On the afternoon of May 13th, the delegation led by Yuan Jiajun, Secretary of Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, visited Wenzhou and inspected Wenzhou University Technology Innovation Institute for Carbon Neutralizaton (WZUTIICN). Among the delegation were Chen Yijun (Member of the Standing Committee and Secretary General of Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee), Liu Xiaotao (Member of the Standing Committee of Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of Wenzhou Municipal Party Committee), Yao Gaoyuan (Secretary of the Leading Party Members’ Group and Director of the Economy and Information Technology Department of Zhejiang) etc. Xie Shuhua, Secretary of the Party Committee of WZU, and Chou Shulei, Director of the WZUTIICN accompanied the delegation.

During the tour in the Institute, the delegation led by Yuan Jiajun inspected the production line of sodium-ion batteries and the pilot workshop of key materials for sodium-ion battery positive and negative electrodes, and learned about the Institute’s work related to the recruitment of talents and promotion of scientific and technological innovation. Yuan expressed his affirmation of WZU’s contributions to the sci-tech innovation of the city. He pointed out that it is imperative to foster an innovation pattern featuring effective connection among the industry, universities, research and application, and collaborative development of upstream, midstream and downstream firms. Efforts should be made to form a sound innovation ecology, give full play to the role of leading enterprises in integrating various types of innovation resources, accelerate the gathering of talents, technology and other high-end resources in the field of sci-tech innovation, turn advanced technology into good products and expedite the cultivation of industries of the future to better serve the local industrial transformation and economic development. Yuan also stressed the need to study and abide by General Xi Jinping’s guidelines on common prosperity and promote common prosperity through high-quality development. As the 20th CPC National Congress and the 15th Provincial Party Congress are approaching, the university needs to find the niche for a better future through innovation and strive for more landmark results in the construction of the common prosperity demonstration zone.

During the tour, Yuan Jiajun listened to the report from the WZUTIICN on the technology research and industrialization process of sodium-ion battery. He mentioned that sodium ion batteries were a preferable choice for vigorously developing large-scale energy storage. He also talked to core members of the Institute, including Xiao Yao, Li Lin, Li Li, Zhu Yanfang, Yuan Yifei and Prof. Wang Yajun, and urged the researchers of the Institute to “be exemplary new Wenzhounese”.

WZUTIICN is headed by Professor Chou Shulei, one of the top young talents in the field of international sodium-ion batteries. With the goal of “building an international new energy base with a new height of innovation”, it aims to create a new type of enterprise in the field of “hi-tech, fine and cutting-edge” carbon peaking and carbon neutrality industry. Currently, the Institute is building a production line of sodium-ion battery energy storage in Ouhai District and promoting its application in low-speed electric vehicles, electric boats, household energy storage and grid energy storage. It is going all out to map out a sodium-ion battery industry worth over 100 billion yuan with enterprises each boasting an annual output of 10 billion yuan. Hopefully, it will create a new high for improving energy structure, promoting green and clean energy development, and serving the sci-tech innovation of Wenzhou, Zhejiang and even the whole country.