Innovators awarded science prize

Shanghai Party chief Han Zheng (center) poses with He Jifeng (left) and Jin Donghan yesterday at the Shanghai Science and Technology Awards. — Xu Xiaolin

An engineer and an IT specialist lifted the top prizes at this year's Shanghai Science and Technology Awards.

Jin Donghan, a power machinery engineer, and He Jifeng, a computer scientist, were each awarded 500,000 yuan (US$80,500) for their achievements in improving China's technological prowess and boosting its scientific status around the world.

Jin, 53, the president of the Shanghai Marine Diesel Engine Research Institute, was commended for his work in leading the team that developed China's first thermal engine, which has a wide range of military and civilian uses.

He, 70, a director of East China Normal University's Software Engineering Institute, was equally praised for the development of software for the auto and aeronautics industries. A 40-year veteran in his field, He's achievements have led to significant safety improvements in the two sectors.

At the biennial awards, 298 projects and people were recognized, the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission said.

German national Zhang Yi collected the international science and technology cooperation award for helping the Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, to develop its superconductor electronics research.

The work led to China achieving international status in the SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) field. The devices are highly sensitive magnetometers used to measure subtle magnetic fields.

Of this year's celebrated projects the vast majority were in new strategic sectors such as information technology, pharmaceuticals, new materials, new energy and environmental protection.

Among them was a high-strength, heat-resistant magnesium alloy developed by scientists from Shanghai Jiao Tong University for use in the aerospace industry, while Dr Jia Weiping from the Shanghai No. 6 People's Hospital was commended for his discoveries regarding the inheritance mechanism of type 2 diabetes.