ZZU Professor Ravi Silva is honored with 2026 Chinese Government Friendship Award. [Photo/zzu.edu.cn]
Ravi Silva, a professor at Zhengzhou University (ZZU), has been awarded the 2026 Chinese Government Friendship Award. He is one of 50 people nationwide to receive China's highest honor for foreign specialists.
A Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Silva is an internationally recognized scientist in nanomaterials and energy devices. He joined ZZU in 2018 and co-founded the university's journal Energy & Environmental Materials. In 2023, he was elected to the Chinese Academy of Engineering through ZZU's nomination.
Silva has published over 650 papers in leading journals, including Nature and Science, with more than 28,000 citations. His research focuses on nanotechnology and large-area solar photovoltaics. At ZZU, he has played a key role in materials science development, mentored young researchers, and built bridges between Chinese and British universities, helping to bring international expertise to the university.
The Chinese Government Friendship Award, established in 1991, recognizes foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization and international exchange. Seven experts nominated by ZZU have received the award to date.