From August 8th to 10th, the 2024 Greater Bay Area Low-Carbon Metallurgy and Advanced Metallic Materials Technology Exchange Conference, jointly hosted by the Chinese Society for Metals (CSM) and Guangdong University of Technology, was held in Guangzhou. With the theme of "Low-Carbon Metallurgy, Green Steel," the conference gathered over 400 participants, including academicians Gan Yong, Wang Guodong, Zhang Yue, Liu Zhengdong, Yue Qingrui, and Han Enhou from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Jiang Wei, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Vice President, and Secretary-General of the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA); Tian Zhiling, Executive Vice President of CSM; Zhang Longqiang, Deputy Secretary-General of CISA, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of the Metallurgical Industry Information and Standardization Research Institute; Qiu Xueqing, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Guangdong University of Technology; Tian Guobing, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Baosteel Zhanjiang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd.; Hua Xuchu, member of the Party Committee of the Guangdong Association for Science and Technology; Li Xiaodong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and District Head of Huadu District, Guangzhou; as well as top experts, university scholars, local government representatives, and enterprise representatives. They came together to discuss cutting-edge issues in the steel industry, exchange advanced production technologies in various directions, and promote the green transformation and high-quality development of the steel industry and advanced metallic materials.

  Wang Xinjiang, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Chinese Society for Metals (CSM), presided over the opening ceremony of the conference and read out a congratulation letter from Academician Yin Ruiyu of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. In his congratulation letter, Academician Yin Ruiyu highly praised the significance of the conference and emphasized the importance of promoting the high-end, green, and intelligent development of the steel industry through technological innovation, transforming steel production capacity into new quality productive forces to a greater extent.

  At the opening ceremony, Academician Gan Yong delivered a video speech in which he stated, "The green upgrade of the steel industry is a landmark practice for achieving the deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation." He emphasized that the new era has given new vitality to the deep integration of industry, academia, and research, and that the steel industry must seize the opportunity and forge ahead courageously. Guangdong University of Technology has established the Low-Carbon Metallurgical Engineering Innovative Interdisciplinary Research Institute, dedicating to conducting innovative research in the low-carbon metallurgy and high-performance metallic materials industry chain. The institute focuses on five major research directions: hydrogen metallurgy, low-carbon and efficient electric arc furnaces, high-performance steel materials, high-value utilization of scrap steel, and intelligent manufacturing. These are innovative measures for promoting the high-end, green, and intelligent development of the steel industry.

  Li Xiaodong expressed in his speech that every upgrade in the manufacturing industry of Huadu has been inseparable from the foundational support of steel and other metallic materials. He expressed his hope that all pioneers, researchers, and entrepreneurs in the field of low-carbon metallurgy and advanced metallic materials will work together to embark on a new journey towards green and low-carbon high-quality development in the Greater Bay Area.

  Hua Xuchu stated in his speech that under the leadership of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and the provincial party committee and government, Guangdong Association for Science and Technology has actively guided scientists and technologists to devote themselves to the construction of the international science and technology innovation center in the Greater Bay Area, making positive contributions to the innovative development of low-carbon metallurgy in the region.

  Tian Guobing stated in his speech that as the main supplier of green steel products to the advanced manufacturing cluster in the Greater Bay Area, Baosteel Zhanjiang lron & Steel Co., Ltd. has always regarded green and low-carbon as the lifeblood of the enterprise. The company adheres to a development path that prioritizes ecology, greenness, and low carbon, and has contributed valuable experience to promoting green and low-carbon development in the industry and the region.

  Qiu Xueqing stated in his speech that Guangdong University of Technology is a key university for high-level construction in Guangdong Province. With the strong support of the provincial committee, the provincial government, and higher authorities, the university is deeply implementing the "1+2+3" Climb-and-Support Initiative Plan for academic discipline enhancement, achieving rapid development. Facing the national green and low-carbon strategic development needs and the significant opportunities of the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the university has been focusing on "dual carbon" work in recent years, leveraging its advantages in academic disciplines, and strengthening deep integration with industry. It aims to build platforms, gather forces, and create mechanisms for the green and low-carbon development of the Greater Bay Area, making contributions to the area. On August 10, 2023, the university, relying on the Low Carbon Metallurgical Engineering Innovation Interdisciplinary Research Institute, jointly established the "Low Carbon Metallurgy Technology and Advanced Metal Materials Joint R&D Center" with Baosteel Zhanjiang lron & Steel Co., Ltd. Adhering to the concept of openness, cooperation, and innovation, the center carries out comprehensive cooperation in cutting-edge technology innovation, engineering problem tackling, production process optimization, and high-end talent cultivation. It is committed to developing green and low-carbon technologies and supporting the transformation and upgrading of the metallurgical industry, contributing to the construction of the Greater Bay Area.

  In his speech, Tian Zhiling stated that in order to achieve the "dual carbon" targets, we must accelerate technological innovation, achieve self-reliance in core technologies, and fully leverage emerging technologies such as hydrogen energy, digitization, and intelligentization to drive transformation in the metallurgical steel industry and the field of metallic materials.

  In his speech, Jiang Wei stated that the steel industry is an important pillar industry of the national economy, and steel materials are crucial basic materials for advancing China's modernization. They carry the heavy historical responsibility of national rejuvenation, and technological progress will continue to be a crucial factor in maintaining the steel industry's global competitiveness.

  Academician Wang Guodong delivered a keynote report entitled "Building a Digital Ecosystem Platform to Create New Quality Productivity in the Steel Industry" via video. Academician Zhang Yue and Academician Han Enhou delivered respectively keynote reports entitled "Hydrogen as the 'Driving Force' for Low-Carbon Development in the Steel Industry: Key Technologies and Equipment for Green Hydrogen Production" and "The Impact of Residual Alloying Elements in Recycled Steel on Corrosion Performance" .

  Wen Dun, Deputy General Manager of Baosteel Zhanjiang Iron & Steel, presented a report entitled "Zhanjiang Iron & Steel - Pioneer and Demonstrator of Green Development." Zhang Longqiang delivered a keynote report entitled "Green Development Trends and Standardization Progress in the Steel Industry." Lu Renquan, Member of the Standing Committee of Party Committee and Vice President of Guangdong University of Technology, hosted the keynote report session.

  Topics of the invited talks made by numerous experts, scholars, and industry representatives include green catalytic materials and equipment, low-carbon and green development in China's steel industry, new low-carbon iron-making processes, green and intelligent electric arc furnace steel-making, and advancements in low-carbon metallurgical technologies, etc.. These reports provided a fascinating academic feast for the participants.

  An organized salon for academicians, the second plenary session of the Academic Committee of the Zhanjiang Iron & Steel - Guangdong University of Technology Joint Research and Development Center for Low-Carbon Metallurgical Technology and Metallic Materials, as well as sub-sessions on hydrogen metallurgy, low-carbon electric arc furnaces, and advanced green steel materials were also part of the conference.

  Qiu Xueqing, Director of the Zhanjiang Iron & Steel-Guangdong University of Technology Joint Research and Development Center for Low-Carbon Metallurgical Technology and Metallic Materials, served as the Chairman of the Academic Committee and addressed the meeting. Qiu Xueqing emphasized that the establishment of the Guangdong University of Technology's Innovative and Interdisciplinary Research Institute for Low-Carbon Metallurgical Engineering aims to foster close cooperation between enterprises, universities, and research institutions, jointly identify scientific and technological challenges based on industrial needs, conduct collaborative research, and nurture scientific and technological talents in a synergistic way, thereby promoting industry-university-research integration and innovation led by enterprises. Relevant leaders from the university's Party Committee

   Office, President's Office, Scientific Research Management Department, Laboratory and Equipment Management Office, School of Materials and Energy,  Industrial Technology Research and Development Institute, and the Innovative and Interdisciplinary Research Institute for Low-Carbon Metallurgical Engineering attended the meeting.