On July 8, the 2025 National Science and Technology Award Conference was held in Beijing, with a total of 20 scientific and technological achievements from Hunan receiving awards. Among these projects, eight (including seven general projects) were led by institutions in Hunan Province, and 12 involved Hunan participation.

Hunan-led projects won two second prizes of the State Natural Science Award, two second prizes of the State Technological Invention Award, and four second prizes of the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award, sweeping the "three major awards." As the primary contributors, Central South University led the completion of two projects, while National University of Defense Technology, Hunan University, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Yuan Longping High-tech Agriculture Co., Ltd. each led the completion of one project, demonstrating a diverse range of achievements across various innovation entities, including universities, research institutes, and enterprises.

National needs are the fundamental direction for scientific and technological innovation. Among this year's award-winning projects, a group of achievements from Hunan have made major breakthroughs in key areas such as supporting the construction of a country with strong transportation network, ensuring national food security, and empowering exploitation of mineral resources. In recent years, Hunan has fully leveraged its advantages as a major agricultural province. Using the Yuelushan Laboratory as a hub, the province has pooled research strengths from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hunan Agricultural University, the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, to synergistically promote an integrated reform of educational, scientific and talent institutions in the agricultural sector. These efforts not only helped cultivate agricultural research talent, but also achieve breakthroughs in key agricultural technologies, driving industrial development. Among the award-winning projects, five are from the agricultural sector, marking the transition of the reform from top-level design to substantive outcomes.

Among Hunan's awarded general projects, 15 scientific achievements were led or co-developed by enterprises, accounting for 88% of the province's total awarded general projects. Innovation entities are no longer "operating in isolation"; instead, they are precisely aligning with industrial needs and making concerted efforts.

Furthermore, a group of outstanding young scientists and researchers has emerged. Projects led by two "post-80s" young professors—Professor Lv Ben from the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University and Professor Wang Shuangyin from Hunan University—both won second prizes of the State Natural Science Award, highlighting the ability and commitment of Hunan's young scientists and researchers to tackle cutting-edge scientific challenges and pursue innovative breakthroughs.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn