The Research on the Technology Foresight of China's Engineering Science and Technologies Toward 2040 is jointly organized by the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. As an important component of the research on China's engineering science and technology development strategy to 2040, it aims to predict the general trend of scientific and technological development and clarifying the key engineering science and technologies and development directions that may yield major breakthroughs. To improve the forward-looking and scientific nature of the technology foresight, this study evaluates the effectiveness of the technology foresight from two aspects: application of the technology foresight methodology and impact of the foresight results. Following the idea of emphasizing demand traction and vision drive as well as combining expert judgment and multi-source big data intelligent analysis, this study designed a methodology system, developed the intelligent Support System (iSS) for strategic studies on engineering science and technology, and constructed a standardized process centered on experts, supported by data, and facilitated by interaction, thus to push forward the implementation of the technology foresight. The study has formed a list of alternative technologies containing over 900 items in 11 fields, conducted two rounds of Delphi expert surveys, and proposed 110 domain core technologies, 25 key common technologies, and 21 disruptive technologies, thereby providing an important support for the research on China's engineering science and technology development strategy to 2040.

Currently, global technological innovation is unprecedentedly intensive and active, and the forms of technology and industry are undergoing systematic changes. Disruptive and systemic innovations in engineering science and technology have become the focus of strategic competition. Based on the development demand for engineering science and technology in China and the world trends of engineering science and technology development, this study proposes a strategic research method system that consists of economic forecasting, demand analysis, technology foresight, vision analysis, strategic architecture, technology roadmap, and policy selection. The study also predicts the economic and social development trends in China by 2040 and depicts nine visions of Chinese society in 2040. Based on the strategic research on the development of engineering science and technology in major fields, an overall strategic concept of engineering science and technology development is proposed centering on the nine visions, which involves promoting information technologies, reshaping the energy system, innovating industrial science and technologies, constructing the future cities, developing the blue economy, revitalizing agriculture and the rural areas, safeguarding the health of all the people, building a beautiful China, and constructing a safe China. An overall two-stage roadmap for engineering science and technology development between now and 2040 is also proposed. At the first stage, it is necessary to strengthen the industrial foundation and chain, achieve international leadership in major fields of engineering science and technology, and develop new areas and technologies with core competitiveness. At the second stage, it is suggested to focus on security, resilience, and original innovation and build a new technological ecosystem.

Promoting the low-carbon and intelligent development of the metallurgical industry and establishing a low-carbon metallurgical industry system are crucial for ensuring national metal resource and energy security, strengthening the manufacturing sector, and supporting carbon reduction and ecological construction in China. Based on a global perspective, the metallurgical industry of China is still at a stage of low-end manufacturing. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct the top-level design to boost China's strength in metallurgical development, integrating the independent control of metal resources, intelligent manufacturing, environmental protection, and national security maintenance as an organic whole. This study summarizes the frontiers and development trends of metallurgical engineering science and technology worldwide, analyzes the development vision of metallurgical engineering science and technology in China, and proposes medium- and long-term strategic measures for China's metallurgical engineering technology development toward 2040, involving general development ideas, key strategic tasks, and main technology development directions. Furthermore, the following countermeasures are proposed: (1) developing disruptive technologies in the metallurgical field in advance, (2) integrating the industrial and innovation chains of the metallurgical industry, (3) building a sophisticated talent system, (4) improving the policy and standards systems, and (5) constructing driving forces for core technology development.

Airborne geophysical exploration is an important and rapid method for mineral prospecting. China's airborne geophysical exploration technology has made great progress in the 21st century. However, existing technologies and equipment can hardly satisfy the new demand for key prospecting technologies and equipment for deep-Earth and deep-sea exploration in the new round of mineral prospecting breakthroughs in China. Focusing on the high-quality development of airborne geophysical exploration technologies in China, this study summarizes the development status of these technologies in China and abroad, evaluates the technological competition and development trends, and analyzes the major challenges faced by China in this field. Considering the new changes, characteristics, and trends of scientific and technological development, this study proposes a development roadmap of China's airborne geophysics exploration technologies, aiming at frontier technologies, such as superconducting sensors, full-tensor airborne-gravity gradient, full-tensor aeromagnetic gradient, multi-field-source full-depth airborne electromagnetism, and airborne seismic survey, as well as practical technologies urgently needed for the new round of mineral prospecting breakthroughs. Given the weaknesses in frontier research capability, technical adaptability, and innovation foundation, it is proposed to establish a national innovation center for airborne geophysical technologies, conduct the research and development of the fourth-generation airborne geophysical exploration technology, and build an integrated development system for airborne geophysical technical equipment.

China's marine equipment application technologies have developed rapidly in recent years; however, basic technologies remain weak. Accelerating the breakthroughs of key basic technologies for marine equipment is crucial for enhancing the marine strength of China. This study analyzes the development demand of China for marine equipment, summarizes the essence of key basic technologies of marine equipment, and clarifies the global frontiers and development trends of marine equipment technologies from three aspects: marine transportation equipment, marine resource development equipment, and marine scientific research equipment. Moreover, it reviews the development status and major problems of China's marine equipment technologies, identifies ten key basic technologies that have a significant impact on the marine equipment industry, and outlines the development goals, roadmap, and key tasks of these key basic technologies. Safeguard measures are further proposed, including (1) emphasizing basic technology research for marine equipment to strengthen the top-level design for innovation, (2) advancing the construction of a multi-dimensional collaborative innovation system for the key basic technologies, and (3) promoting the globalization of China-led marine technologies and equipment.

Safety is the basis of human survival and development. Building a higher level of Peaceful China is crucial for achieving high-quality development in the new stage. This study aims to look forward to the long-term goals by 2040, thus to support the conception of development strategies as well as the deployment of engineering science and technology projects for the construction of public safety. Considering the new situations and technologies, this study analyzes the development status and the state-of-the-art level of public security science and technologies worldwide. Focusing on the aspects of natural disaster prevention, accident disaster prevention, safe and resilient cities, and comprehensive emergency management, this study analyzes the development needs of public safety science and technologies in China. Based on this, it proposes the idea, strategic objectives, and an overall framework for the development of public safety science and technologies in China and summarizes the development directions, covering key engineering tasks, basic research directions, and major engineering projects. With regard to the path of scientific and technological development in the field of public safety in China, development proposals are made in terms of policy and research systems.