Professor Kazuhito Nishimura, a foreign member at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was awarded the prestigious 2025 Chinese Government Friendship Award. The award, presented at a ceremony held September 30th at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, recognizes Nishimura's exceptional contributions to China's advancement in cutting-edge materials.

The Chinese Government Friendship Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Chinese government on foreign experts who have made significant contributions to the nation's reform and development. Established in 1991, the award has been given to 2,048 experts, including 50 in the 2025 cohort.

Professor Nishimura, a member of the Japanese Academy of Engineering, is a leading expert in synthetic diamond technology and precision engineering. Over his three-decade career, he has become renowned for his work in ultra-precision diamond cutting tools and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond coatings, particularly for high-efficiency engine sealing technologies.

His research has secured over ten billion yen in funding and generated significant socio-economic benefits over the past twenty years.

He is a three-time recipient of the "Takagi Award" from the Japan Society for Precision Engineering (JSPE).

Since joining NIMTE in 2013, Nishimura has played a pivotal role in advancing China's diamond technology. He spearheaded the development of an independent microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) system for single-crystal diamond growth, enabling industrial-scale production of CVD single-crystal diamonds using domestically developed equipment.

His team also pioneered the preparation equipment and process for 12-inch large-area diamond growth, securing independent intellectual property rights. This led to the establishment of China's first CVD single-crystal diamond production line, with an annual output exceeding two million carats, placing it among the top three globally.

Beyond his technological achievements, Nishimura has actively promoted scientific collaboration between China and Japan and has deeply engaged with China's development. "China's innovative spirit and open-minded approach solidified my decision to make Ningbo my permanent home," said Nishimura.

Now in his sixties, Nishimura continues to lead research into high-end applications of CVD diamonds in thermal management and optical windows, driven by growing global demand.

Prof. Nishimura's story is emblematic of the broader trend at NIMTE—from refining service systems for international talent to constructing global platforms for scientific cooperation, NIMTE is actively embracing global expertise to forge a shared future for humanity.