China rare earth industry, and high-tech industry history will remember next May 10, 2011. On this day, 'the State Council on the promotion of sustainable and healthy development of rare earth industry, a number of opinions' issued. This landmark document, the strong emphasis on protecting the environment and strategic resources at the same time, the 'rare earth new materials for downstream industries, support and protection play a significant role' as one of the goals. However, to achieve this goal, we must develop our earth science and technology. Rare Earth Science and Technology of China's current development status? How to break through the blockade of foreign enterprises patents, science and technology of rare earth 'turn overtaking', a rare-earth technological power? With these questions, this reporter conducted in-depth interviews.
Well-known experts in rare earth optical functional materials, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University and Fudan University, Professor Huang C, told reporters on rare earth separation and purification technology, China is undoubtedly the world's leading. In the 'father of Chinese rare earth', led by Xu, China Rare Earth scientists in the early 1970s, made a rare earth 'extraction cascade' theory, immediately successful, breaking the French company's monopoly on rare earth separation technology, the end of our only to export rare earth concentrate and mixed rare earth and other primary products of history. After the Rare Earth Materials Chemistry and Applications, State Key Laboratory of Professor Yan Chunhua, etc. to further improve the theory applies to the separation of heavy rare earth elements, and use a range of new technologies, significantly reducing costs. 'We can say that the current separation of rare earth in China is the world's most advanced.' Academician Chun-Hui Huang said.
For the technological level of China's rare earth functional materials, Huang C academicians said that at present, on the whole, we have a certain gap with international standards, but in some cases we also have among the world's advanced ranks. For example, she said, the rare earth permanent magnet materials technology point of view, Peking University, Professor Yang Yingchang developed a new type of rare earth permanent magnetic materials Nvtie nitrogen has met or exceeded the performance of NdFeB Japan, is a veritable 'Magneto.'
In the rare earth luminescent materials technology, Huang C Academy of Sciences and Professor Li Fuyou research team led by Fudan University and Peking University team led by Professor Yan Chunhua carried out on the conversion of rare earth nanomaterials synthesis and biological imaging research, has been a world leader. Yan Chunhua also believes that with international research institutions compared to similar, where the State Key Laboratory of his current research directions and achievements in the international community a unique and perhaps can be said with very advanced level.
Feel the pain of blocked foreign patents
After the hard work of several generations of researchers of rare earth technology has made outstanding achievements, however, has been there from time to time the media why the face of China's enterprises blocked foreign patents, have to pay huge fees to buy foreign patent coverage it? HUANG Chun-Hui Academy of Sciences explained that, first, because the born out of a planned economy, China's researchers lack the awareness to protect their intellectual property rights; second patent in particular, need to pay the high cost of foreign patent and intellectual property infringement litigation costs and time-consuming and laborious, and foreign already bear the costs associated with the formation of a mechanism, which resulted in the field of rare earth in China intellectual property has not been properly protected. Third, China's scientific and technological achievements and industry there is a huge 'gap', a lot of good rare scientific and technological achievements, there is no risk investment mechanism and channel support, get out of the laboratory; and developed by the experiments to produce smooth traffic, the mechanism sound and mature research results out quickly industry, to bring the patent can be expected to buy the business in return.
'Some of our technology than the difference between foreign countries, or even better, but the industry has not been tested, the domestic companies that the technology into practical face greater risk, would rather spend the higher price of foreign patents.' Academician Chun-Hui Huang said. Once the foreign patented technology widely adopted by Chinese enterprises to purchase the entire production line is launched in accordance with the technical design, business will not even consider buying Chinese technology. In fact, this is Yang Chang Academy of rare-earth permanent magnet technology in China can not be promoting one of the reasons.
In fact, encourage innovation patent system has become a tool of foreign companies, they use technology first-mover advantage in the earth, planned, systematic layout of the patent, taking also into the countries and constantly improve the design of longitudinal, follow-up application etc., weaving a tight patent in the world network. According to statistics, since 1985, in China for rare earth application of the patent, foreign more than half of China's rare earth industry and product sales are severely constrained.
Faced with this situation, the industry on the development of rare-earth national intellectual property strategy, enterprises and research institutions for their own reporting rare state subsidies or preferential policies of intellectual property, particularly in support of scientific and technical staff to develop the international market, foreign patent applications, to increase the rare earth special support, substantial increase in special funds to promote the use of rare earth.
Looking for a breakthrough technology to catch up
Though there are difficulties, but experts on Chinese rare earth and rare earth science and technology industrial development prospects are very optimistic, said Professor Yan Chunhua, China now has a strong rare earth research team, there are many different types of research base, and excellent hardware. I believe in five years, China's rare earth can improve research skills and capabilities, you can catch up with Europe, the United States, Japan, some of the advanced stage of the project should be entered. The rare earth industry, 'second five' special planning is made through the 'catch-up period - approaching the stage - simultaneous development period' three stages, so that science and technology of rare earth and rare earth industry to achieve world-class level.
Professor Yan Chunhua that we started late compared with their foreign counterparts, they also progress in the short term is difficult to achieve full catch-up, only to break through the strategic focus, identify the target. He further proposed two basic research in earth science and technology research directions: one is the rare-earth energy-related technology, one with the information technology-related industries and applications. He pointed out that only the rare earth scientists to identify opportunities in basic research, and guide enterprises in the development, production and application of the opportunity to realize the rare earth industry in leaps and bounds.
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