On April 26th, 2023, the Official Porjext Launch and Implementation Plan Review Conference for the National Key R&D Program "Artificial Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation" under the Synthetic Biology Key Special Project, led by Westlake University in collaboration with the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian University of Technology, and the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was held at the Yungu Campus of Westlake University. The meeting was attended by over 70 participants, including members of the project expert panel, Researcher Xiaojuan Li from the Social Development Division of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Professor Duanqing Pei , Assistant President of Westlake University, Professor Li Deng, Executive Dean of the School of Science and XU Yiming Chair Professor, the project leader, and key scientific and technical personnel.
The project appointed Academician Jinpei Cheng of Tsinghua University as the head of the expert panel. Other members included Academician Yigong Shi from Westlake University, Academician Can Li from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician Xiaoming Cen from Sun Yat-sen University, Academician Jincai Zhao from the Institute of Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician Buxing Han from the Institute of Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician Weihong Tan from the Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician Lizhu Wu from the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician Yingjin Yuan from Tianjin University, Baishan Hu , President of Zhejiang NHU Co., Ltd., Researcher Wei Xing from the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Kai Wu from Peking University, Professor Chengyong Su from Sun Yat-sen University, Professor Jingcheng Hao from Shandong University, Researcher Yuxiang Weng from the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Xiaobing Zhang from Hunan University, Professor Qihua Yang from Zhejiang Normal University, Researcher Gang Liu from the Institute of Metal Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Researcher Feng Wang from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Gengfeng Zheng from Fudan University, and Researcher Qiannan Hu from the Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. These experts will jointly ensure the smooth implementation of the project.
Group Photo of President Yigong Shi and Experts in Front of the Westlake University Exhibition Hall
Before the meeting began, Academician Yigong Shi, President of Westlake University, extended a warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to the attending experts. He led the group on a tour of the Westlake University exhibition hall, providing a detailed introduction to the university's educational philosophy, founding history, and development plans. Subsequently, accompanied by Academician Licheng Sun, the project experts and leaders visited the Center of Artificial Photosynthesis for Solar Fuels at Westlake University to observe the center's development and research progress.
Professor Li Deng , Chairman of the Academic Committee of Westlake University, Issuing Appointment Letters to Expert Panel Members
The Official Project Launch Meeting was chaired by Professor Duanqing Pei , Assistant President of Westlake University. Professor Li Deng, Chairman of the Academic Committee and Executive Dean of the School of Science, delivered a welcome speech, expressing a warm welcome to the attending experts, and issued appointment letters to the expert panel members.
Academician Jinpei Cheng, Head of the Expert Panel, Presiding Over the Project Review Meeting
The project implementation plan review was chaired by Academician Jinpei Cheng , head of the expert panel. The project leader, Academician Licheng Sun, Chair Professor of Westlake University, provided a comprehensive report covering the project's background and research content, objectives and technical approaches, task breakdown and timeline, research team and existing foundation, expected outcomes, and budget. He also presented preliminary research progress in areas such as the analysis of natural photosynthetic system structures, the conformation of coenzyme molecules, and the construction of photoelectrochemical cells for coenzyme regeneration. The project comprises four distinct and well-defined sub-projects, which will start from the analysis of natural structures, proceed to the construction of functional modules, and integrate artificial carbon fixation systems, with the aim of achieving breakthroughs in the efficiency and selectivity of artificial photosynthetic carbon fixation. The project team consists of members from the research groups of Academician Licheng Sun , Academician Zhenhe Tong , Academician Lizhu Wu , Academician Tingyun Kuang , Academician Can Li , Academician Anping Zeng , and Researcher Jianren Shen .The team boasts interdisciplinary expertise in biology, chemistry, materials science, energy, and other fields, with a long-standing foundation of collaboration. They have pioneered interdisciplinary research on artificial photosynthesis in China, and these advantages will ensure the smooth implementation of the project.
Academician Licheng Sun , Project Leader, Delivering the Overall Project Report
Following this, the four sub-project leaders—Researcher HAN Guangye of the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician Licheng Sun from Westlake University, Researcher Yuzhe Chen from the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Professor Fei Li from Dalian University of Technology—delivered thematic reports on their respective sub-projects. These included "Structure and Carbon Fixation of Natural Photosynthetic Systems," "Photoelectric-Driven Coenzyme Regeneration and Biological Carbon Fixation," "Construction of Enzyme-Mimetic Carbon Fixation Catalytic Systems," and "Integration of Artificial Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation Systems," detailing their research plans and current progress.
During the expert inquiry session, the project advisory panel raised questions about the implementation plan and provided constructive suggestions regarding the technical approaches and coordination among the sub-projects. The expert panel recommended close collaboration among the four sub-projects to achieve significant outcomes in areas such as the structure-function relationship of natural photosynthetic systems and carbon fixation, precise construction of CO2 enzyme-mimetic catalysts, efficient synergy among light energy capture, charge transport, and material conversion, cell-like carbon fixation integrated systems, and integrated photovoltaic-photoelectric devices, thereby advancing the development of synthetic biology. After careful deliberation, the expert panel unanimously agreed that the project's expected research objectives could be achieved through the joint efforts of all team members and approved the project implementation plan. Academician Jinpei Cheng , head of the expert panel, expressed high expectations for the project team, urging them to dedicate themselves to foundational research and make substantial contributions to the development of synthetic biology in China.
Group Photo of All Meeting Participants