On November 20, the Innovative Molecular Technology Inaugural Symposium was held on Balitai Campus of Nankai University. The symposium was hosted by the College of Chemistry and the Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, and co-organized by the Tianjin Chemical Society, the State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, and the editorial office of eScience. The event gathered more than 100 experts and scholars from over 10 research institutions in countries including the Netherlands, Japan and Germany, featuring five cutting-edge plenary lectures on innovative molecular technologies.

Distinguished attendees included Bernard Lucas Feringa, 2016 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and Professor at the University of Groningen; Takuzo Aida, Foreign Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and Professor at the University of Tokyo; Thomas Carell, Member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and Professor at the University of Munich; Wu Lizhu, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Professor at the CAS Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry; Eiichi Nakamura, Fellow of the Royal Society, Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and Chair Professor at Nankai University; Zhou Qilin, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chief Scientist at the Frontiers Science Center for the New Organic Matter, Nankai University; Chen Jun, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Executive Vice President of Nankai University; Cheng Fangyi, Dean of the College of Chemistry at Nankai University; Cui Chunming, Director of the State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Nankai University; and Xi Zhen, Professor at the College of Chemistry, Nankai University. Eiichi Nakamura and Zhou Qilin served as co-chairs of the symposium.

Chen Jun and Eiichi Nakamura delivered remarks at the opening ceremony, which was presided over by Cheng Fangyi.

In his address, Chen Jun extended a warm welcome to all participants. He highlighted Nankai University’s educational philosophy, disciplinary strengths in chemistry, and its achievements and strategic layout in interdisciplinary development and the creation of new substances. He underscored that innovative molecular technologies represent a global frontier that underpins breakthroughs in new materials, new energy and new pharmaceuticals. He expressed the hope that the symposium would bring together global expertise to accelerate innovation in the field of materials science.

Eiichi Nakamura noted that molecular technologies serve as a vital tool for microscopic exploration, and that their innovation will drive leapfrog advances in materials science. He highlighted that the symposium provides a cross-disciplinary platform for international academic exchange. He also announced plans to establish an international joint research center with the Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, focusing on creation of new molecules, technology transfer and top-level talent cultivation to promote breakthroughs in molecular science.

The five plenary lectures covered a broad spectrum of topics. Bernard Lucas Feringa spoke on “Dynamic Molecular Systems from Switches to Motors”, sharing progress in molecular machines and molecular switches. Takuzo Aida presented “Supramolecular Polymerization for a Sustainable Future”, reporting recent advances in supramolecular polymer technology. Thomas Carell spoke on “The Second Dimension of the Genetic Code”, focusing on developments in bioorganic chemistry. Wu Lizhu delivered “Artificial Photosynthesis for Chemical Transformation”, sharing frontier trends in photochemical technology. Eiichi Nakamura presented “Cinematic Chemistry: From Imaging to Statistical Mechanics of Chemical Reactions”, exploring advances in molecular science and technology. After the lectures, the speakers held lively discussions with faculty and students, offering new perspectives and inspiration for the development of innovative molecular technologies.

（Edited and translated by Nankai News Team.)