Yan Dapeng (R) attends the 2020 Hubei science and technology innovation conference in Wuhan on Feb 18. [Photo/cjn.cn]

The 2020 Hubei science and technology innovation conference was held on Feb 18 at Hongshan Assembly Hall in Wuhan, the capital of Central China's Hubei province.

Yan Dapeng, the chief engineer of Wuhan Raycus Fiber Laser Technologies Co Ltd, based at East Lake High-tech Development Zone (Optics Valley of China), was honored with an outstanding contribution award, together with Li Jiancheng, vice-president of Wuhan University.

Both outstanding contribution award winners will be given 2 million yuan ($309,800) in prize money.

In 2020, a total of 327 science and technology awards were announced in Hubei province, including two outstanding contribution awards, 40 natural science awards, 30 technological invention awards, 228 scientific and technological progress awards, 12 scientific and technological achievements promotion awards, and 15 technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) innovation awards.

Compared with previous years, awards in 2020 reflected an increase in basic innovation capabilities, with the number of natural science awards demonstrating significant increases in necessary innovation capabilities.

The innovation capabilities of provincial colleges, universities and institutions have also been significantly improved. Units such as Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Hubei University of Technology and Hubei Provincial Hospital of TCM all won first prizes.

Also, the innovation capabilities of enterprises have been significantly improved. Among the applied research projects that were appraised, 238 projects were led or participated in by enterprises, accounting for 87.5 percent. And among the 47 first prize-winning projects in the technological invention awards and scientific and technological progress awards, 42 were led or participated in by enterprises, accounting for 89.4 percent.