Time has etched the footprints of endeavor as we unite to embark on a new journey. In 2026, the SMG Laboratory team celebrated the 20th anniversary of its founding. To revisit its original aspirations in scientific research and strengthen connections among alumni, the SMG Laboratory team organized a series of 20th-anniversary celebrations under the theme “Two Decades United, Infinite Film Power.” Alumni from different generations gathered to look back on two decades of scientific exploration, renew old friendships, and discuss future development.
The celebrations officially commenced at the University of Science and Technology of China on July 31. Alumni from across the country returned to campus and completed registration. They revisited the familiar former laboratory to take commemorative photographs, strolled around the campus, and reminisced about the years they had spent conducting research together.
The 20th-anniversary conference was held as scheduled on August 1. At the conference, Professor Li Liangbin delivered a special report in which he systematically reviewed the challenging yet inspiring development of the SMG Laboratory since its establishment and highlighted its numerous achievements resulting from years of dedicated research in the field of functional films. Looking toward the frontiers of the industry, he also outlined the Laboratory’s key future research directions and shared in-depth reflections on its accomplishments in talent development, new approaches to cultivating young researchers, and its long-term vision.
Following the report, alumni in attendance spoke enthusiastically. They shared memorable experiences of devoting themselves to research in the Laboratory during their student years and reflected on their continued personal and professional growth after graduation. Drawing on their own career experiences, they discussed the profound influence that the scientific literacy and practical spirit cultivated in the Laboratory had exerted on their professional development. The atmosphere was both lively and sincere.
For two decades, the torch of dedication has been passed from one generation to the next, while the journey of film research has continued without pause. Since its founding, the SMG Laboratory team has remained deeply engaged in research related to film materials. Successive generations of researchers have carried forward this commitment, continuously pursuing breakthroughs and innovation. The 20th-anniversary celebrations provided a platform for communication among alumni from different generations and further carried forward the spirit of the Laboratory.
The past is only a prologue, and the future holds immense promise. Standing at the new starting point of its 20th anniversary, all faculty members and students of the SMG Laboratory will remain true to their original aspirations in scientific research, unite their strengths, and forge ahead with determination. They will continue exploring the frontiers of film science and embark on the next stage of their journey with boundless “film power.”
