From November 16 to 18, 2023, hosted by the School of Emergent Soft Matter, the 4th International Symposium for Soft Matter Science and Technology was held at Guangzhou International Campus of South China University of Technology. This symposium focused on the future development of soft matter science and invited 22 well-known scholars in the field of soft matter to share cutting-edge perspectives on soft matter science, including academicians of the American Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Engineering, the European Academy of Sciences, and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The opening ceremony of the Symposium was held on November 16. Liqun Zhang, Chairman of the Conference, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, President of South China University of Technology, and Huifang Yang, Director of the Exchange and Cooperation Division of the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, attended the ceremony and delivered speeches. Stephen Z. D. Cheng, co-chairman of the conference and academician of the American Academy of Engineering, delivered a welcome speech.
President Zhang underlined that the scientific research work of South China University of Technology has long adhered to the world's scientific and technological frontiers, the major needs of the country and the shared future for mankind. The School of Emergent Soft Matter (SMSE) is an important talent center and innovation hub in SCUT established in accordance with the concept of innovation is the first driving force and talent is the first resource. Facing the frontiers and the national major strategic needs, SESM has carried out continuous and in-depth scientific research, and has achieved internationally recognized academic achievements. The convening of previous SMST symposiums has received positive responses from people in the field of soft matter and has become one of the academic events recognized worldwide on soft matter science. I hope that all participants will conduct extensive and in-depth discussions in this symposium and contribute wisdom and strength to the development of soft matter science.
Huifang Yang emphasized that Guangdong attaches great importance to the driving force of scientific and technological innovation, and the province's R&D expenditure in 2022 was about 440 billion yuan, accounting for 3.4% of the regional GDP. International scientific and technological collaboration is the trend of the time, and the SMST2023 Symposium is a great platform to continuously expand international scientific and technological exchanges and collaborations, to construct an international scientific research environment, and to form an open innovation ecology with global competitiveness. At present, Guangdong is speeding up the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and international cooperation platforms, hoping to promote international scientific and technological exchanges and lay a solid foundation for follow-up substantive collaborations.
Stephen Z. D. Cheng said that soft matter science is closely related to human life. We are honoured to invite the world's top scientists to attend SMST2023 and discuss with us the question of where soft matter is going. The purpose of this Symposium is to encourage academic exchanges, promote the development of soft matter science and technology, and cultivate top-notch talents in the field of soft matter. Different from ordinary academic conferences, SMST2023 emphasizes extensive and in-depth exchanges and discussions, and strives to make academic conferences return to the true essence of science and promote the scientific progress.
The 1st International Symposium for Soft Matter Science and Technology was held in 2017. This year, we aim to explore the future direction of soft matter research and its ongoing impact on various scientific and technological fields. During the three-day symposium, 22 top scientists from China, the United States, Japan and Europe shared and discussed cutting-edge achievements of soft matter such as macromolecules, supramolecules, conjugated soft materials, nanoengineered polymers, precision proteins, electron beam-sensitive crystal materials, and slip ring materials. Through this Symposium, it is hoped that we could break through the limits of boundaries and nationalities, produce milestone innovative research in the field of soft matter, solve global resources and scientific problems, and build a community with a shared future for the well-being of all mankind.
During the Symposium, a poster competition was held with a total of 35 posters received from different universities across China, among which 10 best posters was selected by the organizing committee. A Poster Award Ceremony was held on November 18.