IOC 2025 Friends Of The Conference
Introduction to the China-Serbia Joint Laboratory on Green Steel Manufacturing
(I) Background
HBIS Group has actively conducted collaborative innovation with the University of Belgrade. In April 2024, the “HBIS – University of Belgrade Joint Laboratory on Green Steel Manufacturing” was established. On April 15, 2024, the Secretary of Hebei Provincial Party Committee and the Serbian Minister of Science and Technology jointly unveiled the laboratory. On this basis, in October 2024, the China-Serbia Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Green Steel Manufacturing, jointly applied for by HBIS Group and the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy of the University of Belgrade, was successfully approved. This is HBIS’s first national-level R&D platform and also the first “Belt and Road” joint laboratory in Hebei Province.
(II) Overall Objectives
Implement the spirit of the series of important instructions by the heads of state on China-Serbia cooperation, jointly build a China-Serbia community with a shared future, and develop a globally influential center for technological R&D and achievement transformation, as well as a platform for talent cultivation and cooperative exchanges. Promote industry-academia-research collaboration across the entire innovation chain in the steel sector between China and Serbia, enhance capabilities in technological innovation, industrial capacity cooperation, and coordinated development, drive multilateral cooperation and high-quality development among countries along the “Belt and Road” through radiating effects, and contribute innovative achievements and technological strength to scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation.
(III) Core Tasks
Joint project R&D: Focus on breaking through core technologies and key equipment that restrict the green and low-carbon transformation of the steel industry, providing technical support for building green and low-carbon industrial clusters in China and Serbia.
International technology transformation: Promote the transfer and transformation of joint research achievements—such as high-end product R&D, efficient low-carbon smelting, and process energy efficiency improvement—in China, Serbia, and other Central and Eastern European countries.
Driving multilateral cooperation: Leverage the demonstration role of scientific and technological achievement promotion and sci-tech cultural exchanges to drive multilateral cooperation among countries along the “Belt and Road.”
Academic exchange and interaction: Establish a key academic exchange platform between China and Serbia to enhance both parties’ capabilities in technological innovation and coordinated development in the field of green steel manufacturing technologies and equipment.
Youth talent cultivation: Cultivate Chinese and Serbian young scientists with international perspectives, innovative thinking, and practical abilities, providing sustained intellectual support for the development of green manufacturing in both countries.
Innovation in operational mechanisms: Explore institutional and mechanism innovations across the entire chain, establishing flexible project management mechanisms, open cooperation models, incentives for innovative talents, intellectual property transplantation, and optimized resource sharing mechanisms.
(IV) Scientific Research Projects
At present, the Joint Laboratory has incorporated the following research projects:
One national project, “Construction and Joint Research of the ‘Belt and Road’ Joint Laboratory on Green Steel Manufacturing between China and Serbia,” is currently underway.
Two group-level projects, “Research on the Utilization of Local Mineral Hydrogen-Based Shaft Furnaces in Serbia” and “Investigation on Hydrogen Production Costs and Establishment of a Dynamic Multi-Scale Model for Hydrogen-Based Shaft Furnaces Based on CFD-DEM Coupled Simulation,” are currently underway.
One provincial project, “Construction of the ‘Belt and Road’ Joint Laboratory for Green Steel Manufacturing between China and Serbia and R&D and Application of New Materials for High-Freshness Dual-Phase Steel Outer Plates,” is currently underway.
In addition, three 2024 group-level projects carried out in cooperation with the University of Belgrade have been completed with positive results.
Zhou Yongning
HBIS MATERIALS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
No.3, Yangzi Road, Economic and Technological Development Zone, Liangcun, Gaocheng, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, P.R. China
Tel: +86 15032596526
Email: zhouyongning@hbisco.com