Youth blazes like fire, chasing dreams!

On the morning of July 5, 2026, the GEM 2026 Fresh Graduate Elite Training Program opening ceremony was grandly held at the Jingmen Industrial Park. Dr. Zhang Kun, Senior Deputy General Manager of GEM, President of the Central Research Institute, and General Manager of the Jingmen Industrial Park, delivered the opening address. Over 180 new GEM hires from the Class of 2026 gathered in Jingmen to participate in the ceremony. The trainees of this Elite Training Program come from renowned universities both domestically and internationally, spanning multiple disciplines including materials, metallurgy, chemical engineering, machinery, electrical engineering, and management. Their arrival injects fresh blood into the company and will soon become a new driving force on GEM's journey toward building a world-class low-carbon industrial leader.

▲ Scene from the GEM 2026 Fresh Graduate Elite Training Program Opening Ceremony

During the check-in period prior to the ceremony, the new hires had already completed military training and an ice-breaking orientation organized by the company. On the fertile ground of Jingmen’s circular economy, they unleashed the vitality and passion of youth, completing their first lesson of transition—from campus students to new GEM members—through sweat and teamwork.

Before the opening ceremony, the 2026 Fresh Graduate Elites embarked on a circular economy journey that spanned the entire value chain of “Urban Mines – Circular Regeneration – High-End Manufacturing – Green Future.” Starting from the National “Urban Mining” Museum, passing through the National Engineering Research Center for Electronic Waste Recycling and the Key Laboratory of National Energy Metal Resources and New Materials, the new hires gained an intuitive understanding of GEM’s green philosophy of “Limited Resources, Unlimited Recycling,” and witnessed GEM’s world-class innovation capabilities. They then visited core production bases including the Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries & Battery Scrap Resource Recycling Center, the Electrolytic Nickel Manufacturing Center, the Tungsten Resource Recycling Center, the Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese Ternary Raw Material Remanufacturing Center, the Ultra-High-Nickel Ternary Precursor Manufacturing Center, and the High-Nickel Cathode Material Manufacturing Center. There, they witnessed first-hand the complete transformation of critical metal mineral resources—from green and efficient recovery to core materials for new energy batteries—and experienced GEM’s industrial miracle of turning “waste” into “treasure.”

▲ 2026 Fresh Graduate Elites visit the National “Urban Mines” Museum

At the opening ceremony, on behalf of Professor Xu Kaihua, Founder and Chairman of GEM, Dr. Zhang Kun delivered an opening address titled “Setting Sail for a Green Future.” He first expressed gratitude to the trainees’ alma maters and families for nurturing their growth and for sending outstanding talent to GEM, and thanked the trainees for entrusting their first career step to the company. “GEM thanks you for your choice, and we will not let you down,” Dr. Zhang Kun said with emotion.

▲ Dr. Zhang Kun, Senior Deputy General Manager of GEM, President of the Central Research Institute, and General Manager of the Jingmen Industrial Park, delivers the opening address

As a “veteran” who joined GEM as a fresh graduate eleven years ago, Dr. Zhang Kun shared four valuable pieces of workplace advice based on his own growth experience: first, adopt a beginner's mindset and take root at the grassroots level; second, strengthen continuous learning and strive for ongoing improvement; third, respect and learn humbly from senior colleagues; and fourth, cultivate a sense of commitment to the nation and society, and strive to make meaningful contributions. Dr. Zhang Kun's address resonated deeply with the new hires, who took his words to heart and benefited greatly, eliciting warm applause from the audience.

Subsequently, Dr. Zhang Kun delivered the first session of the onboarding course for all new employees, titled “Green Mission – Building a World-Class Enterprise.” Starting from GEM's entrepreneurial origins—born from a green dream—he systematically elaborated on the company's strategic layout against the backdrop of intensifying global competition for critical minerals and the accelerating restructuring of industrial and supply chains, emphasizing deep engagement in urban mining, breakthrough innovations in circular regeneration technologies, and the construction of a “full life-cycle value chain for nickel-cobalt-tungsten resources and the new energy industry.” Dr. Zhang Kun noted that GEM has remained steadfast for twenty-five years in practicing the industrial philosophy of “Limited Resources, Unlimited Recycling,” achieving self-sufficiency in critical minerals through circular regeneration and driving the world's new energy industry “from green to green.” This, he said, is the foundation of GEM’s confidence in building a “world-class enterprise,” and the historic mission that every young GEM member should shoulder.

During the interactive session, Dr. Zhang Kun posed a series of questions on industry developments and technological frontiers, encouraging the elite trainees to think proactively and respond enthusiastically. On topics such as “How to address the challenges of China’s critical mineral resource scarcity,” “Whether ternary materials will be replaced by lithium iron phosphate,” and “Who should take the lead in innovation—enterprises or universities,” the trainees shared their views based on their academic backgrounds and site visit experiences, creating a lively atmosphere.

▲ 2026 Fresh Graduate Elites actively participate in the discussion

At the subsequent senior colleagues’ sharing session, outstanding former employees representatives shared their personal experiences and valuable insights on topics including role transition, adapting to new living habits, adjusting to industry entry mindsets, and learning and growth in the workplace—with sincerity and candor. From R&D practice to intellectual property, one real story after another outlined a clear growth path from novice to seasoned professional, providing the new hires with a referential career development framework. At GEM, “Investing in talent is investing in the future” is not just a slogan—it is a commitment validated by the footsteps of every predecessor.

▲ Scene from the senior colleagues’ sharing session

Under the bright moonlight and deepening night, Chairman Xu Kaihua engaged in an energetic virtual interaction with the 2026 Elites from over 70 universities that evening. Chairman Xu Kaihua warmly welcomed the new outstanding talents to join GEM and devote themselves to the urban mining and new energy circular industry. He encouraged all the new elites: “Gallop forward, set sail on the new journey of green circulation; grow strong and create a brilliant life of infinite possibilities!” The trainees responded with great enthusiasm, deeply reflecting on the contemporary value of the resource recycling industry and sharing their green development aspirations. All the new elites declared with passion their determination to become GEM’s “New Green Partners,” pledging to build a green future with boundless energy!

In the coming days, the 2026 Fresh Graduate Elites will embark on a 50-day training program: an intensive training session in Jingmen to refine their thinking and build a solid foundation, with systematic study of the company’s key policies, corporate culture, and core businesses; study tours to the Wuxi, Taixing, Shenzhen, and Wuhan industrial parks to experience first-hand GEM’s nation-wide industrial presence and innovation vitality; an expansion training program in Wuhan to strengthen resilience and build team cohesion; and a subsequent 30-day global on-the-job internship, immersing themselves in production lines and grounding themselves at the grassroots level, closely integrating theory with practice. Throughout the training, in addition to lectures by GEM senior management and business leaders, industry masters will be invited to bring cutting-edge perspectives, helping everyone expand their cognitive horizons through knowledge iteration. Finally, all the elites will return to the Jingmen Industrial Park for a summary and report, fully equipped with knowledge and fully prepared, ready to depart for global positions across GEM’s various parks, shining on the broad stage of the green and low-carbon cause.

The year 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of GEM’s founding and a pivotal year for the company’s march toward the goal of becoming a “hundred-billion-level world-class green industrial leader.” At GEM’s 2026 Annual Strategy Seminar on Incremental Growth and Operational Excellence, Chairman Xu Kaihua emphasized: “Investing in talent is investing in the future. Invest in people first, then in production capacity.” Talent is the fundamental force that enables GEM to navigate market cycles and win in global competition.

It is our hope that the 2026 Fresh Graduate Elites will embrace challenges with the spirit of “daring to transform the world,” cultivate their green dreams with the determination to “seize the day and live up to their youth,” and gallop forward on the new journey of green circulation. On GEM’s new journey to become a world-class enterprise, they will strive to become leaders in global green development, pioneers of the low-carbon era, and core players in the new energy industry—growing strong and creating a brilliant life of infinite possibilities!

Investing in talent is investing in the future; empowering talent is empowering GEM. Twenty-five years on the green journey, a new generation of GEM members is on the way!