China has identified its most critical scientific and technological priorities through a newly released list of 30 challenges spanning quantum physics, AI integration, and space exploration. The China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) announced the roadmap during its 27th annual meeting, signaling strategic directions for researchers and industries.
Rigorous Selection Process
Over 80 national scientific societies collaborated to narrow down 90 initial proposals from leading experts to the final 30 challenges. The list categorizes priorities into three areas: frontier sciences, engineering breakthroughs, and industrial applications.
Frontier Science Focus
Top theoretical challenges include understanding the geometric classification of manifolds – fundamental to quantum computing – and unraveling mysteries surrounding the Higgs boson particle's mass. These pursuits aim to strengthen China's foundational research capabilities.
Engineering and Industry Priorities
Practical applications dominate the engineering list, featuring integrated design-simulation systems for complex models and AI-powered communication networks. Industrial targets highlight autonomous deep-space mining technology and advanced brain-computer interfaces for medical applications.
CAST emphasized that addressing these challenges will require cross-disciplinary collaboration and sustained investment, positioning China at the forefront of global innovation.
