2025 Open Project Application Guide of the State Key Laboratory of High-Performance Tools

The National Key Laboratory of High-Performance Tools (hereinafter referred to as the "Laboratory") is the only national scientific and technological innovation base in China that promotes collaborative development among industry, academia, research, and application, bringing together top innovative resources in the industry, organically integrating them deeply, and possessing a complete innovation system for high-performance tools. Adhering to the principle of "facing the four modernizations", the laboratory aims to build a world-class national key laboratory. The laboratory focuses on the technological challenges faced by the processing and manufacturing in key national fields such as aerospace, semiconductor integrated circuits, new energy equipment, land and sea transportation (ships, rail transit, new energy vehicles, etc.), and high-end CNC machine tools. It conducts research in four directions: cutting/grinding mechanism research, advanced design and manufacturing technology research of high-performance tools, advanced application technology research of high-performance tools, and tool performance evaluation methods and standards research. It conducts in-depth innovative research on the theory, materials, design, manufacturing, and application of high-performance tools, breaks through key technological bottlenecks, builds a scientific and technological innovation platform for high-performance tools, cultivates excellent innovative talents, and builds the laboratory into a research institution with distinctive characteristics and international advancement in this field, meeting major national needs and possessing the high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement of a national strategic scientific and technological force with international influence.

In order to implement the national key laboratory's policy of "openness, fluidity, collaboration, and competition", and to support scientific and technological workers in conducting research on China's advanced manufacturing technologies, this laboratory has established an open research fund for research projects, encouraging scientific and technological personnel in this field to conduct research on cutting-edge technologies of high-performance tools and national major needs.

I. Funding Directions for Open Research Projects

The laboratory plans to solicit open research projects in six directions: aerospace, semiconductor integrated circuits, new energy equipment, land and sea transportation, high-end CNC machine tools, and cutting-edge new technologies for high-performance tools (cutting tools and abrasives). The specific funding directions are as follows:

(1) High-Performance Tools in the Aerospace Field

The research mainly focuses on the research and development of high-performance tools in the aerospace field, covering high-strength titanium alloys/titanium aluminum (TiAl) alloys/deformable high-temperature alloys and their composite materials, new nickel-based/nickel-aluminum (Ni, Al) single crystal alloys and powder alloys, high-entropy alloys, silicon carbide ceramic matrix composites (CMC-SiC), and other difficult-to-machine materials for key aerospace components, as well as the basic theory, design and manufacturing, application and evaluation research of high-performance cutting tool materials, structures, coatings, and surface microstructures of superhard abrasives. Funding will be provided for these areas.

(2) High-Performance Tools in the Semiconductor Integrated Circuit Field

The research mainly focuses on the research and development of efficient and precise processing tools in the semiconductor integrated circuit processing field, focusing on the deepening of the basic theory, key tool innovation and application evaluation of precision wire cutting, grinding, polishing, scribing, and chip packaging board drilling processes, as well as the development of low-temperature high-strength ceramic binders. Funding will be provided for these areas.

(3) High-Performance Tools in the New Energy Field

The research mainly focuses on the basic theory, materials, coatings, structures, manufacturing, and application evaluation of high-performance tools in the new energy field, such as key components of wind power, nuclear power, and solar photovoltaic power generation. Funding will be provided for these areas, including but not limited to ultra-precision polishing technology for large-size CVD polycrystalline diamond optical wafers, precise design and grinding technology for gear tools, and deep hole drilling design and manufacturing technology.

(4) High-Performance Tools in the Land and Sea Transportation Field

The research mainly focuses on the research and development of a series of high-performance tools for land and sea transportation vehicles, especially the cutting/grinding basic theory, materials, coatings, structures, manufacturing, and application performance evaluation of key components such as high-speed electric drive reducer gears for new energy vehicles, train wheels/axles/tracks, and ship gas turbine high-temperature components. Funding will be provided for these areas, including but not limited to the precise forming principle and influencing factors of the roller-grinding wheel-workpiece surface during the use of high-precision diamond forming rollers, the formation mechanism and precise thickness control of the β-phase gradient cemented carbide cobalt-rich layer, and the parameterized design software for worm gears/worm wheels/gear hobs.

(5) High-Performance Tools in the High-End CNC Machine Tool Field

The research mainly focuses on the materials, coatings, structures, manufacturing, application, and evaluation of high-performance tools used in the processing of core components of high-end CNC machine tools such as high-end bearings, precision ball screws/guides. Funding will be provided for these areas, including but not limited to the development of new heat-conducting/dissipating grinding wheels and the preparation and characterization of high-toughness and high-strength metal ceramic tool materials.

(6) Cutting-Edge and Common Technologies of High-Performance Tools

The research mainly focuses on the preparation technology of raw and auxiliary materials for diamond synthesis, such as large-size ultra-hard and high-toughness nanocrystalline diamond synthesis processes, artificial pressure-transmitting media, secondary insulation materials, and new catalysts, as well as intelligent design and online self-optimization control of grinding processes, near-net shape forming technology for precision and complex tools, ultra-fine crystal strong (001) textured CVD-Al2O3 coating process, bearing steel GCr15 CVD chromium plating mechanism, CVD-TiAl coating doping modification mechanism, PVD hard coating structure and failure mechanism, post-coating polishing technology for tools, and fatigue resistance test methods for tool cutting edges. Funding will be provided for these cutting-edge and common technologies of high-performance tools.

Funding will also be provided for other innovative research areas that meet the overall research direction of the National Key Laboratory of High-Performance Tools and are expected to apply for national-level or scientific and technological projects after cultivation.

II. Application Conditions and Requirements for Open Research Projects

Open research projects are designed to promote the research and development in the field of high-performance tools, open to universities, research institutions, industrial sectors, and other units in related research fields both domestically and internationally.

(1) Conditions for Applicants of Open Research Projects

1. Applicants must have a doctoral degree or senior professional title. In principle, they should have presided over provincial or ministerial-level projects or above, have accumulated a good foundation of previous research in the relevant field, and have published relevant high-level research papers. They should also be willing to conduct research in the field of high-performance tools. Each applicant can only apply for one open research project. The laboratory will select projects based on the applicant's research foundation, the planned technical indicators, and the application for funds. 2. Project leaders who are currently undertaking open projects from this laboratory that have not yet been completed are not eligible to apply again. 3. Fixed personnel of the laboratory are not allowed to undertake open research projects (personnel undertaking laboratory projects are considered mobile personnel). To ensure the smooth progress of open research projects, each open research project must have at least one fixed laboratory personnel as the project contact person. Specific fixed personnel will be designated through internal consultation within the laboratory.

2. Project leaders who are currently undertaking open projects from this laboratory that have not yet been completed are not eligible to apply again.

3. Fixed personnel of the laboratory are not allowed to undertake open research projects (personnel undertaking laboratory projects are considered mobile personnel). To ensure the smooth progress of open research projects, each open research project must have at least one fixed laboratory personnel as the project contact person. Specific fixed personnel will be designated through internal consultation within the laboratory.

(2) Application Procedures for Open Research Projects

1. Applicants should carefully fill out the open research project brief.

2. After the preliminary selection of the project brief, the laboratory will organize the relevant applicants to fill out the "Application Task Book for Open Research Projects of the National Key Laboratory of High-Performance Tools". The laboratory will organize experts to review and evaluate the application form and task book, and select projects for funding. After determining the funded projects and funding amounts, the evaluation results will be notified to the applicants. Those who are not successful will not be notified separately.

After the applicant's unit signs and stamps the review comments, six copies should be mailed to the relevant contact person, and the electronic version of the application form should be sent to the relevant contact person's email address.

III. Time and Funding

(1) The application period for the project is from November 5, 2024 to November 20, 2024. The review period for the open project introduction is from November 21, 2024 to December 5, 2024. The final review results will be announced no later than December 30, 2024 (those who fail will not be notified separately).

(2) The project research execution time starts from January 1 of the year following the approval of the project, and generally does not exceed two years.

(3) The amount of funding generally includes A Youth Fund Project (within 50,000 yuan), B General Project (within 100,000 yuan), and C Key Project (within 200,000 yuan). The funding for open fund projects is determined once and disbursed in batches.

IV. Results Annotation

(1) The funding for open projects is used for research business expenses, materials, travel expenses, and other expenses required for experimental research. The use of funding for open projects should comply with the laboratory's financial management regulations.

(2) Any papers published or other results obtained under the funding of the laboratory's open projects must indicate that they are funded by the "Open Project of the State Key Laboratory for High Performance Tools (GXNGJSKL 2025-number)". The English name is: Open Project Funding of State Key Laboratory for High Performance Tools (GXNGJSKL 2025-number).

(3) The results of open projects include two categories: technical indicators and academic results indicators. Specific results indicators are implemented in accordance with the application and task book of the open project. Published papers must indicate "Zhengzhou Research Institute for Abrasives & Grinding Co., Ltd. State Key Laboratory for High Performance Tools, Henan, 450001; English name: Zhengzhou Research Institute for Abrasives & Grinding Co., Ltd. State Key Laboratory for High Performance Tools, Henan, 450001, China". Specific requirements are subject to the contract task book.

V. Contact Information

Contact Person: Hui Zhen

Tel: 13700874950

Email: huizhen@zzsm.com

Address: No. 121, Wutong Street, High-tech Industrial Development Zone, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province State Key Laboratory for High Performance Tools