Embodied artificial intelligence (AI), research into burning plasmas for magnetic confinement fusion, and space-based computing are among the research areas highlighted in China's latest list of major science and technology priorities, offering a snapshot of the directions prioritized by the country's scientific community.

The list, released Tuesday by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) at the main forum of its 28th Annual Conference, includes 10 frontier scientific questions, 10 engineering challenges, and 10 industrial technology problems. According to CAST, the annual initiative, launched in 2018, aims to identify research directions with the potential to drive future scientific breakthroughs and industrial innovation.

AI features prominently across all three categories – from fundamental research and engineering challenges to industrial applications – underscoring its growing role in China's research agenda. Selected topics include embodied autonomous intelligence, AI-powered 6G networks, large model-driven embodied robots for space exploration, AI-assisted design of functional food ingredients, and improving the resilience of digital systems in the AI era.

Beyond AI, the list highlights research areas with broad potential to shape future industries and address global challenges, spanning clean energy, healthcare, agriculture and space technology. Priorities include research into burning plasmas for magnetic confinement fusion, climate-resilient agriculture, organ-on-a-chip systems for biomedical research, Alzheimer's disease, and technologies for building space-based computing centers.

Several industrial priorities are also aimed at advancing emerging technologies toward commercial deployment. These include low-cost manufacturing technologies for commercial satellite mega-constellations, electric propulsion systems for the low-altitude economy, and lightweight direct-current transmission technologies for deep-sea offshore wind power.

According to CAST, this year's selections were evaluated for their scientific significance, leadership potential, innovation, and strategic importance before the final list was released.