Professor Xie Jianxin from the University of Science and Technology Beijing shared details on on-going projects. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Recently, the Second Forum of Material Genome Engineering were held at the Beijing International Convention Center, attracting nearly 900 experts in materials science and representatives from enterprises to discuss topics like a material database based on big data, a high-throughput screening method and application of material genome engineering technology.

The event, which was first held by the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Chinese Material Research Society in Guangzhou last year,is an important academic forum in the field of new materials, and aims to boost academic exchanges among universities and institutes on cutting-edge technology and push forward cross-innovation in such fields as materials science, computer science, chemistry and physics.

As the technology is crucial for China to ensure its economic security and be competitive in the world, the country's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) has highlighted materials genomics as a key strategic program.

At the two-day forum, Professor Xie Jianxin from the University of Science and Technology Beijing shared details on on-going projects in USTB, Beihang University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and other domestic universities. and the latest research results achieved.

Separately, Cao Guoying, the deputy director of the Department of High Tech Development and Industrialization at the Ministry of Science and Technology, said that although China's development of materials science had gained considerable momentum in recent years, it still has a long way to go to become world-class level.