Prof. Caineng Zou, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, currently works at the Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). His research interests include petroleum geology, exploration and energy strategy. He serves as the scientist-in-chief for the new energy at CNPC, and the president of PetroChina Shenzhen Institute for New Energy Research (INER Shenzhen). He is dedicated to establishing and applying unconventional petroleum geology, promoting exploration strategy, and achieving industrial breakthrough. He analyzes the current strategic situation for energy needs and supplies in the world, proposing the "Hydrogen China" and "Energy Independence" strategies in China and the contribution of new energy in carbon neutral. He has published over 260 journal papers and ten books including "Unconventional Petroleum Geology" and "New Energy". He was among the Most Cited Chinese Researchers and the World's Top 2% Scientists.

He has gained several National Prize for Progress in Science and Technology and established four national standards.