As the new year approaches, we reflect on 2024 as a year of remarkable achievements and growth. Throughout this year, all the staff of the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) have come together with unwavering unity and dedication, forging new paths in our reform and development, and elevating our capabilities in innovation and progress to unprecedented heights.

To seize the commanding heights of process engineering technology, we are embarking on a "new" journey. The Institute has identified six advantageous research areas, mesoscience, electronic chemicals, biopharmacy, green recycling of lithium resources, high-end materials and energy storage/hydrogen energy, as the key directions, and taken the lead in major projects such as “Harmless and Resourceful Utilization Technologies for Characteristic Lithium Ores”, “Research and Development of Key Technologies for Drug Delivery Carriers”, “Low-carbon Transformation Technologies and Demonstrations in Chemical Engineering and Metallurgical Processing” and “Multiphase Confined Transport in Reaction and Separation Processes”. We have won more science and technology awards and honors, including 53 scientific research awards. Among them, with IPE as the first contribution unit, the three achievements of “New Process and Industrial Application of Ionic Liquid Enhanced Reaction and Separation”, “Development of New Reaction-Crystallization Equipment for Lithium-ion Battery Precursor and Intelligent Manufacturing of High-end Cathode Materials”, and “Efficient and Low-carbon Treatment Technology of Lithium-ion Battery Solid Waste Optimized in the Whole Process and Its Application” won the second prize of the 2023 National Award for Technological Invention and the second prize of the National Science and Technology Awards, ranking first among CAS institutions in terms of the number of prizes. A number of remarkable results have been scored in commercialization and application of achievements, and the appraisal of 13 scientific and technological achievements has been accomplished, among which 9 have been identified as the internationally advanced level by the authoritative experts in the related fields, and 2 high-value patent portfolios with each worth over ten million yuan transferred in industrialization. 

To promote the development of high-level major platforms, we have empowered “new” tools. The “3+3” national platform pattern has demonstrated obvious effects, and the State Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery has completed the defense and been approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology according to high standards. The State Key Laboratory of Mesoscience and Engineering and the National Engineering Research Center of Green Recycling of Strategic Metal Resources have developed soundly following their reorganization. The joint construction of the State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Molecular and Process Engineering and the Key Laboratory of Green and High-end Utilization of Salt Lake Resources have been continuously deepened. The Huairou Center has become fully operational, and the advantages of the whole chain of “one institute with two wings”, combined with Zhongguancun Park and Langfang Engineering Base, are gradually emerging. Aiming at the national needs and industrial development issues, we will explore the establishment of a new model in which leading enterprises in the industry set the needs, while research institutes and enterprises act as co-solvers and co-creators.

To build an institutionalized scientific and technological talent team, we have cultivated the “new” drivers of growth. We have formed a scientific research team led by 6 academicians and more than 100 backbone talents. In 2024, we concentrated on the core tasks of science and technology, deepened the reform, integrated the scientific research groups and management departments, formed a closely coordinated and institutionalized team, stimulated vitality, explored and completed the evaluation and employment of 109 people based on posts, and built a high-performance team.

As spring arrives, the solid foundation laid by our collective efforts in the past year emboldens us to stride forward with confidence. In 2025, IPE will continue to lead the development of new quality productive forces with scientific and technological innovation, stand at a new starting point, make our layouts in new directions, expand new research fields, and explore a “new” stage of green, high-end, low-carbon and intelligent process engineering.

Through our joint efforts, we will be able to push the development of IPE to a higher level. On behalf of the leadership group of IPE, I would like to extend my sincerest greetings and heartfelt thanks to all the staff, young postgraduate students, retirees and their families, and to everyone who has shown warm care, guidance and support for our institute’s development. In the new year, all members of IPE will strive to forge ahead towards our goals with unwavering determination and sheer perseverance. Let us join hands to write a new chapter and embark on a new journey together!