The Qingdao Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology held an annual academic conference on Jan 12 to share its progress scientific progress and achievements in 2019.

Wu Lixin, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the lab, said that fixed-point observation systems for the world's largest network of regional ocean observations are now in real-time, while breakthroughs have been made in independent research and development of core technology and equipment for deep-sea observation and exploration.

Wu Lixin, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the Qingdao Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, delivers a speech at its annual academic conference on Jan 12. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Wu said that the supporting capacity of the lab's public scientific research platform has been improved enormously, and its deep sea expedition fleet has been expanded to 27 research ships.

In addition, the lab has built the first marine cryo-electron microscope center in China. Its isotopic and geological dating capabilities are among the best in the world.

Last year the lab signed cooperation agreements with 14 marine research institutions around the world to tackle major challenges and pursue sustainable development.

The Deep Sea Research Center of the Qingdao Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology is launched on Jan 12. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

During the meeting, the lab's Deep Sea Research Center was launched. The center will focus on deep-sea multi-scale dynamic processes, material transport, deep-sea dark life energy, evolution, deep-sea exploration, and resource development technology.

The lab also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Yantai-based CIMC Raffles, the largest semi-submersible platform manufacturer in China, to promote industry-university-research cooperation.

The Qingdao Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology signs a strategic cooperation agreement with Yantai-based CIMC Raffles. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]