Why 'Resolution Revolution' Pioneer Alexey Amunts Joined Shenzhen SMART
Cryo-EM pioneer Alexey Amunts has joined Shenzhen SMART, leaving Germany's Max Planck. Discover why the 'Resolution Revolution' leader chose China's rapid implementation speed.
A world-renowned scientist is trading German prestige for Shenzhen's legendary speed. Alexey Amunts, the pioneer behind the cryo-electron microscopy 'resolution revolution,' has officially left Germany's Max Planck Institute to join China's Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation (SMART) this month.
The Strategic Impact of Alexey Amunts Joining Shenzhen SMART
According to the South China Morning Post, Amunts is joining the academy as a senior investigator within the Institute of Bio-Architecture and Bio-Interactions (IBABI). His breakthrough work in visualizing life’s molecular machinery at near-atomic resolution earned him the title of a "cell scientist to watch" by the Journal of Cell Science in 2021. Now, he’s set to lead the charge in Shenzhen's burgeoning biotech ecosystem.
Amunts’ decision wasn't just about funding—it was about agility. "Shenzhen adds another dimension; it is a place where ideas do not remain ideas for long," he stated. He emphasized that the city's unique density of talent, manufacturing capacity, and technology makes it "unusually practical" to move from concept to implementation, a pace rarely seen in traditional Western institutions.
From Max Planck to Shenzhen: A New Hub for Basic Science
The move is a major win for Yan Ning, the high-profile scientist who heads SMART. By recruiting a scientist of Amunts’ caliber, China is signaling its ambition to become more than just a manufacturing hub—it wants to lead in fundamental, prize-winning basic research. Amunts will also contribute to the academy's international relations, helping bridge the gap between Chinese innovation and global academic standards.
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