The Membrane Technology Research Institute of the Jiangsu Provincial Academy of Industrial Research feels the General Secretary’s earnest expectations.

　　According to a report by Xinhua Daily Online on December 17, 2014, the stirring echoes of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s inspection visits to Nanjing and Zhenjiang over the past few days have yet to subside. Face-to-face exchanges and close‑range interactions have greatly uplifted the spirits of cadres and the general public. “Closely focusing on the glorious mission of taking the lead in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and in basically achieving modernization, we will strive to build a new Jiangsu that is economically strong, prosperous for its people, environmentally beautiful, and socially advanced,” his words still ring in our ears, and the responsibility weighs heavily on our shoulders.

　　The only site inspected by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his visit to Nanjing was the Jiangsu Provincial Academy of Industrial Technology, underscoring the paramount importance that national leaders attach to technological innovation.

　　Less than a month after assuming his post as Executive Dean of the Provincial Institute of Industrial Technology, Professor Liu Qing—formerly Vice President of Chongqing University—has already made a strong impression. From the General Secretary’s exchanges with scientists, he sensed that the leader is deeply concerned about scientific research, well-versed in numerous fields, and keenly interested in cutting-edge achievements and emerging technologies. “The General Secretary has urged us to proactively explore reforms in the science and technology system, to foster deep integration between science, technology, and economic and social development, and to unleash innovation through reform. This has only reinforced my sense of the immense responsibility on my shoulders,” he said.

　　Liu Qing stated that the Institute of Industry–Research Cooperation must firmly bear in mind the General Secretary’s instruction to “act with a sense of urgency, seizing every moment, and ensure that innovation delivers tangible results,” and continue to boldly explore deepening reform, striving to establish new mechanisms that foster innovative breakthroughs and facilitate the industrialization of those innovations. “Going forward, we will not only leverage reform and innovation to attract diverse resources from domestic universities and research institutes, but also draw cutting-edge basic research成果 from world‑class universities and institutions to Jiangsu, transforming them into high‑value technologies. In the future, our research system will be reformed in whatever way best promotes the commercialization of scientific and technological advances and enhances our capacity for innovation. The Institute of Industry–Research Cooperation must fully play its role as a ‘testing ground’ for reform, shouldering a major responsibility in Jiangsu’s industrial transformation and upgrading.”

　　As the project leader of the “world’s first complete set of zero‑discharge technology for pulp and paper wastewater,” Professor Yang Gang of the Membrane Technology Research Institute at the Academy of Industrial Research felt deeply the earnest expectations that the Party and the state place on scientific researchers, inspired by the General Secretary’s keen attention to this initiative. “The General Secretary shows great concern and keen interest in technological progress in the field of environmental protection, which has made me, as a researcher working on membrane technologies, acutely aware of the weight of responsibility,” said Yang Gang. He added that, going forward, they will keep the General Secretary’s instructions firmly in mind, continue to refine their processes, and further reduce both operating costs and capital expenditures for equipment. At the same time, they plan to expand their research into additional areas, pursue integrated innovation, and maximize the advantages of membrane technology.

　　“The General Secretary asked us, ‘Are you doing well?’ and urged us, ‘I hope you will put down deep roots here.’ This not only gave us—researchers from universities outside the province—who have come to Jiangsu to start businesses and innovate a great sense of confidence, but also set a clear expectation: we must help more fundamental research findings emerge from the confines of academia and contribute to economic and social development,” said Chen Biaohua, Director of the Carbon Fiber Application Technology Institute and Vice President of Beijing University of Chemical Technology. Yang Xiaoping, Executive Deputy Director of the institute and a professor at Beijing University of Chemical Technology, told reporters that they have already established strong roots in Jiangsu, benefiting from the smooth operation of various institutional and mechanistic reforms brought about by the “one institute, one policy” approach of the Industry–Research Institute. “Going forward, we will work even harder to ensure that our researchers take firm root here—not only enabling our university’s faculty teams to settle down, but also attracting more high‑level talent, such as doctoral graduates, to make Jiangsu their home, and ensuring that an increasing number of research projects are driven by the real needs of Jiangsu’s enterprises,” Chen Biaohua and Yang Xiaoping added.

　　Xinhua Daily reporters Wang Xiaoying, Yan Fang, and Geng Lian