China's top science prize honours lithium battery and radar pioneers
Synopsis
China's most prestigious science prize for 2025 went to the researcher behind the country's first lithium battery and the engineer who built its first airborne fire-control radar — a pairing that captures Beijing's twin bets on clean energy dominance and military modernisation.
Key Takeaways
Chen Liquan won the 2025 State Pre-eminent Science and Technology Award for developing China's first lithium battery and driving its industrialisation.
Ben De was co-honoured for leading the development of China's first airborne pulse-Doppler fire-control radar, a critical sensor for fighter aircraft.
President Xi Jinping presented the awards at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday, 8 July 2026 .
Xi described the 15th five-year plan period as critical for 'building a powerhouse in science and technology' and called for accelerated 'high-level scientific and technological self-reliance.' Affiliated institutions include the Chinese Academy of Sciences , the Chinese Academy of Engineering , Harbin Institute of Technology , and CETC .
China awarded its highest annual science honour on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, to two researchers whose work spans civilian energy storage and military aviation: Chen Liquan, credited with developing the country's first lithium battery, and Ben De, who led the creation of China's first airborne pulse-Doppler fire-control radar. President Xi Jinping personally presented the 2025 State Pre-eminent Science and Technology Award to both laureates at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
The laureates and their breakthroughs
Chen Liquan, a fellow of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was recognised for pioneering lithium battery research in China and for his pivotal role in pushing the technology toward industrial-scale production — a contribution that underpins the country's now-dominant position in global electric vehicle and energy storage supply chains.
Ben De, affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and linked to institutions including the Harbin Institute of Technology and CETC (China Electronics Technology Group Corporation), was honoured for leading the development of the airborne pulse-Doppler fire-control radar, a core sensor system used in modern fighter aircraft. His work is regarded as foundational to China's national defence and security capabilities.
Xi Jinping's message at the ceremony
Addressing the award ceremony, President Xi said that China's 15th five-year plan period would be critical for 'building a powerhouse in science and technology,' and that the country must 'seize historical opportunities.' He further called on the nation to 'accelerate high-level scientific and technological self-reliance' and to 'solidly support and lead Chinese modernisation through scientific and technological innovation.'
The remarks signal that Beijing intends to use state science prizes not only to celebrate past achievement but to frame a strategic imperative for the coming planning cycle — one that explicitly links research excellence to national sovereignty and industrial competitiveness.
Why it matters
The dual recognition of a battery scientist and a defence radar engineer reflects the breadth of China's technology ambitions. Lithium battery industrialisation has given Chinese manufacturers a commanding share of global EV and grid-storage markets, while advances in airborne radar underpin the country's ongoing military modernisation programme. Honouring both fields in the same ceremony underscores that Beijing views civilian and defence technology as inseparable pillars of national strength.
What's next
With the 15th five-year plan period now framed as a decisive window, increased state funding and institutional support for both energy storage research and defence electronics are widely expected. Observers will watch whether Chen Liquan's lineage of battery research accelerates next-generation solid-state battery programmes, and whether Ben De's radar legacy feeds into China's sixth-generation fighter development pipeline.
Point of View
A doctrine known as military-civil fusion. Mainstream coverage tends to treat the two domains separately, but the ceremony's framing by Xi Jinping directly ties both to the self-reliance agenda that is reshaping global supply chains and export-control regimes. The lithium battery lineage matters beyond symbolism: Chen Liquan's institutional descendants are now central to the solid-state battery race that could redraw EV market leadership in the late 2020s. Meanwhile, Ben De's radar legacy lands at a moment when Western governments are scrutinising Chinese avionics advances as a benchmark for their own sixth-generation fighter programmes — making this a ceremony with geopolitical ripple effects well beyond Beijing's borders.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is China's State Pre-eminent Science and Technology Award?
The State Pre-eminent Science and Technology Award is China's highest annual honour for scientific achievement, presented by the president. It recognises researchers whose work has made exceptional contributions to the country's science, technology, economy, or national security.
Who won China's top science award in 2025?
Chen Liquan and Ben De jointly received the 2025 State Pre-eminent Science and Technology Award . Chen was honoured for developing China's first lithium battery and industrialising the technology, while Ben De was recognised for creating the country's first airborne pulse-Doppler fire-control radar.
Why is Chen Liquan's lithium battery work significant?
Chen Liquan's foundational research gave China an early foothold in lithium battery technology, which later underpinned the country's rise as the world's dominant producer of EV batteries and grid-scale energy storage systems. His work is seen as a direct ancestor of the supply-chain advantages Chinese battery makers hold today.
What is an airborne pulse-Doppler fire-control radar?
An airborne pulse-Doppler fire-control radar is a core avionics sensor that allows fighter aircraft to detect, track, and target other aircraft or missiles — even against cluttered ground backgrounds. Ben De's development of China's first such system was a milestone in the country's military aviation modernisation.
What did Xi Jinping say at the science award ceremony?
President Xi Jinping said the 15th five-year plan period would be critical for 'building a powerhouse in science and technology' and urged China to 'accelerate high-level scientific and technological self-reliance.' He also called for science and technology to 'solidly support and lead Chinese modernisation.'
