China Urged to Boost Research and Innovate in Superconductivity

China is being urged to enhance its fundamental research in scientific instruments, particularly in the field of superconductivity, to improve its global competitiveness. As the year 2026 approaches, it coincides with the onset of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), where discussions surrounding innovative productive forces and essential breakthroughs in core technologies are pivotal during the ongoing "two sessions" in China.

Superconductivity and quantum materials, deemed as critical frontier technologies, are identified as crucial in tackling technological barriers and advancing key national strategic objectives. Zhou Xingjiang, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), has shared insights on this issue, stressing the need for the development of domestically produced scientific instruments.

Zhou, a veteran researcher in superconductivity, previously led the creation of the world's first vacuum ultraviolet laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) system, an achievement that disrupted foreign technological dominance and provided a fundamental research apparatus for China.

In an exclusive interview with the Global Times, Zhou pointed out that rather than seeking specific technological breakthroughs, a robust research environment is crucial. He stressed that both science and technology play fundamental roles in enhancing national competitiveness and that a proper balance needs to be achieved between research and technological applications to transform China into a science and technology powerhouse by 2035.

He highlighted four essential elements for scientific research: talent, funding, experimental conditions, and an accommodating research environment. He cautioned against misaligned evaluation mechanisms, which could stifle outcomes despite substantial investments in these domains.

Zhou emphasized that particularly basic research requires a long-term commitment and typically does not lead to immediate results. He advocates for fostering a more tolerant and stable research climate alongside rational evaluation practices to empower scientists to maintain focus on their research.

Regarding China's Government Work Report, which emphasizes nurturing high-quality productive forces and fundamental research, Zhou reiterated the importance of adhering to core research principles in superconductivity and quantum materials. Despite the centuries-old discovery of superconductivity, mainstream applications remain limited due to the rigorous temperature requirements of these materials.

Superconducting materials exhibit extraordinary characteristics, such as zero electrical resistance and the ability to generate potent magnetic fields, which make them promising solutions for applications in energy transmission, healthcare, and computing. A primary goal in current research is achieving room temperature superconductivity to enable wider technology adoption.

Zhou also noted the increasing global focus on applying superconductivity to nuclear fusion research, underscoring that high-temperature superconducting tapes can significantly reduce the size and construction costs of fusion devices.

China's involvement in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project, with its responsibility for developing critical components, signifies its capabilities in low-temperature superconducting materials and magnet technologies.

The significance of advanced scientific instruments in basic research is pivotal. Zhou's team-developed ARPES has become an essential technical resource for studying the electronic structure of superconductors, thus breaking foreign monopolies in this field.

China achieved a notable milestone by constructing a 35.6 tesla all-superconducting magnet, as recently announced by the CAS. This record-setting achievement establishes high-magnetic-field experimental conditions that propel advanced research in material and life sciences, facilitating profound scientific discoveries and technological innovations.