From December 19th to 21st, 2025, the 23rd National Symposium on Fundamental Optics and Photophysics was successfully held in the Nantong Innovation Zone. The conference was jointly organized by the Fundamental Optics Professional Committee of the Chinese Optical Society, the Photophysics Professional Committee of the Chinese Physical Society, and the Yangtze River Delta Optoelectronic Science Research Institute of Peking University, and co-hosted by Nantong Weiming Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. and the editorial department of the *Journal of Quantum Electronics*. The conference attracted nearly 300 academicians, experts, scholars, and graduate student representatives from more than 60 universities and research institutes across China, and received over 140 submissions. Participants engaged in in-depth exchanges and discussions on the latest progress in fundamental research and cutting-edge technologies in the field of optics and photophysics.
Academicians Li Ruxin (Party Secretary of ShanghaiTech University), Xu Hongxing (President of the Henan Academy of Sciences), Ni Peigen (Deputy Director of the Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences of the National Natural Science Foundation of China), Xu Jingjun (former Executive Vice President of Nankai University), Sun Zhenrong (President of the Shanghai Academy of Sciences), Liu Xiaojun (Party Secretary of the Institute of Precision Measurement Science and Technology Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences), Wang Jianpu (President of Nantong University), Wang Hongfu (President of Jilin Engineering Technology Normal University), Qu Zhe (Vice President of the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences), Xiao Liantuan (Vice President of Taiyuan University of Technology); Bao Delin (Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of the Nantong Municipal People's Congress, Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Nantong Economic and Technological Development Zone, and Executive Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Nantong Innovation Zone); Liu Yunquan (Vice Chairman of the Chinese Optical Society, Director of the Fundamental Optics Professional Committee, and President of the Research Institute), Yang Gengshuo (Executive Director of the Chinese Optical Society and Secretary-General of the China International Optoelectronic Exposition), and other leaders and guests, as well as the conference co-chairs Li Yutong (Researcher at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences), Chen Lixiang (Professor at Xiamen University), Liu Hui (Professor at Nanjing University), and Tian Chuanshan (Professor at Fudan University) attended the conference.
In his speech, Bao Delin warmly congratulated the successful convening of the conference and introduced the development advantages and scientific and technological innovation ecosystem of the Nantong Innovation Zone. He emphasized that Nantong is deeply integrating into the Yangtze River Delta science and technology innovation community with an open attitude, and expressed his hope that this conference would inject vitality into the development of Nantong's local optoelectronic industry. In his speech, Xu Hongxing reviewed the more than forty-year history of the conference, emphasizing that fundamental optics is the "source of innovation" in science and technology. He put forward three expectations: upholding the original intention of basic research, strengthening interdisciplinary integration, and nurturing young talents, to jointly inject new and powerful impetus into my country's achievement of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement.
Ni Peigen mentioned that in recent years, fruitful results have been achieved in optics-related fields, with new hotspots and growth points constantly emerging. He stated that the Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences of the National Natural Science Foundation of China attaches great importance to the development of the optics field and will further support frontline researchers in obtaining more scientific and technological resources. He also introduced the latest policies for project applications to the Foundation in 2026.
Liu Yunquan, representing the organizers, delivered a speech, sincerely thanking all the experts, scholars, and industry colleagues for attending the conference in Nantong. He emphasized the significance of the academic discussion conference on fundamental optics and optical physics, and stated that the research institute will continue to leverage the advantages of university-local government collaboration to promote the full-chain transformation of "basic research-technological breakthroughs-industrial applications" in the optoelectronics field, providing a solid foundation for long-term cooperation and innovative development in the field.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Dong Guoxuan of Beijing Normal University.
The conference invited Professor Cheng Ya from East China Normal University to give a report entitled "Principles and Applications of Extreme Nonlinear Lithography Technology"; Researcher Liu Xiaojun from the Institute of Precision Measurement Science and Technology Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, to give a report entitled "Ultrafast Control of Atoms and Molecules"; Professor Wang Jianpu from Nantong University to give a report entitled "Perovskite Luminescence"; and Professor Wang Jianwei from Peking University to give a report entitled "Research Progress on Physical Principles and Technologies of Optical Quantum Chips".
Sun Zhenrong, President of the Shanghai Academy of Sciences, and Researcher Wei Zhiyi from the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, respectively presided over the plenary session invited reports.
The award ceremony for the 12th "Rao Yutai Fundamental Optics Award" was held at the conference. Li Ruxin, Xu Jingjun, Liu Yunquan, and Yang Gengshuo presented the awards as award presenters.
Li Ruxin delivered a speech. He first congratulated the award recipients and pointed out that fundamental optical research is the foundation of innovative breakthroughs in the field of optics. He emphasized that young researchers should abandon impetuosity, inherit and carry forward the spirit of scientists, integrate their personal interests with national needs, dare to challenge uncharted territories in scientific research, and dedicate themselves to in-depth research in basic research to produce truly original work.
The award ceremony was presided over by Yang Hong, a professor-level senior engineer at Peking University, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Optical Society, Secretary-General of the Basic Optics Professional Committee, and Executive Dean of the Research Institute.
Twelve award recipients, including Yang Qifan from Peking University, Bai Yafeng from the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tang Shuijing from Peking University, Wang Bo from Henan University, Wang Peng from Chengdu University of Technology, Huang Shenyang from Fudan University, Hu Xiaomin from the University of Science and Technology of China, Liu Xiao from the University of Science and Technology of China, Mou Ge from Beijing Institute of Technology, Song Bo from Peking University, Fu Qidong from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Mao Yali from Nankai University, each presented a special report.
Xiao Yunfeng, Dean of the School of Physics at Peking University, and Feng Jing, Dean of the School of Electronic Science and Engineering at Jilin University, respectively presided over the special reports.
This conference featured six parallel sessions: "Ultrafast and Strong-Field Optics," "Novel Optical Field Manipulation and Applications," "Quantum Optics and Quantum Information," "Micro- and Nano-Optics and Integrated Optics," "Ultrafast Optics and Nonlinear Optics," and "Novel Optoelectronic Materials and Energy Optoelectronics," with a total of 64 invited reports.
The conference also showcased 55 poster presentations covering various fields such as optical physics, quantum information, and optoelectronic materials. After evaluation, eight presenters received the "Outstanding Poster Presentation" award. Professor Tian Chuanshan from Fudan University and Professor Xiong Qihua from Tsinghua University presented the awards.
The conference also included a meeting of the Editorial Board of the *Journal of Quantum Electronics* and the election meeting for the new leadership of the Basic Optics Professional Committee of the Chinese Optical Society.
The Research Institute will use this conference as an opportunity to continuously build a high-level platform for exchange and cooperation in the field of optics, anchor itself to the cutting edge of disciplinary development, and deepen collaborative innovation across institutions and disciplines. At the same time, the Research Institute will strive to create an open and shared innovation ecosystem, accelerate the transformation of scientific research achievements into real productivity, and effectively empower the transformation and upgrading of the optoelectronic industry in Nantong and the Yangtze River Delta region, contributing to the deep integration of scientific research and industrial applications in the fields of basic optics and optical physics.
