IISRP chooses Lee, Liquin to receive awards at 2025 annual meeting

HOUSTON—The International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers (IISRP) has named Bowei Lee and Zhang Liqun as winners of the General Award and Technical Award, with official presentations to come during its Annual General Meeting in April 2025.

The institute will recognize Lee with its prestigious IISRP General Award at the April 8 meeting in Dublin, Ireland. Currently serving as chairman of chemical company LCY Group, Lee long been active in the Houston-based association. He co-sponsored the IISRP's AGM in 2017 in Tapei.

Lee, a veteran of the chemical and rubber industries for over two decades, "firmly believes that a better world can only be realized through a strong commitment to sustainability," the institute said in naming him as the General Award nominee. Lee has remained laser focused on sustainability and green energy throughout his career, including his 17-year tenure with the Taiwan Responsible Care Association.

Most recently, Lee has been working to reduce emissions within the LCY Group. The company plans to cut its total emissions by 30 percent before 2030, per its sustainability mission statement. As part of this project, Lee and the group recently constructed a Green R&D Center under U.S. LEED Green Building Rating System standards, further slashing its carbon footprint.

"Mr. Lee's unwavering focus on advancing green elastomer materials development within the LCY Group will further enhance the quality and convenience of everyday life," the institute said. "Mr. Lee is deeply committed to promoting sustainable development and nurturing talent within the materials industry."

Zhang Liqun, currently a professor at Xi'an Jiaotong University in China, also will receive recognition at the IISRP's upcoming meeting. The institute is set to honor Liqun with its Technical Award, citing his contributions to the field of synthetic rubber, along with the overall realm of polymer materials and engineering.

Liqun has received awards around the world for his research and contributions in the SR industry, the institute said. He holds over 200 Chinese patents and Patent Cooperation Treaty patents and also has performed over 100 plenary and invited lectures at international conferences, according to the IISRP.

"Professor Zhang may be considered one of the most outstanding scientists in the field of rubber materials science and engineering worldwide today," the association said. "In China, he is the only member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in the field of rubber materials science and engineering and is the leading academic figure in this field."

The Annual General Meeting of the IISRP, a leading voice in the synthetic rubber industry, will take place on April 7-10 at the Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin hotel. Registration is now open at https://agm.iisrp.com/#registration.