Adding more private enterprise executives and scientists to the Chinese Academy of Engineering is also expected to ‘influence the global flow of capital and talent’
A record high number of private-sector executives and chief scientists have been shortlisted this year to compete for academicianship in China’s top institute for engineering science and technology.
Nineteen are included on the newly released candidate list for the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), including Hu Guoping, 48, principal researcher and co-founder of AI specialist iFlyTek; Wu Kai, 57, chief scientist and co-president of battery manufacturer CATL; Lian Yubo, 61, chief scientist of carmaker BYD; Jia Zhenhua of Yiling Pharmaceutical; and Xu Xun, chief researcher at genomics company BGI Group.
The other 14 are scattered across cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, new energy, and biopharmaceuticals, the newly unveiled list shows.
“The move demonstrates the country’s high recognition of the scientific and technological innovative capabilities of private enterprises,” the CAE said in its 2025 guidelines for selecting new academicians.
