A grand ceremony was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan 8 to honor outstanding contributions to scientific and technological innovation, and six Guangdong universities were presented with nine national awards for their outstanding projects.

The annual ceremony honoring outstanding contributions to scientific and technological innovation in China is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan 8. [Photo/Xinhua]

The nine award-winning projects belonged to South China Agricultural University, South China University of Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine and Shenzhen University.

South China Agricultural University stood out at the ceremony, with one of its projects winning the State Natural Science Award and two winning State Scientific and Technological Progress Awards.

Liu Yaoguang, academic of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor at South China Agricultural University, poses for a photo in front of the Great Hall of the People after receiving the State Natural Science Award on Jan 8. [Photo/Southcn.com]

Wu Zhenfang, a professor at South China Agricultural University, poses with his State Scientific and Technological Progress Award certificate at the Great Hall of the People on Jan 8. [Photo/Southcn.com]