The 2020 National Science and Technology award ceremony was held on November 3. Research teams at Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU) won second prize in the National Science and Technology Progress awards for two of its projects.

The two projects are key technologies and industrial applications of high-throughput multi-target nucleic acid automated quantitative detection and development of key technologies and series of high-end packaging and printing equipment.

One of the teams is led by Professor Peng Niancai, who has been deeply involved in the long-term cultivation of key technologies for nucleic acid detection instruments and reagents for more than 20 years. 

They solved a series of technical problems such as easy cross-contamination of nucleic acid extraction, poor temperature uniformity of rapid thermal cycle gene amplification, integrated MEMS biosensing, and multi-target nucleic acid detection.

They invented high-throughput multi-target nucleic acid automated quantitative detection technology and successfully industrialized a series of nucleic acid extraction and detection products, formed an integrated high-throughput multi-target nucleic acid automated quantitative detection system solution and product portfolio, and took the lead in formulating national pharmaceutical industry standards.

The results of the project have provided more than 20,000 sets of nucleic acid extraction and detection instruments for the new coronavirus and more than 200 million reagents for thousands of disease control centers and medical institutions across the country. 

The outstanding performance of nucleic acid testing products meets major national needs and has made important contributions to the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic and the reduction of infection and mortality rates.

The research team led by Professor Mei Xuesong constructed a high-speed and high-precision electronic axis control theory and technical system, developed a distributed electronic axis control system integrating synchronization, tension control and defect detection, and achieved the highest international printing speed and control accuracy.

They also invented an energy-saving ink drying system using hot air energy recycling, making VOCs emissions and printed solvent residues far less than the allowable value of international standards

On the basis of core key technologies breakthroughs, the project team has developed a variety of high-end packaging and printing localized equipment with main indicators at the leading level of similar products in the world.

The project has led the development of China's packaging and printing equipment industry.