China University of Science and Technology innovates the integration of science and education and builds an excellent scientific and technological innovation system-
Recently, in the Laboratory of Machine Chemist of China University of Science and Technology, the robot Xiaolai is shuttling through various operating tables in an orderly way. This world’s first robot, which integrates reading literature, designing experiments, independent optimization and covering the whole process of chemical development, is vividly called "machine chemist" and was developed by Jiang Jun, a professor from the Department of Chemical Physics of the Chinese University of Science and Technology.
From assembling the team in 2014, putting forward the concept, and finally landing the project, Jiang Jun’s team has sharpened a sword for ten years. This persistence is precisely the vivid epitome of China University of Science and Technology focusing on the national strategic needs, focusing on the direction of scientific development, based on a high position, broad vision and large pattern, and taking various measures to write "building a strong country and taking responsibility for education".
Anchoring basic research to serve the national strategic needs
In 1958, at the initiative of Guo Moruo, then president of China Academy of Sciences, and a group of scientists, the Chinese University of Science and Technology came into being. As a university founded for the cause of "two bombs and one satellite", serving the strategic needs of the country and cultivating cutting-edge scientific and technological talents for the party and the country are the innate value pursuit of the people of China University of Science and Technology.
Shu Gequn, secretary of the Party Committee of the Chinese University of Science and Technology, said: "Over the years, the Chinese University of Science and Technology has taken advantage of the combination of departments, innovated the integration of science and education, shouldered the heavy responsibility of national strategic scientific and technological strength, consolidated the foundation of scientific and technological self-reliance, and achieved a large number of original scientific research results based on quantum technology, artificial intelligence and deep space."
From "two bombs and one satellite" to the lunar exploration project; From large-scale space exploration to micro-scale quantum control; From the construction of synchrotron radiation accelerator to full participation in the construction of Hefei comprehensive national science center; From the opening of the world’s first thousand-kilometer quantum secure communication trunk line "Beijing-Shanghai trunk line" to the development of the world’s first optical quantum computing prototype … The Chinese University of Science and Technology has fulfilled the oath of "inserting the red flag into the peak of science" in the school song with one scientific and technological achievement.
Recently, a research team composed of professors Pan Jianwei, Lu Chaoyang and Liu Naile from the Institute of Quantum Information and Quantum Science and Technology Innovation of China Academy of Sciences, Chinese University of Science and Technology, cooperated with Shanghai Institute of Microsystems of China Academy of Sciences and National Center for Parallel Computer Engineering and Technology, and successfully built a 255-photon quantum computing prototype "Nine Chapters No.3", which once again set a new world record for the technical level of optical quantum information and the superiority of quantum computing.
Quantum science and technology is one of the important fields for China to seize the commanding heights of the future industry, and it is also the golden signboard of China University of Science and Technology. From Mozi, the world’s first experimental satellite for quantum science, to the prototype of quantum computing such as Jiuzhang and Zu Chongzhi, all started from the breakthrough of basic research bit by bit.
"To do basic research, China University of Science and Technology has a tradition." Bao Xinhe, president of the Chinese University of Science and Technology, said that the school has always encouraged and supported basic research work, and "the bench is not cold in the Chinese University of Science and Technology".
The landing of a series of mechanisms has effectively verified this point. The school has gradually established an organized scientific research model based on national laboratories, national research centers, scientific apparatus and other major platforms, which is oriented to serve the national strategic needs, and an outstanding scientific and technological innovation system based on colleges, supported by key experimental platforms, and focusing on free exploration.
The school also deploys original exploration projects to guide and motivate researchers to participate in original basic research. The school set up multi-gradient university-level independent deployment projects by using the basic scientific research business expenses of central universities and the special funds for "double-first-class" construction, focusing on supporting key areas or major international scientific and technological frontiers in the medium and long-term scientific and technological development plan of the state and China Academy of Sciences.
Through the innovation of system and mechanism, the Chinese University of Science and Technology focuses on promoting the cross-integration of five first-level disciplines: physics, chemistry, life science, information science and materials science, and further strengthening the construction of Hefei National Research Center for Microscale Material Science. The school will build the Geometry and Physics Research Center, the Peng Huanwu Theoretical Physics Research Center and the Anhui Applied Mathematics Center, etc., and strengthen the support for the frontier basic theoretical research work.
Allow students to choose their own majors and lay a solid foundation for talent training.
Talent training mode represents the characteristics and style of a school. Over the years, in terms of personnel training, the University of Science and Technology of China has formed a distinctive feature of "broad and solid foundation, fine professionalism and fresh work".
"In terms of academics, we must have the ability to think independently." Bao Xinhe said that the Chinese University of Science and Technology has always adhered to the concept of teaching students in accordance with their aptitude, and basically there is no major direction when enrolling students. When attending the first to second grades, students can choose their own major and research direction according to their own interests and understanding of the subject. The school has set up a number of science and technology talent classes in basic science fields such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and life, and high-tech fields such as information and materials, which provide sufficient choice space for students’ development, basic research and interdisciplinary.
Based on this, the University of Science and Technology of China has formed a distinctive "two-stage (organic integration of general education and professional education), three-combination (combination of science and education, combination of theory and practice, combination of departments), long-term (integration of undergraduate and doctoral studies), personalized (100% independent choice of majors) and international" top-notch innovative talent training model.
In the University of Science and Technology of China, students should not only learn well, but also be given the right of autonomy-allowing students to choose their majors 100% independently. Undergraduates have three opportunities to choose their own majors during their school years: after one year of enrollment, they choose colleges or disciplines within the whole school according to their own interests; After the sophomore year, you can choose a major in a college or discipline; After the third grade, you can also make professional adjustments or study according to the personalized course plan.
The free learning environment, solid theoretical foundation and rigorous study atmosphere fully stimulate students’ motivation to explore new knowledge, so that students can firmly establish their scientific research aspirations to do the most cutting-edge and difficult research and solve the problems that the country and people urgently need to solve.
Accelerate the application of innovative achievements and serve economic and social development.
In 1970, China University of Science and Technology moved south to Hefei. In the past 53 years, in the process of innovation and development of Hefei, the Chinese University of Science and Technology has been like a seed, spreading its branches and leaves, blossoming and bearing fruit. Many "Science and Technology Department" enterprises such as Iflytek, Keda Guodun and Keda Dachuang have grown rapidly in Hefei, forming industrial clusters and becoming industrial landmarks in Hefei.
The orderly incubation of scientific research achievements in colleges and universities in the urban industrial chain benefits from the series of top-level designs of the school.
In 2020, CUUST was included in the first batch of 40 pilot units for the reform of "giving scientific researchers the ownership or long-term use right of scientific and technological achievements", and formulated the Opinions on Further Strengthening the Transfer and Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements to explore the "Chinese University of Science and Technology Model" for the reform of "scientific and technological empowerment".
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China University of Science and Technology has promoted the formation of a number of emerging industrial clusters, such as sub-technology and new generation information technology, and contributed to the regional economic development.
By the end of April 2023, the school had applied for more than 50 achievements to join the empowerment reform, approved the transformation of 31 achievements, involving 130 intellectual property rights, and established 25 high-quality entrepreneurial enterprises, covering a new generation of information technology, new materials, new energy, biomedicine and other fields. The Institute of Advanced Technology of the Chinese University of Science and Technology has cultivated 301 enterprises, including 90 national high-tech enterprises and 52 high-growth enterprises. It has formed an industrial innovation chain in the fields of independent informationization, artificial intelligence and biomedicine, and has become the technical engine of the regional high-tech industrial ecological chain.
In Bao Xinhe’s view, a series of technologies are actually needed to push the innovation into application. Only when scientific and technological achievements are combined with national needs, people’s requirements and market demand, and the three-level leap from scientific research, experimental development to popularization and application can we truly realize innovation value and realize innovation-driven development. To this end, in recent years, the school has continuously strengthened the top-level design to help the transformation of scientific research results.
In close connection with the country’s major strategic needs and the need to focus on basic research and key core technologies, CUUST supports the school’s scientific research team to "open its arms" and make bold innovations by exploring the establishment of key youth innovation funds, innovative team cultivation funds, original exploration funds, and "unveiling the list" projects.
In 2020, the state put forward the strategic goal of carbon neutrality in peak carbon dioxide emissions. Two years later, the Institute of Carbon Neutralization was established. With the support of the Institute, young professor Xu Jixian undertook the key project "Development of the next generation crystalline silicon laminated solar cell technology". "The Chinese University of Science and Technology encourages young people to’ expose the list’. The list of’ exposing the list’ comes from the real problems and real needs in industrial operation and enterprise development." Talking about the precise help given by the school in direction guidance and the financial support provided in team building, Xu Jixian felt deeply.
Not long ago, the achievements of Xu Jixian’s team in perovskite photovoltaic research set a new world record and became the latest achievement under the continuous exploration of "the next generation of crystalline silicon-perovskite laminated battery".
"We must have determination and determination, adhere to stable support, encourage continuous scientific research and exploration, adhere to innovation management, and create a good atmosphere, so as to better play the supporting and promoting role of scientific and technological innovation in high-quality development and serve the country’s major needs and economic and social development." Shu Gequn said. (Reporter Fang Mengyu)