On September 20, 2025, the 3rd Annual Conference of the Intelligent Scientist Ecosystem Alliance was grandly opened at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). With the theme “Shared Language, Unified Standards: Intelligent Standards Shaping the Future,” this year’s conference is dedicated to promoting the implementation of intelligent scientist standards and building an open, collaborative, and win–win intelligent scientist ecosystem.
The conference was hosted by the State Key Laboratory of Precision Intelligent Chemistry at USTC, bringing together leading experts from universities, research institutes, and enterprises across the country to discuss the construction and future development of the intelligent science ecosystem. Distinguished guests included USTC President Academician Chang Jin, Tongji University President Academician Yang Jinlong, HKUST (Guangzhou) Academician Zhang Tongyi, Tsinghua University Academician Li Jinghong, Wei Zhixiang, Director of the Bureau of Frontier Science and Basic Research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Deputy Director Shen Yi, Luo Fangping, President of the China National Institute of Standardization, Wu Jinsong, Party Secretary of the Anhui Provincial Department of Science and Technology, and Deputy Director Chen Longsheng, among others.
During the meeting, Professor Li Zhenyu, Director of the State Key Laboratory of Precision Intelligent Chemistry, signed strategic cooperation agreements with representatives from PetroChina Lubricant Company, Sinopec Dalian Research Institute of Petroleum and Petrochemicals, Huaneng Group Anhui Branch, China Minmetals Changsha Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Co., Ltd., Wanhua Chemical Group Wanhua Research Institute, and the Agricultural Genomics Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The conference also announced 37 new alliance members and held a ceremony for the Alliance Ecosystem Standards, providing solid standardization support for building a unified, efficient, and reusable intelligent scientific research infrastructure.
Professor Jiang Jun from the University of Science and Technology of China unveiled the "Automated Chemist System Version 2.0," showcasing the latest achievements of the intelligent research platform and establishing an important milestone in promoting the deep integration of automation, intelligence, and standardization.
Attendees engaged in in-depth discussions around “The Road to Standardization of Intelligent Scientist Systems” and “How Intelligent Research Transitions to an Industrial Ecosystem.” They unanimously agreed that research standardization is a cornerstone for forming and internationalizing the intelligent scientific research ecosystem. The conference focused on systematic standard-building for intelligent scientists, aiming to develop national standards and promote their recognition as international norms, thereby securing a global leadership position in the field of intelligent materials science.
At the same time, the “Intelligent Scientist” Research Instrument Exhibition was held at USTC’s High-Tech Campus, focusing on how automation technologies and research instruments are reshaping the full workflow of chemistry and materials R&D. The exhibition brought together top research platforms and instrumentation innovators, empowering scientific innovation and presenting a future vision of standardized and intelligent research instruments.
