The Joint Review Conference for the 2023 China Construction Materials Association & Chinese Ceramic Society Building Materials Science and Technology Awards was convened at GXU from March 26^th to 27^th, 2024. Deputy Director Mr. Liao Wenjun of the Guangxi Science and Technology Department, and Vice President Mr. Liu Jianhua of the China Construction Materials Association attended the conference and delivered speeches. Prof. Dr. Xiao Jianzhuang, member of GXU Party Committee and Vice President, attended the opening ceremony of the review session and delivered a speech. The conference was graced by the presence of 17 industry experts, including Mr. Li Yeqing, Executive Vice President of the China Construction Materials Association and President of Huaxin Cement; Mr. Peng Shou, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the Expert Committee; and Mr. Jiang Desheng, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Chief Expert of the Expert Committee, along with experts such as Mr. Miao Changwen, Mr. Zhang Lianmeng, Mr. Dong Shaoming, Mr. Fu Zhengyi, and Mr. Liu Jiaping. The meeting was chaired by Mrs. Shi Hongwei, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Construction Materials Association and Director of the Department of Science and Technology Development.

In his address, Deputy Director Mr. Liao Wenjun extended a warm welcome to the academicians and experts who had traveled from afar on behalf of the Guangxi Science and Technology Department, and provided an overview of the current level of comprehensive scientific and technological innovation in Guangxi. He emphasized that this comprehensive review conference presented a valuable opportunity for mutual learning and exchange with the academicians and experts. He expressed the hope that through this conference, the experts would gain further insights into the innovation and development needs of Guangxi’s building materials industry, strengthen collaboration with enterprises, universities, and research institutes in Guangxi, and leverage the expertise of academicians and experts in the research and technological challenges of building materials. This, he stressed, would contribute to achieving new breakthroughs and accomplishments in scientific and technological innovation in the fields of building materials and inorganic non-metallic new materials in Guangxi, laying a solid foundation to support the high-quality development of industries in the region.

Vice President Mr. Liu Jianhua, on behalf of the China Construction Materials Association, extended gratitude to all the academicians, experts, and Guangxi University for hosting this year’s Building Materials Science and Technology Awards Comprehensive Review Conference. He provided an overview of the Association’s efforts and achievements in organizing and implementing major national technological breakthroughs in the construction materials industry, such as the 'Revealing the Leader' initiative, and highlighted the specific reforms implemented in accordance with the requirements of the National Science and Technology Awards for the Building Materials Science and Technology Awards. Moreover, he outlined the guiding principles for this review, emphasizing a tilt towards groundbreaking, disruptive, significant, and original technological achievements in the industry, solutions for national and industry bottleneck technologies, as well as proprietary technologies supporting major national projects.

Prof. Dr. Xiao Jianzhuang stated that in recent years, GXU has seized upon the significant opportunities presented by the new phase of the "Double First-Class" initiative, actively integrating into the national strategic development requirements. It has creatively implemented ten major innovative measures in educational management and achieved a series of educational accomplishments. Furthermore, in alignment with the strategic deployment of green and low-carbon development by the Party Central Committee and the autonomous regional government, GXU’s Carbon Neutrality Science and Technology Research Institute has been actively engaged in research on major basic scientific issues and key common technologies. This institute aims to provide technical, personnel, and decision-making support for achieving the goals of peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality. Mr. Xiao expressed the hope that experts would continue to care for and support the construction and development of GXU, providing more guidance for the development of civil engineering and related disciplines, as well as for the establishment of the GXU Carbon Neutrality Research Institute.

The review conference has invited a total of 17 academicians, experts, and scholars in the field of construction materials to participate in evaluation and exchange, aiming to select a batch of technologically advanced awards that meet the requirements of the times and have international standards. The conference will also address urgent issues such as the security of the construction materials industry’s industrial chain and supply chain, as well as bottleneck challenges. These deliberations are geared towards fostering the green, low-carbon, digital, intelligent, and high-end development of the construction materials sector, thereby providing essential support for realizing the industry’s aspiration to be both industry-friendly and of premium quality, ultimately benefiting humanity. The Building Materials Science and Technology Award stands as a comprehensive and authoritative recognition within the national construction materials domain. It upholds fundamental principles of award administration based on legal compliance, public welfare, integrity, fairness, and justice. Moreover, it emphasizes evaluation criteria that prioritize innovation quality, performance, and contributions, while also aiming for the professionalization, distinctiveness, and brand establishment of industry awards. Notably, the award serves as a critical foundation and avenue for nominating candidates for national science and technology accolades within the construction materials industry.