In 2005, Science magazine proposed 100 scientific questions, while China’s key scientific concerns are collected and released annually by the China Association for Science and Technology. Below is the current list:

Top 10 Cutting-Edge Scientific Questions:

  1. How can early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease during the asymptomatic stage be achieved?
  2. How can trustworthy, reliable, and interpretable AI technical approaches and solutions be realized?
  3. How can atomic-scale precision fabrication and structural regulation be achieved to construct future information-functional devices?
  4. What challenges and problems does the management of emerging pollutants face?
  5. How can automated, intelligent, and precise chemical synthesis be realized?
  6. How can multi-omics integration be used to study complex biological traits?
  7. Can controlled atomic-scale removal of material surfaces be achieved?
  8. How can comprehensive and precise evaluation of urban integrated transportation systems and infrastructure resilience be conducted?
  9. How do black holes in the universe form and evolve?
  10. What are the key scientific issues limiting uranium extraction from seawater?

Top 10 Engineering and Technical Challenges:

  1. How can key technologies for deep-sea aquaculture facilities in China be advanced?
  2. How can large-scale, low-cost geological storage of coal mine waste (solid, liquid, and gas) be achieved while ensuring ecological synergy?
  3. How can a comprehensive treatment system for cardiogenic shock be established?
  4. How can the engineering application of all-solid-state lithium-metal batteries be realized?
  5. How can high-precision, complex, hard-surface conformal circuits be achieved?
  6. How can the technical challenges of constructing ultra-long, deeply buried tunnels in highly complex plateau geology be overcome while ensuring safety and performance?
  7. How can the modeling and characterization of high-temperature, cross-medium thermo-mechanical-chemical coupling be resolved?
  8. How can helium be extracted from low-grade helium-bearing natural gas?
  9. How can remote sensing technology be leveraged to effectively diagnose, identify, and assess Earth’s health?
  10. How can ultra-large-aperture spaceborne antennas be deployed, assembled, and constructed in orbit?

Top 10 Industrial Technology Issues:

  1. How can a clinical translation system for cell and gene therapies be established?
  2. How can memory-computing integrated chips be engineered and industrialized?
  3. How can the coal-fired power industry achieve low-carbon development under carbon neutrality goals?
  4. How can standardized design, automated production, robotic construction, and prefabricated building methods systematically address industrialization and high energy consumption in construction?
  5. How can independently controllable industrial design software be developed?
  6. How can multi-source data be used to achieve precise forecasting of crop diseases and pests?
  7. How can adiponitrile be synthesized efficiently and safely using non-petroleum raw materials?
  8. Why has wheat crown rot recently become a severe epidemic in China’s major wheat-producing regions, and how can it be scientifically and effectively controlled?
  9. How can large-scale variable-speed pumped-storage hydroelectric units be developed?

How to Break Through the Domestic “Chokepoint” Technology of High-Quality Para-Aramid Fiber to Meet the Demands of High-End Applications?

The localization of high-performance para-aramid fiber—a critical material for advanced applications—faces significant technical bottlenecks. To overcome these challenges, it is essential to focus on key areas:

  1. Core Technology Innovation: Strengthen R&D in polymerization, spinning, and heat treatment processes to achieve stable production of high-strength, high-modulus fibers.
  2. Equipment and Process Optimization: Develop precision manufacturing equipment and refine production techniques to enhance consistency and yield.
  3. Raw Material Independence: Reduce reliance on imported intermediates by establishing domestic supply chains for key monomers like p-phenylenediamine (PPD) and terephthaloyl chloride (TPC).
  4. Collaborative Ecosystem: Foster partnerships between academia, research institutions, and industry to accelerate technology transfer and industrialization.
  5. Standardization and Certification: Align with international quality benchmarks to ensure competitiveness in aerospace, bulletproof armor, and other high-end markets.

By addressing these aspects, China can achieve self-sufficiency in premium para-aramid production, breaking foreign monopolies and securing supply chain resilience for strategic sectors.