Dr. Alain Bécoulet, a devoted scientist on fusion energy, won the 2020 China International Science and Technology Cooperation Award.

He is one of eight recipients among international scientists, during the 2021 National Science and Technology Award Conference held in Beijing on Nov. 3.

Alain Bécoulet, former director of Institute for Magnetic Fusion Research (IRFM), the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), is now Head of the ITER Engineering Domain.

"It is my great honor, pride and joy,” said Alain from France. This award underlines the core value in his professional career for over 30 years, namely the sharing of scientific and technical knowledge as a universal good of humanity, and a vector of peace and understanding between peoples, according to him.

His first visit to HFIPS can be traced back to 1990 when he came to ASIPP to do research. At that time, he was just an energetic PhD student. It has remained as precious and memorable experience.

Over the past 30 years, Alain has visited China more than 30 times. Deep bond of friendship has been formed.

As international adviser of EAST for 10 years, he gave many valuable and realistic suggestions on the experimental operation of this superconducting tokamak facilities.

Having contributed to the co-foundation of Associated Laboratories CAS-ASIPP/CEA-IRFM and CEA-IRFM with scientists in ASIPP in 2013, he promoted the establishment of the Sino-French Fusion Joint Laboratory, the Sino-French Fusion Joint Research Center, and the installation of the Sino-French consortium in the ITER project.

Thanks for his efforts, the past decade witnessed comprehensive and in-depth cooperation between EAST and WEST, two major fusion devices of China and France.

Alain never stops to promote learning and communication chance for students and researchers of China and France.

A team of French experts organized by him strongly supported the construction of the next generation fusion engineering experimental reactor in China.

"This award recognizes Alain's great contribution to China's fusion energy development," said SONG Yuntao, vice president of Hefei Institutes of physical science (HFIPS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It means high recognition of fusion international cooperation between ASIPP and CEA, China and France.

International Science and Technology Cooperation Award is an award initiated by China's State Council in 1994. It is conferred on foreign individuals or organizations that have made important contribution to China's science and technology development.