While summarizing the scientific and technological contributions of research and design institutes and universities in the nonferrous metals industry since the "14th Five-Year Plan", we should also clearly recognize that the nonferrous metals industry still faces problems such as the overall efficiency of the innovation system not being high enough, the integration of scientific and technological innovation resources not being sufficient, the input-output benefits of scientific and technological investment not being high, and the low rate of technology transfer. In these aspects, industry research institutes and universities need to continue to make great efforts to solve them.
The first is to adhere to supporting and serving the national strategic orientation. Industry research institutes and universities should focus on the major strategic demands of national development, adhere to innovation-driven leadership, accelerate the creation of original technology sources, and strive to smooth out the innovation activity chain from basic research, applied research to technology transfer and industrial application. We should concentrate our efforts on making breakthroughs in key areas such as strategic mineral exploration and efficient development, green and low-carbon metallurgy, ultra-high-purity metal preparation, high-end alloy materials, rare earth functional materials, advanced material preparation, and high-end equipment manufacturing, and break through a number of key core technologies, frontier leading technologies and even disruptive technologies. To build high-level innovation platforms, we should promote in-depth integration of industry, academia, research and application, enhance coordination among the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain, and strengthen the independent control capacity of key materials and core equipment, so that scientific and technological innovation can truly become the primary driving force for the development of the industry.
Second, we must persist in laying a solid foundation for the security of key mineral resources. At present, the global landscape is undergoing profound adjustments, and geopolitical conflicts and the competition for key mineral resources are constantly intensifying. The non-ferrous metals industry should take "breakthroughs in mineral exploration" as its core strategic task, focus on strategic mineral resources such as copper, nickel, cobalt and rare earths, adhere to innovation-driven development, achieve major breakthroughs in exploration and development, and elevate the improvement of resource guarantee capacity to the strategic height of safeguarding the security of the national industrial chain and supply chain and enhancing the initiative in strategic games, so as to provide solid mineral resource support for building a new development pattern.
Third, we must persist in fully implementing green, low-carbon and circular development. We should continuously deepen the green and low-carbon transformation, vigorously develop advanced and applicable technologies and disruptive technologies such as energy conservation and carbon reduction, clean production, and in-depth treatment of pollutants, and focus on disruptive process innovation and process reengineering. We should promote the optimization of the energy structure and the application of energy-saving and carbon-reduction technologies, and build a green and low-carbon industrial system covering the entire life cycle from mines to materials. To enhance the comprehensive utilization efficiency of complex resources, accelerate the development of the recycled non-ferrous metals industry, build a more complete circular economy industrial chain, and achieve a win-win situation of economic and ecological benefits in the non-ferrous metals industry.
Fourth, strengthen digital and intelligent empowerment in the non-ferrous metals industry. We should further promote the in-depth application of new-generation information technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet of Things and 5G throughout the entire industrial chain, including mining, smelting and processing, material research and development, quality control and supply chain management. We should promote the construction of digital mines, intelligent factories and smart enterprises, and cultivate and create a number of demonstration enterprises and typical application scenarios for digital transformation. We should utilize digital means to optimize resource allocation, achieve precise control and flexible manufacturing, meet personalized and diversified market demands, and create new business forms and models for the development of the non-ferrous metals industry.
The fifth is to adhere to all-round international exchanges and cooperation. We should deeply integrate into the national "Belt and Road" initiative and enhance exchanges and cooperation with international counterparts in areas such as resource development, cutting-edge technologies, and standard formulation. Actively layout high-quality overseas resources and build a diversified, stable and reliable resource supply guarantee system; Cultivate leading enterprises and brands with international influence, and accelerate the enhancement of the non-ferrous metals industry's say and influence in the international arena.
Sixth, strengthen the cultivation of innovative talents in the industry. At present, international competition for high-quality talents and technological commanding heights is unprecedentedly fierce, and there is an urgent need for more high-level scientific research achievements and high-level talents as support. It is hoped that industry research institutes and universities will fully play their role as the main force in basic research and the source of major scientific and technological breakthroughs, focus on cultivating and bringing up first-class scientific and technological leading talents and innovation teams, focus on cultivating outstanding engineers, master craftsmen and highly skilled talents, promote the synchronous development of talent cultivation, scientific and technological innovation and industry upgrading, and smooth the virtuous cycle of education, science and technology and talents in the industry. Gather more talent resources to cultivate and develop new quality productivity in the industry.
