Recently, the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva concluded in Switzerland. The project "Green Carbon-based Materials and Equipment Research," completed by the team led by Professor Li Gang from the School of New Materials and Future Technology at Beijing Technology and Business University (BTBU), was evaluated by the international jury and stood out from over a thousand innovative inventions from 40 countries and regions, winning the Gold Medal at this year's exhibition. This achievement not only demonstrates the team's research accomplishments in Chemical Engineering and Technology as well as Materials Science and Engineering, but also offers a viable engineering solution for promoting lowcarbon transformation and efficient resource utilization in relevant industries.

Award-winning Project: Green Carbon-based Materials and Equipment Research

Against the backdrop of China's national "dual carbon" strategy, how to efficiently convert agricultural waste and other biomass resources into green energy and high-value materials is a critical scientific question for achieving energy transition and circular economy development. The team led by Professor Li Gang from the School of New Materials and Future Technology at Beijing Technology and Business University (BTBU) has, relying on several national-level research programs—including the Key Special Project for Intergovernmental International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation under the National Key R&D Program of China (Project No. 2023YFE0104900), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project No. 52306219), and the IndustryUniversityResearch Innovation Fund of the Ministry of Education of China (Project No. 2020QT04)—conducted systematic research focusing on the mechanisms of biomass directional thermochemical conversion, lowcarbon and green biomass utilization, and largescale engineering applications. The team has proposed an overall framework encompassing biomass flow, bioconversion pathways, and fullquantity bioconversion of agricultural organic waste, and has established a technical system for lowcarbon, highvalue recycling. In terms of the mechanisms of biomass thermochemical conversion, the team revealed the "precise chemical reaction pathways" for the directional conversion of lignin, as well as the effects of steam content and impurity components on reaction activity, and elucidated the synergistic effects of freeradical hydrogen transfer during copyrolysis of multisource waste. They have built a fullprocess thermal conversion characterization and precise control platform, and determined the optimal operating boundaries for the targeted regulation of desired products. For largescale engineering applications, the team, leveraging universityindustry collaboration platforms, has developed technologies for precise control of biomass thermochemical reactions and multisource pollutant emission reduction. The intelligent manufacturing equipment they developed effectively suppresses dioxin generation and enables the activation and regeneration of activated carbon. The team has published a total of 55 SCI/EI papers, of which 26 have been published as firstauthor or correspondingauthor papers in the past five years—including 4 ESI Hot Papers and 3 Highly Cited Papers. They have filed or been granted 12 patents, obtained 5 software copyrights, participated in the development of 3 industry standards, and authored 2 academic monographs. In addition, their related research achievements have also received the First Prize of the Science and Technology Progress Award from the China General Chamber of Commerce, and the Golden Bridge Award from the China Technology Market Association, among other honors.

The Gold Medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva is a testament to the team's years of dedication to the field of green, lowcarbon biomass recycling technology and their commitment to the deep integration of government, industry, academia, and research. It also marks a significant milestone in the university's interdisciplinary development of "BusinessTechnology Integration." Looking ahead, the team will continue to thrive on the fertile ground of BTBU, guided by the national "dual carbon" strategy, and will accelerate the translation of research outcomes into practical applications, contributing BTBU's wisdom to the green and lowcarbon industrial development of China.

About the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva

Founded in 1973 and coorganized by the Swiss Federal Government and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva is one of the oldest, largest, and most influential international invention exhibitions in the world. The exhibition awards Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals, along with several special prizes, all determined by an independent international jury that evaluates entries based on key criteria including innovativeness, practicality, and technological maturity.

The 51st edition of the exhibition was held in Geneva, Switzerland, in March 2026, attracting over 1,400 inventions from 40 countries and regions. The Chinese delegation presented a wide range of inventions, primarily focusing on environmental protection, renewable energy, electronics, medicine, construction, and transportation, reflecting new industry trends and characteristics. After a rigorous evaluation process, the Chinese delegation ultimately secured 90 Gold Medals.

Source:https://www.btbu.edu.cn/news/zhxw/80307f5f47cb4d0c99bc2eb9381c934d.htm