Group 1 - The conference marks the 11th International Marine Corrosion and Fouling Forum and Marine Key Materials Conference, focusing on the development of marine engineering equipment and technology in China since 2016 [2] - Key achievements highlighted include the launch of China's first domestically produced aircraft carrier, the successful operation of the first large cruise ship, and advancements in LNG transportation capabilities [2] - The event aims to promote high-quality development of marine new productive forces by sharing innovative methods and transformative technologies in marine key materials [2] Group 2 - The conference will feature a main forum, 12 specialized forums, and various activities including technology showcases and academic poster displays [2] - Topics of discussion will include marine functional materials, structural materials, environmental materials, corrosion and protection technologies, and the application of digital technology and artificial intelligence in marine materials [16][17][18][19][20] - The event will also address the latest demands in traditional and emerging marine industries, such as shipbuilding, marine oil and gas, clean energy, deep-sea technology, and polar engineering [19][20] Group 3 - A youth forum will be held to encourage young scientists to present key scientific issues and innovative solutions, with expert evaluations and awards for outstanding presentations [21] - The conference will include specialized forums focusing on marine key materials, corrosion and protection technologies, and wear and protection technologies [22][23][24] - The event will facilitate networking opportunities for large terminal units to discuss their needs for advanced anti-fouling solutions and corrosion prediction models [25]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the upcoming 2026 International Forum on Marine Corrosion and Fouling Prevention and Marine Key Materials, highlighting the importance of marine materials and technologies in response to national initiatives for upgrading traditional marine industries and fostering new productive forces in the marine sector [8]. Group 1: Conference Overview - The forum will take place on April 8, 2026, in Qingdao, featuring various activities including keynote speeches, specialized forums, and a youth forum aimed at encouraging young scientists [8]. - The event is organized by the National Key Laboratory of Marine Key Materials in collaboration with several prestigious institutions, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences and China Shipbuilding Group [11][12]. Group 2: Specialized Forums - The conference will include three specialized forums focusing on: 1. Marine Key Materials: Topics include marine corrosion and fouling materials, new materials for hull drag reduction and noise reduction, and materials for deep-water composite pipes [22]. 2. Corrosion and Protection Technologies: Discussions will cover new mechanisms of marine corrosion, protective technologies, and the application of artificial intelligence in these fields [23]. 3. Erosion and Protection Technologies: This forum will explore wear mechanisms, high-temperature wear studies, and protective technologies for materials under multi-phase flow conditions [23]. Group 3: Youth Forum - The youth forum will adopt a format of 10-minute presentations followed by expert evaluations, aiming to highlight key scientific issues and innovative solutions proposed by young researchers [6][24]. Group 4: Industry Applications - The conference will address the latest demands in traditional and emerging marine industries, including: 1. Shipbuilding: Focus on corrosion protection needs for various ship structures and green ship fuel requirements [21]. 2. Marine Oil and Gas: Discussing protective needs for underwater production facilities and pipelines [21]. 3. Marine Clean Energy: Covering offshore CCUS projects, hydrogen production systems, and offshore wind and solar energy technologies [21]. 4. Deep-Sea Technology: Addressing needs for underwater production devices and deep-sea mining [21]. Group 5: Special Activities - The forum will feature special activities such as product and technology exhibitions, technology matchmaking sessions, and academic poster displays to facilitate collaboration between industry and academia [24].

Group 1 - The conference marks the 11th International Marine Anti-Corrosion and Anti-Fouling Forum and Marine Key Materials Conference, focusing on the development of marine engineering equipment and technology [2] - The event will feature a comprehensive agenda including keynote speeches, specialized forums, and technology showcases, aimed at promoting high-quality development of marine new productive forces [2][19] - Key topics include marine corrosion and anti-fouling materials, marine structural materials, and the application of digital technology and artificial intelligence in marine engineering [8][10][12] Group 2 - The organizing committee includes prominent figures such as academicians from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and leaders from various marine research institutions [4][5] - The conference will host multiple specialized forums addressing various aspects of marine materials and technologies, including corrosion protection and innovative materials [8][9][10] - A youth forum will be held to encourage young scientists to present their research and receive expert feedback, fostering innovation in the field [11][19] Group 3 - Registration fees are set at ¥3500 for enterprises, ¥2800 for universities, and ¥1800 for students, with free admission for DT New Materials members [16] - The conference aims to facilitate collaboration among government departments, industry organizations, experts, and scholars to address the latest demands in marine industries [2][19] - The event will also include a technology exhibition and academic poster presentations to showcase innovative solutions and research outcomes [15][19]

Group 1: Key Scientific Issues - The feasibility study of "metalloid substitutes for transition metals in precise synthesis and catalytic reactions" has been selected as one of the top ten frontier scientific issues for 2025, which is expected to reshape scientific understanding and open new theoretical and methodological systems in chemical synthesis [1] - Another selected issue is "multi-dimensional, reconfigurable supramolecular machine assembly," which aims to shift from "molecular synthesis-oriented" to "functional assembly-oriented," potentially establishing supramolecular machines as the next technological high ground after chips and artificial intelligence [1] Group 2: Engineering and Industrial Technology Challenges - The "next-generation low-energy, low-cost carbon capture and storage technology" has been recognized as a major engineering challenge for 2025, which is crucial for the low-carbon utilization of fossil fuels and aims to reduce energy consumption and costs in carbon capture [2] - The challenge of "breaking through the import bottleneck of high-end equipment for large and ultra-large seawater desalination projects" has been identified as a significant industrial technology issue, highlighting the need for domestic development in key materials and equipment for seawater desalination [2] Group 3: Selection Process - Since 2018, the China Association for Science and Technology has been organizing the collection and publication of major scientific issues and challenges, with a rigorous selection process based on frontier, leading, innovative, and strategic criteria [3]