Lithium battery pioneer Chen Liquan and radar expert Ben De won the national top sci-tech award for 2025 on Wednesday.

They received the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award at a meeting in Beijing combining the national science and technology award conference, the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the 11th National Congress of the China Association for Science and Technology. The meeting was held to honor the nation's distinguished scientists and research achievements.

Chen, 86, is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a researcher at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Throughout a five-decade academic career, Chen pioneered solid-state ionics research in China, led the development of the country’s first lithium-ion battery, and proposed an in-situ solidification strategy for solid-state electrolytes — driving fundamental breakthroughs and advancing their industrialization.

Chen has aligned his research with national strategic needs and was recognized for his pivotal role in establishing China's leading position in next-generation battery technologies.

Ben, born in 1938 in Changchun, Jilin province, is a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a researcher at China Electronics Technology Group Co. He has dedicated his career to advancing China's radar systems, making great contributions to national defense.

Ben led the development of China's first ground-based, ultra-long-range phased-array early-warning radar and China's airborne pulsed Doppler fire-control radar — breakthroughs that underpinned the establishment of China's land, sea, air, and space-based early-warning and surveillance architecture.