On 17 March, The Ministry of Science and Technology's High-Tech Research and Development Center unveiled China's Top 10 Scientific Advances. XMU research team's new process to synthesize the key industrial ingredient ethylene glycol, achieved by teams of Professor Xie Suyuan and Professor Yuan Youzhu from the XMU College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering was selected.

China's top 10 scientific advances is held annually since 2010. The goal of China's top 10 scientific advances is to showcase China's latest and biggest achievements in research, encourage Chinese scientists and engineers to work in fundamental research, and promote public awareness.