Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

The 2018 Science & Technology Award Conference of Gree Electric Appliances is held on May 14.

Prize money amounting to 50 million yuan ($7.24 million) was given out by Zhuhai-based Gree Electric Appliances to its scientific researchers at the 2018 Science & Technology Award Conference on May 14.

The Gree Electric Appliances Scientific & Technology Progress Award was founded in 1997, and has since been given annually to scientific researchers that make great contributions to the company's development.

The 2018 edition recognized 219 projects. Three of them, which made strong breakthroughs in the innovation of household air-conditioners, central air-containers, and core air-container parts, received the 1.2-million-yuan ($173,659) Grand Prizes.

Dong Mingzhu, president of Gree Electric Appliances, presents the Grand Prize to her employees from the Technical Department of Household Air-conditioners. 

From a small air conditioner assembly factory to a world-renowned tech mogul with core technology, Gree's development has been spurred by its pursuit of scientific and technological innovation, as well as its respect for innovative talents.

To date, Gree has applied for 51,162 domestic patents (23,838 for inventions) and 1,706 international patents. It has mastered 24 international leading technologies and received two National Science & Technology Progress Awards, one State Technological Invention Award, and four Gold Awards of the WIPO-CNIPA Awards for Outstanding Chinese Patented Invention & Industrial Design.

Dong Mingzhu, president of Gree Electric Appliances, speaks at the conference. [Photos courtesy WeChat account: GREE-1991]