An award ceremony for the 2010 State Top Scientific and Technological Award was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Jan 14, 2011. “Industrialization and Application of Key Chemical Control Technologies and Products for Water Saving in Agriculture” project won the second class of the National S&T Progress Award. The project was collaboratively undertaken by the Chinese Agricultural University, R&D Center for Eco-material and Eco-chemistry of the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics (LICP), etc. LICP won the award as the second unit.

LICP has developed a series of organic-inorganic composite high property water-saving agents, multi-functional water-saving agents with slow release property or degradability. The industrialization of the products has been accomplished in cooperation with enterprises. And the products have been successfully applied in water-saving agriculture and ecological restoration.

Since 2000 the research group headed by Prof. WANG Aiqing of the LICP has carried out the research into the field. They have developed a series of new water-saving materials, published several papers and applied invention patents. Among the patents applied, “Preparation Techniques of Organic-Inorganic Composite Water-Saving Agents” is the first invention patent concerning organic-inorganic composite water absorbing resin granted in China.

As far as the project is concerned, 4 monographs have been published. In 2006 Organic/Inorganic Composite High Water Absorbing Resins co-authored by Prof. WANG and Dr. ZHANG Junping was included in the Science Books by Contemporary Outstanding Youth. It is the first book comprehensively introducing the research progress in organic/inorganic composite high water absorbing resins in China. In 2005 Prof. WANG Aiqin participated in the compiling of Application Principles and Technologies of Water Saving Agents in Agriculture. In 2010 he co-complied Chemical Control Technology for Water Saving in Agriculture. Centering on water saving agents for soil, anti-transpiration agents and soil conditioners which are the three major chemical water saving agents home and abroad, the book has systematically introduced the development of materials, application principles and practical application.