From new energy vehicles to brain computer interfaces, from precision electronics to biomedicine... China's "technology metal" field is entering a period of accelerated application innovation, becoming an important support for promoting the intelligent, green, and integrated development of the manufacturing industry. Due to their critical role in emerging technology and strategic position in energy transition, platinum group metals are referred to as "technology metals" and "green metals" in the industry, including six metals: platinum, palladium, iridium, osmium, ruthenium, and rhodium. The reporter learned from the 2nd Annual Forum on Innovative Applications of Platinum Group Metals held recently that with continuous breakthroughs in technological innovation, platinum group metals are showing broad application prospects and commercial potential. China's platinum group metals are currently in a critical period of transformation. Traditional demand areas are facing structural challenges, but new growth drivers are emerging in areas such as green technology and high-end manufacturing. ”Vice Chairman of the Precious Metals Working Committee of the China Materials Recycling Association, Bian Li, stated. In the automotive industry, platinum group metals are traditionally used as exhaust gas purification catalysts. With the decline in the production and sales scale of fuel vehicles, the demand in this field has shrunk, but the demand for platinum group metals, especially palladium, continues to grow in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell models. In the field of lithium sulfur batteries, the demand for palladium will significantly increase in the future, and it is expected that the annual consumption will reach 45 tons by 2035, which is equivalent to the current annual demand for palladium in the fuel vehicle industry, "said Bianjie. In the electronics industry, palladium is widely used in various contacts of electronic products due to its stability, wear resistance, and other characteristics. Ruthenium is used in advanced process chips, and platinum group metals such as platinum, iridium, and ruthenium are used in brain computer interfaces, "said Dong Tingyi from Yijin New Materials Co., Ltd. Li Junpeng, Deputy General Manager of Guiyan Electronic Materials (Yunnan) Co., Ltd., also stated that platinum group metals play a key role in the field of information electronic materials such as electronic packaging and data storage. In the field of chemical engineering, platinum group metals are widely used as catalysts in the manufacturing process of various chemicals. With the development and application of artificial intelligence technology, the development of new catalysts will also accelerate, "said Wang Dingjun, Chairman of Connor New Materials (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd. Platinum group metals are expected to develop new application tracks in drug research and development, biosynthetic pesticide production, air purification and other fields for the treatment of elderly dementia and cancer. International cooperation is becoming an important force for innovation in the application of platinum group metals. During the forum, the Russian Noriko Palladium Technology Center showcased its new research and development achievements in fields such as solar energy, electric transportation, and hydrogen energy. This year's achievements have proven that multi-party collaboration in promoting technological innovation and market expansion can quickly bring new materials to the market, "said Dmitry Izotov, the head of the center. The reporter learned that the Precious Metals Working Committee of China Recycling Association hosted the first Global Palladium Innovation Application Competition this year, attracting nearly 100 projects from more than 30 countries, covering fields such as energy, advanced materials, medicine, electronics, and environmental solutions. Some of the entries are highly inspiring, exploring the potential applications of palladium in next-generation energy storage and medical fields. Its unique properties can even be used for targeted therapy, "said Bianjie. At the policy level, the platinum group metal industry is experiencing long-term benefits, which also provides solid support for opening up greater space for application innovation. On November 7th, the China Securities Regulatory Commission announced that it has approved the registration of platinum and palladium futures and options on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange. In recent years, influenced by multiple factors such as the international situation and changes in downstream consumer demand, platinum and palladium prices have fluctuated significantly, with annual price fluctuations exceeding 20% in the past five years. In this context, industrial chain enterprises are increasingly demanding the listing of platinum and palladium futures and the use of futures tools to achieve pricing management and risk hedging. The listing of platinum, palladium futures and options will provide effective risk stabilizers for enterprises, help cope with price fluctuations, ensure production and operation continuity, and enhance the overall resilience and safety of the industrial chain. ”Borderland stated that in the future, as the domestic platinum and palladium futures markets gradually mature, their price discovery function will become more prominent. The industry can actively explore using futures prices as pricing benchmarks for spot trade, forming a more transparent and fair domestic market price system, and gradually enhancing China's voice in global platinum and palladium market pricing. Liu Shuzhong, Director of the Science and Technology Innovation Committee of China National Technology Group Corporation, reminds that platinum group mineral resources are scarce in China, with a self-sufficiency rate of less than 5%. Therefore, the importance of independent and controllable supply chains is becoming increasingly prominent. As an important strategic resource, it is crucial to establish a reasonable strategic reserve system for platinum group metals, which is the key guarantee to minimize supply chain interruption losses. Each production enterprise should timely pay attention to the importance and necessity of establishing its own strategic reserves, draw on the strategic thinking of "digging deep and accumulating grain widely", and cope with the impact of global uncertainty. The industry needs to accelerate the development of precious metal recycling industry, improve recycling efficiency and scale, fully tap the resource value of "urban mines", and avoid resource waste and supply interruption risks. (New Society)