The year 2025 has passed, and a new year of profound significance has arrived. Over the past year, we have redoubled our efforts, achieved far-reaching goals through robust groundwork and practical actions, responded to societal needs through scientific and technological breakthroughs, and continuously fostered a new pattern of sustainable excellence.

With innovation platforms as our foundation and step-by-step innovation, the State Key Laboratories have achieved significant results, fully playing a leading role. The State Key Laboratory of Mesoscience and Engineering has achieved continuous and stable operation of direct reduction iron demonstration line in the world’s first 10,000-ton green hydrogen fluidized bed. Four novel drugs from the State Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery have received clinical approval, including the first microsphere sustained-release formulation for type-II diabetes entering the clinical research phase. Through the coordinated development of “one institute with two wings”, the Langfang Engineering Base has been selected as the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's reserve pilot platform, and the Huairou Centre has been fully put into operation. An innovation consortium has been jointly established with 12 leading enterprises, promoting to form a long-term mechanism of collaboration between industries, universities and research institutes, and facilitating efficient integration of the innovation chain and the industrial chain. The International Panel of Mesoscience has been certified by the ISO international compliance management system, and a cluster of internationally leading journals in professional disciplines has been preliminarily established. The construction of innovation platforms has been comprehensively strengthened, laying a solid foundation for the sustainable development of IPE.

With our firm missions, we have made significant strides. The Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) has made remarkable progress on major tasks. The Strategic Priority Research Program “Low-Carbon Transformation Technology and Demonstration in Chemical and Metallurgical Industry” has fully achieved its mid-term goals; the program “Harmless Resource Utilization Technology for Special Lithium Ore” has gradually produced high-quality results; and the program “Key Technology Development for Drug Delivery Carriers” has officially been approved. We have taken the lead in 4 national key scientific and technological programs and key R&D programs, including innovative drug development, integrated environmental management in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, circular economy, and synthetic biology; and 6 key programs from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, including major research programs, original exploration, and regional collaborations. Industrial cooperation has made new progress under new circumstances, with 12 programs involving investment exceeding 10 million yuan each, reaching a historical high; 11 scientific achievements have been evaluated by authoritative experts in the related fields as “internationally leading”; software licensing revenue has exceeded 10 million yuan for the first time. IPE’s overall strength has steadily improved, with annual research funding increasing by more than 10% compared to the previous year.

With talent as our foundation and responsibility as our driving force, we have achieved historic breakthroughs in talent cultivation. Two researchers were elected as academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, achieving a remarkable feat last accomplished 26 years ago; and seven new national level young talents have been added. We have continued to advance the pilot reform of national and CAS-level scientific and technological talent classification and evaluation, and organized the classification and appointment of 114 professional and technical positions. The Institute’s Alumni Association has been officially established and its first board meeting has been successfully held, building a long-term development community for alumni members of the Institute at home and abroad. The talent growth ecosystem has continued to be optimized, injecting vitality into the Institute’s scientific research efforts.

We innovate through processes and advance through engineering. The year 2026 marks the beginning of a new five-year strategic cycle. Facing the strategic blueprints such as developing emerging productive capabilities and building a modern industrial system, IPE will fully leverage its established and systematic advantages, strive to seize the high ground of science and technology, and carry out the “1+8 strategic roadmap” centered on “low-carbon transformation of process industries”, so as to establish a world-class center for process engineering research and technological innovation.

The gentle breeze melts the frost, and blossoms herald the arrival of spring. On behalf of the leadership team of the Institute of Process Engineering, I would like to extend my most sincere greetings and heartfelt thanks to all the staff, young students, retirees, friends of the Institute at home and abroad, and to your families, as well as to all the colleagues and friends from all walks of life who cared about, guided, and supported the development of the Institute. As we turn the page to 2026, let us advance boldly into a new chapter of scientific discovery—one defined not only by technical excellence but by our commitment to improving lives and safeguarding our planet. With curiosity as our compass and collaboration as our foundation, we will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, creating knowledge that serves humanity and inspires future generations.