Professor WANG Shutao from the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and Professor Wilhelm Barthlott from the University of Bonn, Germany, received the International Bionic Engineering Award - Outstanding Contribution Award jointly on October 17 2026.

The International Bionic Engineering Award is selected every three years by the International Society of Bionic Engineering (ISBE). The Outstanding Contribution Award is to award outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of bionic engineering. It is reserved for just two scholars worldwide in each award cycle, making it one of the field's most distinguished international honours.

Professor Wilhelm Barthlott is internationally recognized as a pioneering figure in biomimetics. He discovered and systematically elucidated the "lotus effect", revealing how the architecture of plant surfaces gives rise to superhydrophobicity and self-cleaning properties. By pioneering the use of scanning electron microscopy to investigate these surface structures, he established a scientific foundation for biomimetic research inspired by plant surfaces. His work has had a lasting impact on materials science, botany and the development of biomimetic surface technologies.

Professor WANG Shutao and his team pioneered the discovery of cell–material interface recognition driven by the synergistic effects of topographical matching and molecular recognition. They established a theoretical framework for cell–material surface recognition and developed a class of cell-adhesive interface materials that enable intelligent and controllable cell adhesion. Building on this discovery, the team developed a technology for capturing rare cancer cells, offering a potential solution to the clinical challenge of early prostate cancer diagnosis in patients with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in the diagnostic "grey zone". The technology has subsequently been incorporated into clinical guidelines, demonstrating the translational potential of their biomimetic research.