As the world focuses on energy transition, over 200 scientists gathered at Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) for the Second International Conference on Nano Energy and Technology (ICNEAT-2026) from March 27 to 30  to advance research on harnessing "tiny energy" for a "big" future.

Academic exchanges flourished with over 100 insightful talks

The conference brought together a distinguished lineup of academicians. CAS Academicians Gong Xingao, Wang Weihua, and Zhao Dongyuan served as honorary chairs. Also participating are Chinese Academicians Zhao Dongyuan and Wang Zhonglin, British Academician Seeram Ramakrishna, Swiss Academician Sotiris Pratsinis, European Academician Jinbo Bai, Japanese Academician Li Jingfeng, Academician Ajayan Vinu of the World Academy of Arts and Sciences, and George Chen, Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (UK). This strong academic team provided solid guidance for the conference.

Dr. Queena Yi, Pro-Vice Chancellor of GTIIT, extended a warm welcome to the attendees. She noted that GTIIT places a strong emphasis on the integration of scientific research with industry-academia collaboration, striving not only to achieve scientific breakthroughs in the lab but also to translate research outcomes into industrial applications. She expressed hope that the conference would help bridge the "last mile" from fundamental research to industrial application, enabling nanoenergy technologies to serve national strategic needs and regional economic development.

Lin Jian, Second Inspector of Shantou Government Office, stated that the conference focused on core topics such as energy storage and conversion, dielectrics and functional materials, and AI in materials and energy. It served as an important bridge for Shantou to connect with global innovation resources and promote deep industry-academia-research integration. She reaffirmed that the Shantuo Municipal Party Committee and Government will continue to support GTIIT in building a first-class research and education hub and becoming a "power source" for regional innovation.

Prof. Daniel Tan, Director of MATEC, Deputy Head of GTIIT Materials Science and Engineering Program, and Chair of the Conference, presided over the opening ceremony and extended a warm welcome to the distinguished guests. He hoped participants would engage in in-depth discussions, strengthen collaboration, and share a sustainable and bright future.

Over the three-day conference, experts engaged in dynamic discussions on cutting-edge topics including energy storage and conversion, nanomaterials for energy conversion, dielectric materials, molecular electronics and spintronics, and AI applications in materials and energy. More than 100 academic presentations were delivered, showcasing a range of highlights from fundamental research to applied translation, contributing fruitful results to the interdisciplinary field of materials and energy.

The conference also featured a poster session and awards, providing a platform for participants to showcase their latest research findings and effectively promoting collaboration among peers.

Overwhelming praise from both experts and students

The rewarding academic event received wide acclaim from participants and offered GTIIT students a valuable opportunity to engage with leading scholars and broaden their research horizons.

multiple parallel sessions

Academician Wang Zhonglin expressed his sincere gratitude to this splendid and remarkable conference, and presented a complete set of his personally signed published books to Prof. Daniel Tan, Chairman of the conference. Hailed as the "Father of Nanogenerators", Academician Wang is one of the very few ethnic Chinese scientists who hold academician titles from six national academies. He has long been ranked first globally in terms of influence in the fields of materials science and nanoscience.

Professor Xu Changsong from Fudan University praised the conference, stating that the presentations were "cutting-edge and broad in vision," covering key areas such as energy catalysis and materials design. He also noted that the conference was "meticulously organized, combining academic depth with a human touch."

Professor Zhuo Fangping from the University of Science and Technology of China spoke highly of the event, calling it "a high-quality academic event." He said, "I listened to many inspiring presentations and had in-depth exchanges with peers from different countries. The high level of internationalization is truly impressive."

"The level of education here is very high!" praised Professor Joseph Kioseoglou from Aristotle University. "I worked with one of your students last year, and that student was admitted to Oxford. If you get good grades here, you can go to many great universities worldwide. There is no limit."

lively Q&A session

Professor Sotiris Pratsinis from ETH Zurich affirmed GTIIT's undergraduate training outcomes, noting that GTIIT has sent many outstanding students to his university. He also praised the conference for providing a platform for young scholars to present and exchange ideas, adding, "Many undergraduates actively participated in Q&A sessions, very impressive."

Professor Huang Limin from Southern University of Science and Technology also gave positive feedback: "GTIIT has a great learning atmosphere. When I visited the lab over the weekend, I saw many students still working. They are very self-driven and hardworking."

student reporter Yi Qiaoye

Liu Weike, a student volunteer at the conference, was deeply inspired. "For example, Professor Ma from USTC mentioned STM and ESR technology, which combines scanning tunneling microscopy with electron spin resonance. It made me realize that quantum information research can now be realized on a single molecule. I got to see cutting-edge technologies beyond the classroom."

student volunteer Liu Weike

Student Hu Shennan also found the conference highly rewarding. "The talks from HPSTAR showed me that high-pressure research is much more than studying extreme conditions—it's also a vital tool for exploring new materials, new mechanisms, and planetary science."

Text: Yi Qiaoye, GTIIT News & Public Affairs

Photos: Huang Jiaji, Yin Qixiang, GTIIT News & Public Affairs