On 2^nd August 2025, a Seminar entitled ‘Coordinated Development of Corrosion Control Technology Innovation and Industrial Innovation’ took place in Zhengzhou, Henan, China. The seminar brought together more than one hundred representatives from academia and industry, both domestic and international, to discuss pathways for the high-quality development of the corrosion protection industry. Organised jointly by China International Science and Technology Promotion Association, Henan (Province) Academy of Sciences, and North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, the event also featured the strategic consultation meeting for the “Henan Province Anti-Corrosion New Materials Industry Development Strategy” project. The seminar adopted an innovative ‘enterprise-poses-the-question, research-provides-the-answer’s model, facilitating direct, solution-focused exchanges between over 70 corporate executives and chief engineers from leading enterprises and the research community.

Photo: Seminar Opening Ceremony on 2^nd August in Zhengzhou, China.

A standout feature of the seminar was the involvement of Dr. Yunnan Gao, visiting President of the UK headquartered Institute of Corrosion (ICorr), who delivered a keynote technical presentation that reflected deep UK industry experience and international expertise.

Photo: ICorr President, Dr Yunnan Gao Giving His Keynote Speech

As ICorr President, Dr. Gao provided an introductory overview of ICorr, outlining the organisation’s mission, global reach, and its role in fostering international standards and best practices in corrosion science. Subsequently, in a technical keynote, he then shared valuable insights into how corrosion is managed in the UK oil and gas sector.

Dr. Gao’s presentation served as a rich learning platform for participants, especially students and academics, by illustrating how corrosion theory can be effectively translated into industry-level protection strategies. His discussion emphasised asset longevity, operational safety, and reliability in energy infrastructure.

During the seminar, Dr. Gao met with Professor Weihua Li, Academic Vice President of North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, and Chief Scientist at the Henan Academy of Sciences. He expressed his high regard for Professor Li’s team and their outstanding contributions to corrosion research and conveyed his keen interest in pursuing future opportunities for exchange and collaborations.

Dr. Yunnan Gao’s presence at the Zhengzhou Seminar reinforced ICorr’s active role in global corrosion research and application. Through his institutional introduction and the presented UK industry case study, he bridged theoretical corrosion science and industrial practice-enriching the conference’s mission of aligning technological innovation with industrial needs.

The event attracted significant attention from regional mainstream and industry media, with extensive coverage appearing in:

• China Industry News, Report Link (In Chinese)
• Henan (Province) Daily: Report Link (In Chinese)
• Henan (Province) Academy of Sciences, Report Link (In Chinese)
• Henan (Province) Science and Technology Online, Report Link (In Chinese)
• Jiaozuo (City) Daily, Report Link (In Chinese)
• Xinxiang (City) Daily, Report Link (In Chinese)
• Guangdong (Province) Anticorrosion Association, Report Link (In Chinese)

These reports have highlighted the seminar’s role in fostering technological innovation and industrial collaboration in corrosion control, noting the participation of prominent domestic and international experts, including ICorr President Dr. Yunnan Gao, whose contributions were recognised as a valuable addition to the conference’s international dimension.

Photo: ICorr President, Dr Yunnan Gao, Middle, Professor Weihua Li (3^rd from Right), and Some Research Team Doctors at Henan Academy of Scie

On 28^th July 2025, the President of the Institute of Corrosion (ICorr), Dr. Yunnan Gao, and the President of the European Federation of Corrosion (EFC), Professor Gareth Hinds, visited Northeastern University (NEU) in Shenyang, China, as part of a collaborative engagement tour with leading Chinese academic institutions in the field of corrosion science and engineering.

L: EFC President, Professor Gareth Hinds; R: ICorr President Dr Yunnan Gao, during Their Visit to NEU, Shenyang

During the NEU visit, Dr. Gao delivered a presentation introducing ICorr’s mission, global activities, and contributions to advancing corrosion science, followed by a technical lecture on corrosion management in oil and gas production facilities. Professor Hinds then introduced the EFC, outlining its international collaboration framework and key initiatives, and delivered a technical presentation focusing on cutting-edge developments in corrosion rate measurement of pipeline steel in dense phase CO₂.

ICorr President Giving An Introduction of ICorr to Faculty and Students at NEU, Shenyang

Following the presentations, the delegation toured NEU’s advanced corrosion laboratories, gaining an in-depth view of the university’s research infrastructure, experimental capabilities, and achievements in materials protection and degradation studies. Both leaders commended NEU’s strong academic foundation, innovative approaches, and its active role in international cooperation.

The NEU Visit Was Facilitated by Professor Dake Xu, FICorr, 2^nd Right, and Associate Professor Di Wang, 2^nd Left of NEU.

On 4^th August 2025, Dr. Gao and Professor Hinds visited the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB), a leading institution in global corrosion research with close links to the Chinese Society of Corrosion Protection (CSCP). The visit featured the same core agenda as the NEU visit: introductory and technical presentations from both Presidents, followed by in-depth exchanges with faculty and students.

The USTB Visit Was Facilitated by Professor Xuequn Cheng, (FICorr, General Secretary of CSCP), 2^nd Left, and Professor Bowei Zhang, Secretary of CSCP, 2^nd Right, of the USTB.

ICorr President Giving A Technical Presentation to the USTB Audience

During the last stage of the visit, the delegation toured USTB’s world-class National Materials Corrosion and Protection Data Centre, which serves as a national digital hub for corrosion data collection, sharing, and application in industrial sectors.

USTB Academics Showcase the Digital Hub at the National Materials Corrosion and Protection Data Centre

The mainstream media in China, such as China Daily, China News, Guangming Online, ScienceNet and Science and Technology Daily, all covered the visit, highlighting it as a milestone in international academic exchange, with both sides expressing strong interest in long-term collaboration, joint research projects, and personnel development in corrosion science and engineering. The coverage also emphasised how the visit underscored China’s growing role in global corrosion research and the value of integrating domestic capabilities with international networks such as ICorr and the EFC.

The visits to NEU and USTB further cemented ties between ICorr, EFC, CSCP and China’s leading corrosion research institutions, opening new avenues for collaboration in addressing global challenges in materials durability, infrastructure resilience, and industrial sustainability.