The winners of the 4th National Innovation Excellence Award, jointly selected by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People’s Republic of China, the China Association for Science and Technology, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, were officially announced at the Celebration Ceremony for the 10th National Science and Technology Workers’ Day and the 4th National Innovation Excellence Award Commendation Conference, held in Beijing on May 30, 2026. Dr. Chen Jimin, Vice-Chairman and Secretary-General of the University Council of Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST); Professor Zong Qiugang, Director of the State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences (SKLPlanets); and Professor Zhang Xiaoping, Deputy Director of SKLPlanets, attended the event. The team from the State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences (SKLPlanets) at MUST was recommended by the Association for Promotion of Science and Technology of Macau. With its sustained and significant contributions to China’s deep-space exploration, the team stood out from hundreds of outstanding research teams nationwide and received the Group Medal of this year’s National Innovation Excellence Award. This is the first time that a team from Macao has received this major award, marking the highest level of national recognition of Macao’s research capabilities.

Representatives of MUST at the Award

(From right to left: Professor Zhang Xiaoping, Vice-Chairman Chen Jimin, and Chair Professor Zong Qiugang)

Established in 2017 with the approval of the central government, the National Innovation Excellence Award is a major national science and technology award presented every three years. Jointly organized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the China Association for Science and Technology, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the award serves as an organic link between national science and technology awards and major talent programs. It is a science and technology talent award positioned second only to China’s State Preeminent Science and Technology Award, and is one of the country’s most authoritative and influential science and technology honors. The award recognizes scientists, engineers, and research teams that have made outstanding contributions in areas such as scientific and technological innovation, technological breakthroughs, commercialization of research outcomes, and science popularization, while encouraging science and technology professionals to serve as pioneers of innovation. Competition for this year’s National Innovation Excellence Award was extremely intense, with only nine Group Medals ultimately proposed to be awarded, and no more than ten Group Medals in total, including one from Macao. The inclusion of the SKLPlanets team from MUST fully reflects the country’s strong recognition of Macao’s research capabilities. The team is greatly encouraged by this honor.

The team is based at MUST and led by Chair Professor Zong Qiugang, Director of SKLPlanets. It has participated extensively in all of China’s deep-space exploration missions from Chang’e-1 to Tianwen-4, with research focusing on frontier areas including lunar and planetary formation and evolution, environments and habitability, and deep-space exploration technologies. Through the team’s sustained efforts, MUST has risen to seventh globally in the number of lunar science publications; three of its disciplines have been listed in Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects; and Earth Science has entered the top 1% globally in the Essential Science Indicators (ESI).

In recent years, the team’s achievements have provided strong support for the Tianwen-1 Mars exploration mission and received joint commendation from six national ministries and commissions. The team has twice won First Prize in the Macao Natural Science Award and received the Medal of Professional Merit from the Macao SAR Government in 2023. In 2025, team leader Professor Zong Qiugang received the Chandrasekhar Prize, the top award in international plasma physics, which is presented to only one recipient worldwide each year, further demonstrating the team’s influence in the international academic community.

SKLPlanets said that it is deeply honored by the award and keenly aware of the responsibility it carries. Looking ahead, the team will remain rooted in Macao and serve the country by continuing to participate extensively in major national missions, including future lunar exploration, Mars sample return, and Jupiter system exploration, contributing more “Macao strength” to China’s deep-space exploration and planetary science development.