A groundbreaking ceremony for Taiyuan Energy Materials Institute at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences is held on Jan 7. [Photo/Shanxi Daily]

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Taiyuan Energy Materials Institute of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences took place in Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi province, on Jan 7, according to local officials. 

The new institute is being jointly established by the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Taiyuan government, the institute of coal chemistry at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and North University of China.

Officials said it is the Chinese Academy of Sciences' first regional institute with regional universities participating in its construction. 

Lou Yangsheng, Party chief of Shanxi province, told the ceremony that the partnership between Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shanxi will have a profound impact on the Shanxi energy revolution, the growth of new materials industries and attracting top talent to the region. 

He urged the Chinese Academy of Sciences to give full play to its advantages to give Shanxi a strong support -- in developing strategic emerging industries, boosting innovation, helping Shanxi Agricultural University develop and furthering comprehensive cooperation between the provincial government and central research institutes.

The Taiyuan Energy Materials Institute will be built as a science research and education institute with international influence, officials said.

It will be active in clean and efficient conversion and utilization of coal, new functional carbon materials and metal materials sectors -- as well as being a high-level talent training and technological innovation base. 

Bai Chunli, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that the establishment of the new institute was a specific initiative to implement Shanxi's energy revolution.

He said the Chinese Academy of Sciences would focus on Shanxi's development needs and gather more energy raw materials resources in Taiyuan to support the development of the institute.