During a recent meeting, National People's Congress Deputy Sun Dongming, also a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Metal Research, presented a thick notebook filled with months of intensive research. He had visited numerous universities and research institutions, meticulously documenting technical challenges and obstacles in technology conversion within the semiconductor industry. "This is the future direction of the semiconductor industry, and we must accelerate its development," Sun stated.

Sun's commitment to his role is deeply rooted in both the challenging environment of the laboratory and the demanding schedule of his research trips. In the spring of 2025, shortly after attending the National People's Congress sessions, Sun visited a private semiconductor company in Shenyang. The company's负责人 expressed a significant concern: "Our products meet the requirements for national major science and technology projects, but the financial thresholds are too high for us to overcome."

While inspecting the production line and taking detailed notes of the company's difficulties, Sun assured the负责人, "I have seen your technical capabilities. I will conduct further research into this matter." This visit marked the beginning of a four-month specialized research project focusing on private semiconductor enterprises. Sun traveled from Liaoning to Jiangsu, entering the workshops and labs of over twenty companies, engaging in thorough discussions with both management and technical staff.

Returning to his institute, Sun spread out his research notes and identified common issues, such as "inflexible eligibility thresholds" and "high pressure from required matching funds." He then drafted a proposal for the National People's Congress, incorporating specific recommendations like "setting thresholds based on technological innovation capability" and "implementing advance funding combined with achievement-based rewards." "Many companies lack not capability, but opportunity," Sun remarked. "As a national deputy, I have a responsibility to assist them."

By October of last year, positive developments emerged. The application process for national major science and technology projects was adjusted, removing some non-essential requirements related to revenue and operational history, and introducing more flexibility in funding matching ratios. The Shenyang company that had raised the initial issue successfully applied for a project and is expected to receive support funding soon. The负责人 sent Sun photos of their expanded production line, reporting, "Our R&D investment has increased, and new product samples are already undergoing testing."

This year, Sun is preparing to submit a proposal at the National People's Congress regarding the advancement of atomic manufacturing technology. He explained that during his laboratory research, he observed that traditional techniques are struggling to overcome the power consumption bottlenecks in chips. Atomic manufacturing, which involves precise control at the atomic level, offers the potential for a qualitative leap in device performance.

Ahead of the 2026 National People's Congress sessions, Sun is studying the draft of the National Development Planning Law, annotating proposed amendments based on his research. He is simultaneously refining his proposal on atomic manufacturing, outlining technical challenges and conversion difficulties, and integrating advanced technology planning with feedback from the grassroots level to prepare his submissions effectively.

From gathering enterprise demands on the production floor to witnessing the tangible results of policy adjustments, and from pioneering atomic manufacturing research to improving the mechanisms for scientific project applications, Sun Dongming uses the semiconductor industry as a bridge. He connects scientific research with policy and enterprises with the government, diligently fulfilling his duties to serve the public through deep industry engagement and problem-solving.