The First Global Chinese Materials Conference Successfully Concludes in Belgium – Spotlight on “Materials Frontiers in the AI Era”

Brussels, Belgium – July 28, 2025 – The inaugural Global Chinese Materials Conference (GCMC) concluded successfully in Belgium, bringing together leading Chinese scientists and rising young researchers in the field of materials science from around the world. Themed “Materials Frontiers in the AI Era,” the event provided a high-level platform for international academic exchange and future-oriented collaboration.

The opening ceremony was chaired by Academician Bao-Lian Su, Fellow of both the Royal Academy of Belgium and the European Academy of Sciences. Distinguished speakers at the ceremony included Academician Chunli Bai of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Rector Castillo of the University of Namur, who addressed the audience and emphasized the growing importance of cross-border cooperation in materials research.

Figure 1: Opening Ceremony

Figure 2: Group Photo of Key Attendees

Figure 3: Welcome Speech by Rector Annick Castiaux, University of Namur

A Distinguished Lineup of Experts and Scholars

The conference featured an impressive lineup of participants:

• 18 Academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, including (in alphabetical order):
Guang Chen, Lidong Chen, Huiming Cheng, Shigang Sun, Wei Huang, Shutong Li, Yuliang Li, Jinghong Li, Lianmao Peng, Jinsong Leng, Tao Zhang, Di Zhang, Jin Zhang, Dongyuan Zhao, Meifang Zhu, Zhigang Zou, Tongyi Zhang, Yue Zhang.

• 3 Academicians from the Chinese Academy of Engineering:
Desheng Jiang, Hejun Li, Zhengyi Fu.

• 21 Academicians from overseas national academies, including representatives from:
The European Academy of Sciences, Royal Society of Canada, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Royal Academy of Belgium, Australian Academy of Science, Royal Academy of Engineering (UK), Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and Canadian Academy of Engineering.

Senior representatives from the Chinese Materials Research Society (CMRS), including Chairman Guangxian Li and Secretary-General Zengzhi Zhang, also attended the event.

In total, nearly 450 scholars and experts from over 20 countries and regions participated in the conference, showcasing cutting-edge research and advancements across various materials science disciplines.

Chemical Synthesis Forum and “Best Poster Award”
As part of the conference program, Chemical Synthesis hosted a dedicated session titled the “Chemical Synthesis Forum” and proudly sponsored the “Best Poster Award” to promote excellence in young researchers’ scientific communication.

The evaluation committee for the award was chaired by Academician Xiaodong Zou, with an esteemed panel of judges including Junjie Wang, Wenwen Song, Hongjing Dou, Zhiyong Fan, Zhenhai Wen, Zhongbin Wu, Chunting He, Xiuji Li, Kuo Li, Weijiang Xue, et al.

After rigorous review, seven outstanding poster winners were selected:

Zhen Pei, Wenbo Wang, Bojun Zeng, Yinglong Ma, Hongtao Qu, Mengdie, Li, Jiajun Luo

The awards were presented by Bao-Lian Su, along with Aicheng Chen, Hongbiao Dong, and Li Lin.

Figure 4: Award Ceremony for the Winners

This landmark event marks a major step forward in global Chinese collaboration in materials science, particularly in the context of emerging AI-driven technologies. It is expected to further strengthen international dialogue and accelerate innovation across borders.

Editor: Serein Hu
Language Editor: Emma Chen
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of Chemical Synthesis