On July 17, 2026, the launch meeting for the establishment of the Technology Innovation Center for Efficient Utilization of Unconventional Water Sources, Ministry of Water Resources (MWR), was successfully held in Nanjing.

The meeting was attended by officials from the competent authorities, including MWR Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology and National Water Conservation Office, representatives of the Center’s partner institutions, as well as specially invited experts, including ZHANG Jianyun, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and Director of the Science and Technology Committee of Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute (NHRI), MA Jun, Academician of CAE and Professor at Harbin Institute of Technology, XU Wenhai, former Director of National Water Conservation Office, YANG Derui, former Director-General of MWR Department of Water Resources Management, and WANG Shenghui, Deputy Director of Institute of Seawater Desalination and Multipurpose Utilization (ISDMU), Ministry of Natural Resources (Tianjin). DAI Jiqun, President of NHRI, attended the meeting and delivered an address. The meeting was chaired by PAN Junning, Vice President of NHRI.

Officials from the competent authorities delivered remarks centered on the development needs of the water sector and the scientific and technological innovation work of the Center. They expressed their hope that the Center would remain committed to safeguarding the national water security and supporting the high-quality development of the water sector, firmly anchor its strategic positioning, strengthen collaborative synergy among partner institutions, focus on tackling key technological challenges and practical application, accelerate the transfer and industrialization of research outcomes, and expedite the establishment of a replicable and scalable technical system.

President DAI Jiqun stated that NHRI would fully leverage its technical strengths in the efficient utilization of water resources. Aligning with the national demands for water security, and water resources conservation and utilization, NHRI would strengthen research and development of key technologies for the development and utilization of unconventional water sources and make every effort to advance the high-standard construction and high-quality development of the Center.

WANG Xiaojun, professor-level senior engineer, Director of the Center, and NHRI Deputy Director of Department of Rural Water Management, presented a report on the Center’s construction progress and development plan. Representatives of partner institutions exchanged views and deliberated on the development pathway of the Center, focusing on collaborative innovation, resource sharing, joint technological breakthroughs and practical application of research outcomes. During the academic session, HUANG Pengfei, Deputy Director of Equipment Technology Division of ISDMU, delivered a special presentation entitled Current Status and Prospects of Seawater Desalination Industry. SUN Yajun, Chairman of Beijing OriginWater Technology Co., Ltd., delivered a special presentation entitled Full-Chain Membrane Technology Breakthroughs and Large-Scale Application. The two presentations provided in-depth insights into development trends of the seawater desalination industry, and membrane technology innovation and scalable applications, respectively.

The expert panel fully recognized the Center’s existing foundation and strategic positioning, and offered targeted guidance on its development plan, technical route and development direction. During the meeting, representatives of partner institutions also held further in-depth discussions and focused deployment concerning the Center’s development tasks, priority research areas, and annual work arrangements. The discussions further clarified the Center’s development goals and implementation pathways, laying a solid foundation for its standardized operation and future development.

The successful convening of the launch meeting of the Center has further brought together the strengths of all relevant parties and clarified the direction of the Center’s development. Looking ahead, the Center will focus on meeting the demands for the efficient development and utilization of unconventional water sources, including reclaimed water, desalinated seawater, mine water, brackish water and harvested rainwater. It will intensify efforts in key technology breakthroughs, equipment research and development and engineering applications, thereby providing scientific and technological support for advancing the high-quality development of the water sector and safeguarding China’s water security.