China Honors Top Scientists at National Science Awards

China held a major joint scientific conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 8, bringing together the National Science and Technology Awards Conference, the academicians conferences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), and the 11th National Congress of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST). President Xi Jinping attended and delivered a major policy speech outlining the country’s science and technology strategy for the “15th Five-Year Plan” period (2026-2030), as Xinhua News reported.

The 2025 National Science and Technology Awards

The 2025 National Science and Technology Awards recognized 258 projects and 11 scientific experts across multiple categories. The prestigious National Highest Science and Technology Award, China’s most esteemed individual scientific honor, was conferred upon two distinguished scientists: Chen Liquan, a lithium battery pioneer from the Institute of Physics at CAS, and Ben De, a radar systems expert from the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), according to CCTV News.

Additional awards included 51 National Natural Science Awards (3 first prizes, 48 second prizes), 58 National Technology Invention Awards (3 first prizes, 55 second prizes), and 149 National Science and Technology Progress Awards (3 special prizes, 13 first prizes, 133 second prizes). Nine international scientists received the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award.

Chen Liquan: The Father of China’s Lithium Battery Industry

Chen Liquan, born in March 1940 in Nanchong, Sichuan Province, is widely recognized as the founder of solid-state ionics in China. He developed the country’s first metal lithium battery and built China’s first pilot production line in 1998, capable of producing 200,000 cylindrical liquid lithium-ion batteries annually using homemade equipment and domestic raw materials.

His team invented nano silicon-carbon anode materials with world-leading performance that have been mass-produced at scale. In 2016, Chen proposed the “in-situ solidification” solid-state battery technology route, solving the long-standing solid-solid interface challenge. His contributions were instrumental in establishing CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited) and ATL (Amperex Technology Limited), which have made China the world’s largest lithium battery producer.

“A country moving forward shouldn’t always learn from others — we should have our own ideas,” Chen said. “Without new ideas, it’s impossible to maintain a leading position.” He has mentored over 200 leading talents in academia and industry, including 15 national talent program recipients.

Ben De: Architect of China’s Radar Defense Network

Ben De, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, is celebrated as the founder of China’s airborne pulse Doppler radar technology and a pioneer of phased array radar systems. His career began with Project “7010” in 1970, which developed China’s first long-range early warning phased array radar, making China the third country after the United States and the Soviet Union to possess this capability, as detailed by CCTV News.

In 1989, Ben’s team completed the development of airborne pulse Doppler fire control radar, enabling Chinese fighter aircraft to detect and engage low-altitude threats. He went on to lead the development of China’s comprehensive land, sea, air, and space early warning detection system.

“Everyone was single-mindedly dedicated to improving our country’s defense capabilities,” Ben said. “This belief was the driving force behind everyone’s hard work.”

Xi Jinping’s Vision for China’s S&T Future

President Xi Jinping delivered a comprehensive speech outlining six priority areas for China’s science and technology development during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, as published by CCTV News. He emphasized enhancing systematic innovation capability, deepening the integration of science and industry, cultivating young scientific talent, improving R&D investment efficiency, reforming science and technology evaluation, and strengthening ethics and security governance.

Xi noted that China’s R&D spending grew at an average of 10% annually during the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, with R&D intensity reaching 2.8% of GDP in 2025 — surpassing the OECD average for the first time. He described the current period as a “critical assault period” for building a technologically strong nation and noted that China is transitioning from a “participant and contributor” to a “pioneer and leader” in global science.

Analysis and Implications

The recognition of Chen Liquan underscores China’s strategic focus on maintaining leadership in the new energy and battery sectors, while the honoring of Ben De highlights the importance of indigenous defense technology capabilities. Xi’s emphasis on self-reliance and systemic innovation signals intensifying competition with the United States and other technology leaders, particularly amid ongoing technology decoupling pressures.

The focus on commercializing research through industry-academia integration addresses a long-standing weakness in China’s innovation system, while support for “hard tech” and early-stage investment indicates continued state-directed capitalism in strategic sectors. The 2025 awards also reflected strategic orientation, with 17 review panels conducting pilot evaluations focused on 10 priority areas including artificial intelligence and integrated circuits, as The Paper reported.

What’s Next

As China embarks on the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, the nation faces the challenge of translating its growing R&D investment into genuine breakthroughs in foundational science. Key questions remain about how the “breaking the four唯” evaluation reform — moving beyond over-reliance on papers, titles, education, and awards — will be implemented in practice, and what specific policy measures will follow from Xi’s six-point plan. The coming years will test whether China can sustain its trajectory toward becoming a world-leading science and technology power by 2035.