Researchers from the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB) have contributed to six projects recognized at China's 2025 National Science and Technology Awards, presented in Beijing on July 8.
The awards included three second prizes in the State Technological Invention Award category and three second prizes in the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award category. USTB served as the lead institution on three of the six award-winning projects.
The recognized projects span high-speed rail, crop breeding, clean steel production, groundwater conservation, visual networking, and medical technology, reflecting the breadth of the University’s research and its focus on addressing complex industrial and societal challenges.
Among the recipients, Professor QU Xuanhui led a project developing metal-matrix composite friction materials and brake-pad manufacturing technologies for high-speed trains. The team investigated how braking materials deteriorate during emergency stops and introduced new material designs and manufacturing methods to improve braking stability, thermal resistance, and performance in severe winter conditions.
The resulting brake pads have been adopted on China's Fuxing high-speed trains and other trains operating at speeds of 350 kilometres per hour or above. The project also led to the establishment of an automated production line and a comprehensive portfolio of intellectual property.
Professor WAN Xiangyuan led another award-winning project focused on improving the breeding and seed production of hybrid corn. The team developed male-sterile and non-isolated seed-production technologies that reduce reliance on manual detasseling and geographically separated production areas. By combining these methods with molecular breeding, the researchers created improved parental lines and new corn varieties.
The technologies have increased the efficiency of corn breeding and seed production while contributing to higher yields and greater agricultural productivity.
A third USTB-led project, headed by Professor ZHANG Lifeng, developed technologies for producing cleaner, higher-quality steel for advanced manufacturing. The research expanded understanding of how non-metallic inclusions form, grow, and are removed during steel production. Based on this work, the team developed methods to control inclusions throughout the production process and tailor steel cleanliness to different performance requirements.
These technologies have been adopted by major steel producers, including Shougang, China Baowu Steel Group, HBIS Group, and CITIC Pacific Special Steel. The resulting materials have been used in major engineering projects, including large hydropower facilities and nuclear reactors.
USTB researchers also contributed to three additional award-winning projects. Professor XIE Mowen participated in research on groundwater conservation during open-pit coal mining, Associate Professor DU Bing contributed to advances in large-scale visual networking and communication, and Professor SHI Zhangzhi participated in the development of interventional medical devices for diagnosing and treating vascular occlusive diseases.
The six awards highlight USTB’s continued strength in translating fundamental research into practical technologies with applications across transportation, agriculture, manufacturing, communications, energy, and healthcare.
A total of 258 projects and 11 scientists were recognized in the 2025 National Science and Technology Awards. The honours included 51 State Natural Science Awards, 58 State Technological Invention Awards, and 149 State Scientific and Technological Progress Awards.
