1. On July 8, Chen Liquan, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Physics, received the 2025 State Preeminent Science and Technology Award in Beijing [para. 1]. Since 1976, he has been a pioneer in China’s lithium battery field, opening the discipline of solid-state ionics and developing the country’s first all-solid-state lithium-metal battery and first pilot production line for cylindrical batteries [para. 2].
2. Chen’s career is inseparable from the rise of China’s lithium battery industry from nothing to world leader [para. 3]. Over a decade ago, he argued that success would depend on respect for basic research, capital investment, and the right national strategy [para. 4]. The subsequent development of the industry completely validated his view, providing a useful roadmap for other sectors [para. 5].
3. China dominates the global lithium battery market. In 2024, total output reached 1,170 GWh (up 24% year-on-year), with an industry output value exceeding 1.2 trillion yuan [para. 6]. In 2025, shipments rose by 53% to 1,875 GWh, accounting for over 80% of the global total [para. 6]. This dominance is matched by top-tier quality in energy density, lifespan, and safety, supported by a complete supply chain that has become a major engine of China's export growth [para. 7].
4. This achievement is the result of nearly 20 years of foundational research before industrialization. After returning from Germany in the 1970s, Chen established China’s first solid-state ionics laboratory at the Institute of Physics [para. 8]. In the 1990s, he shifted to liquid lithium-ion batteries for commercialization, producing China’s first battery built to commercial specifications in 1995 and the first pilot production line in 1998 [para. 9].
5. The clear lesson is that persistence in basic research laid the foundation for China to move ahead of the global technological frontier [para. 10]. The leap from research to industrialization also required daring entrepreneurs who understood technology and could attract large capital investments [para. 11]. The mutual achievement of Chen’s work with companies like CATL and BYD exemplifies this productive combination of basic research and commercial application [para. 12].
6. China’s lead also depended on forward-looking national planning. The explosion in battery demand occurred in the past decade with the rise of electric vehicles, which benefited from strong policy support [para. 13]. In the first half of 2026, despite domestic market pressure, Chinese EV exports rose sharply, capturing gains in global markets [para. 14].
7. Innovation has no finish line. The next generation of battery technology looks toward solid-state and sodium-ion batteries [para. 15]. Chen began work on sodium-ion batteries in 2011, developing a fully independent technical path [para. 15]. To maintain leadership, Chinese industry must preserve a "nail-driving spirit" to overcome core technology bottlenecks and accelerate breakthroughs [para. 16].
8. When Chen stood on the awards stage, he represented the productive combination of basic research and industrialization that allowed China’s lithium battery industry to lead the world, offering lessons that extend far beyond the battery sector itself [para. 17].
AI generated, for reference only
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