To better focus on major national strategic needs and regional industrial development directions, accelerate the gathering of high-end domestic and international scientific and technological innovation resources, and actively build a high-level exchange and cooperation platform in the field of new materials, the "Materials Gather at Longhu, Intelligently Create the Future" – 2026 Longhu Innovation Conference and First Session of Spark International Sci-Tech Innovation Market was grandly held in Zhengzhou from April 28 to 30. The conference was jointly organized by Peking University, Henan Academy of Sciences, Peking University Zhengzhou Academy of Advanced Materials, and National Key Laboratory of Advanced Waterproofing Materials. Attendees included Zhang Jin, Standing Committee Member of the Party Committee and Executive Vice President of Peking University, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Academicians Li Yongfang, Yu Shuhong, and Li Jinghong of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Academicians Wang Fuming and Peng Shou of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Song Kexing, Party Secretary and Executive Vice President of Henan Academy of Sciences; Wei Shizhong, President of Zhengzhou University of Light Industry; Shan Chongxin, Vice President of Zhengzhou University; Hua Weiqi, Executive Vice President of Wanhua Chemical Group and President of Wanhua Research Institute; Xiang Jinming, Vice Chairman of Beijing Oriental Yuhong Waterproof Technology Co., Ltd., and Xu Meng, Vice President; Cai Fei, Secretary General of Shanghai Red Avenue Charity Foundation; experts and scholars from relevant universities and research institutions; representatives from enterprises such as China Pingmei Shenma Group and Central Henan Capital Holdings Group; and international alumni of Peking University, totaling over 500 people. The opening ceremony was presided over by Zou Ruqiang, Dean of the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Peking University and Dean of Peking University Zhengzhou Academy of Advanced Materials.
Conference Scene
In his speech, Zhang Jin stated that in recent years, Peking University has continuously deepened its cooperation with Henan Province and Zhengzhou City, achieving a series of important progresses. He put forward four expectations for the conference, including promoting deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation, fully advancing the new paradigm of AI4S research, supporting young people to take on leading roles, and striving to expand "Belt and Road" cooperation.
Multiple major collaborations and platform constructions were simultaneously launched. The China-Malaysia AI+New Materials "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory was inaugurated, the AI-Empowered Advanced Waterproofing Materials Innovation Alliance was established, and the Spark International Sci-Tech Innovation Market was officially started. Through platform co-construction, resource sharing, and collaborative innovation, sci-tech cooperation was deepened and solidified.
Inauguration and Signing Ceremony
During the conference plenary session, several academicians and industry leaders delivered reports. Academician Li Jinghong interpreted the development trends of the new energy storage industry; Academician Zhang Jin focused on artificial intelligence revolutionizing materials research paradigms; Academician Li Yongfang shared cutting-edge progress in photovoltaic materials for perovskite/organic solar cells; Academician Peng Shou outlined innovation directions for advanced glass materials; Academician Xu Hongxing of Henan Academy of Sciences (represented by Professor Li Zhipeng from Capital Normal University), Academician Yu Shuhong, and Academician Wang Fuming respectively delivered authoritative reports on frontier topics such as optical nanogap Raman spectroscopy, engineering waterproofing and repair technologies, and sustainable bioinspired structural materials. Hua Weiqi, drawing on frontline practice, shared opportunities and practices in chemical engineering under the energy transition. Song Kexing presented a report on the performance regulation of copper alloys.
Conference Plenary Session
The conference set up seven thematic sub-forums: AI-Empowered New Materials, Green Building Materials and Advanced Waterproofing Materials, Advanced Carbon Materials and Superhard Materials, Advanced Polymer Materials, New Energy Materials, Advanced Semiconductor Materials, and the Spark International Sci-Tech Innovation Market. Attending experts and scholars conducted in-depth discussions on cutting-edge fundamental research, key core technologies, and industrial applications in the field of new materials, sharing the latest research achievements and practical experiences, providing theoretical support and technical pathways for the innovative development of the new materials industry. The first session of the Spark International Sci-Tech Innovation Market was particularly brilliant, inviting 34 global sci-tech innovation partners from 30 countries and regions to share overseas market opportunities and cooperation prospects, and selecting 16 technology companies to present their overseas expansion plans and product displays, covering multiple hot areas such as new materials, new energy, life and health, and intelligent manufacturing.
This conference, based in Zhengzhou, serving the Central Plains, radiating across the nation, and connecting globally, focused on innovation synergy, open cooperation, and talent leadership. It drove industrial upgrading through technological innovation, accelerated the transformation of achievements through industry-university-research integration, and expanded development space through international cooperation, injecting strong momentum into cultivating new quality productive forces, promoting high-quality development of the new materials industry, and building regional innovation highlands.
Group Photo of the Conference
