Hosted by South China University of Technology (SCUT) and organized by the School of Emergent Soft Matter, the 6th International Symposium on Soft Matter Science and Engineering (SMSE 2025) was successfully held at the Guangzhou International Campus from May 17 to 19, 2025. The theme of this year's symposium is Liquid Crystal Materials, Physics, and Applications, aiming to explore future trajectories in liquid crystal research and its cross-disciplinary technological impacts with a focus on materials synthesis, microstructure, properties and external field responses in novel liquid crystal phases and topological states. Nearly 200 scholars and students from China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, Italy, Slovenia and other countries attended this symposium, fully underscoring its international prominence. SCUT Vice President Weiqing Li attended the opening ceremony and delivered a welcome speech. Honorary chairman of the conference, Stephen Z. D. Cheng, Member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), gave the opening remarks.

Vice President Weiqing Li extended her congratulations to the grand opening of SMSE 2025, and warmly welcomed experts from both domestic and international institutions, briefly reviewing the history of SCUT and its new development concepts. Weiqing Li stated that, as a centennial university, SCUT has always been in harmony with the development of the country. She highlighted the university's breakthroughs through the Double First-Class” construction, with multiple disciplines ranking among global leaders, and its reputation as a cradle for entrepreneurs, engineers, and “the Whampoa Military Academy of the new energy vehicle industry”. Guided by Academician Stephen Z. D. Cheng, she noted the School of Emergent Soft Matter adheres to the concept that innovation is the primary driving force and talent is the primary resource, and focuses on the research of soft matter cross-disciplinary fields through the innovative model of School+Advanced Research Institute, achieving remarkable results in frontier scientific research and talent cultivation. She was glad to see that SMSE has been held six times so far, attracting many renowned liquid crystal experts from both domestic and international institutions to deliver wonderful keynote speeches this year. She expected that this symposium would promote interdisciplinary communication and contribute collective wisdom to the development of the field of liquid crystal science and technology.

Academician Stephen Z. D. Cheng emphasized that SMSE annually sets a brand-new theme and direction. This year, it mainly focuses on frontier theories and applications in the field of liquid crystals, aiming to establish an international communication platform for experts and emerging young researchers, and propel the field forward. At the same time, he hoped that the scholars and students attending the conference could cherish this opportunity, draw nourishment from the rich content of the conference, and return with a bountiful harvest.

The three-day conference arranged 25 special reports and collected 40 poster submissions. Among them, the keynote reports covered multiple themes such as Heliconical Ferroelectric Nematic Phase, From Liquid Crystal Photonics to Soft Mattonics, Electrodynamic Ferroelectric Nematics from an Active Fluttering Hydroelastic Phase to Soft Piezoelectricity, Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystals with Sub-Molecular Spatial Correlations and Negative Transient Capacities, Interactive Liquid Crystal Polymers for Haptics and Soft Robotics, The Discovery of Molecular, Macromolecular and Supramolecular Liquid Crystals with Complex Architecture and Unexpected Applications, Topological Defects in Polar Liquid Crystals, etc., covering various aspects of liquid crystals such as materials, structures, responses, and applications. The poster displays were rich in content and novel in design, covering many directions such as nematic relaxor ferroelectric liquid crystals, Liquid multiferroic material with intrinsic magnetic properties, topological defects, etc. In addition, the scholars and students conducted in-depth and extensive communication through on-site discussions and other ways, enhancing the interaction and intellectual exchange among different academic fields.

The conference also explored the close relationship between liquid crystals and soft matter science, adhering to the principle of equal emphasis on depth and breadth, and further promoting the development of research in the field of soft matter, thereby deeply influencing and empowering various technological fields, and driving the upgrading and progress of frontier technologies.

Under the honorary leadership of NAE Member Stephen Z. D. Cheng, and chaired by Prof. Deng-Ke Yang, Prof. Satoshi Aya, and Prof. Mingjun Huang, SMSE 2025 received strategic support from KINGFA SCI. & TECH.CO., LTD. and Giant.