Wedoany.com Report on Mar 10th, During this year's National Two Sessions, CPPCC member Han Yongjiang, who is also the Party Committee Secretary and Chairman of Tongfang Co., Ltd., shared his insights on how the nuclear technology application sector can leverage AI technology to foster new quality productive forces in the context of AI deeply empowering various industries. He also discussed areas to focus on for promoting the development of nuclear technology applications during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period.

Nuclear technology, also known as isotope and radiation technology, typically refers to non-power civil nuclear technology. It is a crucial component of modern science and technology. Its related industries are characterized by high technology, high efficiency, and high quality, and can be widely applied in fields such as healthcare, agriculture, environmental protection, and industrial inspection.

At what stage is the development of China's nuclear technology application industry currently? What benefits will the integration of AI technology bring to the development of the nuclear technology industry?

CPPCC Member Han Yongjiang: The development of the nuclear technology application industry aligns closely with national strategies such as Healthy China, Beautiful China, Safe China, Digital China, and the strategies for building a strong country in science, technology, and talent. It is a typical strategic emerging industry and a representative of new quality productive forces. China's nuclear technology application industry began in the mid-20th century. After decades of development, it now covers various fields including industry, agriculture, medicine, security, and environmental protection, deeply integrated into national economic development and public life. China has also become one of the countries with the most comprehensive nuclear technology application industrial systems in the world.

Of course, challenges cannot be ignored. We still face issues such as insufficient industrialization capacity, inefficient cross-disciplinary innovation mechanisms, a shortage of interdisciplinary talent, and inadequate public science communication on nuclear topics. In particular, there is still a gap in industrial scale and quality, but this also indicates the vast market prospects for China's nuclear technology application industry.

Today, artificial intelligence is reshaping various industries. For the nuclear technology application industry to truly achieve a leap from large to strong, it must harness AI technology.

Currently, substantial progress has been made in the deep integration of AI and nuclear technology. On one hand, in the research and development of radiopharmaceuticals, the traditional process of extensive combinatorial screening is being revolutionized by generative AI and deep learning models. By training molecular generation models for specific targets, the traditional "three 10s" curse of drug development (10 years, 1 billion investment, 10% success rate) can be broken. On the other hand, "AI + Nuclear Technology" is driving an efficiency revolution. In the field of security inspection, AI has empowered the transition from "detection imaging" to "intelligent decision-making." For example, the intelligent security inspection system implemented by Tongfang Co., Ltd. at Hong Kong International Airport deeply integrates AI algorithms with CT 3D imaging technology, increasing the capacity of a single passenger security checkpoint lane from 240 to 360 people per hour, a 50% efficiency improvement. Furthermore, by combining AI technology, we have expanded nuclear technology applications into the agricultural sector. The developed "Durian Quality CT Inspection System" can grade the internal pulp quality of durians using AI models with an accuracy rate exceeding 98%. These practices demonstrate the immense value of "AI + Nuclear Technology" in enhancing efficiency, ensuring safety, and serving people's livelihoods.

The nuclear technology application industry is a key growth point for the high-quality development of the nuclear industry. What achievements did the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) make in this area in 2025? What aspects will be focused on during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period?

CPPCC Member Han Yongjiang: In 2025, CNNC actively played its role as a mainstay and facilitator, strengthened the construction of the modern industrial chain for nuclear technology applications, and collaborated with 20 central enterprises, research institutions, and private companies both inside and outside CNNC to release the industry's first "Action Plan for Strengthening the Nuclear Technology Application Industrial Chain." This initiative created a new model for systematic industrial enhancement characterized by "industry association initiation, central enterprise leadership, and diversified participation," promoting integrated development across the entire industry.

During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, CNNC will base its efforts on the major national strategic needs of Healthy China, Beautiful China, and Safe China to promote leapfrog development in the nuclear technology application industry. While maintaining a world-leading position in the security inspection field, CNNC will further expand its advantages in businesses such as radiopharmaceuticals, radioisotopes and radiation sources, and irradiation processing. It will actively expand the layout of nuclear medical equipment, improve the construction of the nuclear technology application industrial chain, enhance core competitiveness, expand market share, and form a number of modern industrial clusters. Specific efforts will be focused on the following areas:

First, deepen top-level strategic planning. We will promote the formulation of supporting regulations and implementation rules for the "Atomic Energy Law," cooperate in issuing the "Guiding Opinions on the Development of the Nuclear Technology Application Industry during the '15th Five-Year Plan' Period," promote the establishment of major national nuclear science and technology projects, gradually establish a statistical survey system and operational analysis system for the nuclear technology application industry, and integrate the industry into the overall context of national economic and social development.

Second, continuously implement the "Three-Year Action Plan for High-Quality Development of the Nuclear Technology Application Industry (2024-2026)." Focusing on the shortcomings in industrial development, we will promptly implement seven key tasks and five policy measures, break through a batch of key technologies, build a number of innovation platforms, cultivate a group of specialized, sophisticated, distinctive, and innovative enterprises, laying a solid foundation for a good start to the "15th Five-Year Plan."

Third, strengthen innovation-driven development. Accelerate technological innovation, fully leverage the advantages of the new national system, coordinate the integrated layout of basic nuclear science research, nuclear technology application development, and nuclear-related industry expansion, and promote the deep integration of the "four chains" (innovation chain, industrial chain, capital chain, talent chain). Deepen model innovation, focusing on implementing the "Artificial Intelligence + Nuclear Technology + X" action plan, targeting high-value scenarios in typical industries such as industry, agriculture, and medicine, and creating a batch of replicable and scalable application demonstration benchmarks. Promote industrial innovation, improve the mechanism for releasing the value of nuclear technology elements, so that nuclear technology can truly "enter workshops, hospitals, fields, and safeguard national borders."

Fourth, promote open cooperation. Encourage breaking down industry barriers and establishing cross-border, diversified collaborative innovation alliances and specialized service platforms. Strictly adhere to the bottom line of safe development, strengthen international exchanges and cooperation, accelerate the "going global" of the nuclear technology application industry, and achieve equal, mutually beneficial cooperation and mutual learning through exchanges.