'Sharing Knowledge is Sowing Happiness'

In 1984, I visited China for the first time as a member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Engineering delegation, and from that moment, I developed a profound connection with China. Since then, my wife and I have visited China numerous times, engaging in deep exchanges with Chinese scientists. Since 2017, I have had the honor of serving as a guest professor at the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and later also as the chief scientist at Shandong GINZRE New Materials Development Co., Ltd. One of my two sons has also chosen to live and work in China. He spent the first 12 years in Shanghai and has been living in Hong Kong for the past five years. Together, our family has witnessed and participated in the historic process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. I have a deep affection for China and am full of anticipation for its future development.

The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China's Third Plenary Session is a milestone meeting. It not only has profound significance for China's development but also injects new vitality into the global economy. China, in its continuous deepening of reform and opening up, constantly brings new development opportunities to the world. China proposed the development of "new quality productive forces," a strategy that not only focuses on high-tech development but also emphasizes the enhancement of innovation capabilities. The emergence of new quality productive forces will have widespread impacts across multiple sectors, significantly boosting productivity. I firmly believe this is critical for improving livelihoods and enhancing the quality of life.

As a long-term observer and participant, I am very confident about the prospects of China's economy and technology, and I believe China will continue to prosper, progress, and remain harmonious.

Science without borders, cooperation for mutual benefit

Alfred Nobel, the founder of the Nobel Prize, once said, "Sharing knowledge is sowing happiness." I resonate deeply with this. Scientific knowledge should be the common wealth of all humanity, not the private resource of any particular country or group. With the advancement of science and technology, scientific research is increasingly dependent on international cooperation, and many of the significant breakthroughs in modern science are the result of collaboration between international teams. At present, the world faces complex challenges such as climate change, which cannot be addressed by the efforts of any one country alone.

Against this background, the concept of "science without borders" becomes all the more important. Through cross-national scientific cooperation, we can enhance global innovation capabilities, share the fruits of research, address the common challenges faced by humanity, and contribute to the wellbeing of all people.

During my work in China, the team at GINZRE company and I have, after eight years of continuous effort, successfully developed a series of products, including emulsion fracturing thickeners, quick-dissolving emulsion polymers for oil recovery, and extended surfactants.

The Chinese government has provided us with a great deal of convenience and support through its policies. My work in scientific and technological innovation in China has been strongly supported by the Chinese government, the Shandong provincial government, and the Jinan municipal government. In 2021, upon the recommendation of the Jinan Municipal Government, I was honored to receive the Chinese government's "Friendship Award."

Here, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the various levels of the Chinese government and to all my friends who have supported and cared for me during my time working in China. I also hope that the Chinese government will continue to maintain and deepen its favorable policies, convenient services, and effective management, while enhancing its outreach to showcase a more open, inclusive, and prosperous China to the world.

Lastly, I would like to emphasize that China's education system, research environment, resource investment, and policy support have provided a solid foundation for nurturing outstanding scientists, fostering long-term scientific innovation and development. I firmly believe that in the future, more Chinese scientists will step onto the world stage and make even greater contributions to global science.

Professor Krister Holmberg is a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (Nobel Prize awarding academy), and the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences.

Source: Science and Technology Daily