steelmaking process mainly includes post-furnace slag washing technology, inclusion control technology, and carbon dioxide capture technology; and the basic steel rolling process mainly includes mechanical metallurgical technology strategies and products such as track steel for the Sichuan-Tibet Railway, 3GPa high-ductility and high-toughness low-alloy steel, ultra-high hardness and high-toughness bearing steel, ultra-hardenable low-alloy steel, ultra-low temperature high-manganese steel, wear-resistant steel plates, and ordinary structural steel plates.

Jiang Tao delivered a special report entitled "Reflections on the Green and Low-Carbon Transformation and Upgrading of my country's Steel Industry," sharing predictions for the future of my country's steel production and outlining the technological pathways for the green and low-carbon transformation of my country's steel industry. He stated that for the steel industry to achieve green and low-carbon development and comprehensive transformation and upgrading, it needs the transformation and upgrading of raw materials and energy, as well as innovation in processes and equipment. From the perspective of green and low-carbon transformation technologies, the main pathways include: shifting from low-quality primary ore to high-quality raw materials; shifting from conventional furnace materials to low-carbon new furnace materials; shifting from fossil energy to green and clean energy; shifting from pollution reduction and carbon reduction to synergistic carbon and pollution reduction; shifting from the long blast furnace-converter process to the short electric furnace process; and shifting from single-function to cross-sectoral collaboration and comprehensive functions.

Mao Xinping released the "15th Five-Year Plan" Technology Forecast Report for the Steel Industry, interpreting the achievements of the industry's technological innovation and development during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, analyzing the situation and challenges facing technological innovation during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, elaborating on the technological innovation and development strategy of China's steel industry, and assessing the global trends in technological innovation and development in the steel industry. The report proposes that by 2030, the overall technology of the steel industry will reach the world's advanced level, achieving breakthroughs in a number of high-end steel material preparation and low-carbon metallurgical cutting-edge technologies, becoming a core source of technological progress in the global steel industry, and establishing a global benchmark for steel industry technology and a green, intelligent, and sustainable development paradigm.

At the meeting, Tang Wenjie, Minister of Planning and Technology Department of China Baowu Steel Group Baosteel Co., Ltd., He Wenyi, Deputy Director of Vanadium Titanium Chemical Institute of Ansteel Vanadium Titanium Research Institute (Pangang Research Institute), Huang Jiugui, Chief Engineer of Jiangsu Shagang Steel Co., Ltd., Han Yun, Director of Scientific Research Management Department of Shougang Technology Research Institute, Li Yiting, Deputy General Manager of Hebei Iron & Steel Group Tangshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., and Tan Liang, Deputy Director of R&D Department of Jiangyin Xingcheng Special Steel Bar and Wire Rod Research Institute, shared their experiences in scientific and technological innovation on behalf of their respective companies.

Before the meeting, attendees watched a promotional video on the scientific and technological achievements of the steel industry during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. After the meeting, they visited the exhibition on scientific and technological innovation achievements during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

Source: China Iron and Steel Industry Association