The International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC) has announced its Fellow list for 2023–26. Academician Duan Guangren of Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) has been elected for his outstanding contributions to the concept of high-order fully actuated systems and the parametric design methodology of control systems. Among the 25 scholars selected worldwide, Duan is the only Fellow from China.
Founded in 1957, IFAC is a global academic organization composed of national member societies. The IFAC Fellow title, established in 2005, is one of the highest honors in the field of automatic control. It is awarded every three years to a select group of scientists and engineers in recognition of their outstanding achievements.
Duan is a professor at HIT's School of Astronautics and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), and the Chinese Association of Automation (CAA).
He currently leads several major projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and has previously served in key national and academic leadership roles, including the convener of the State Council's Discipline Evaluation Group for Control Science and Engineering. His research focuses on the parametric design of control systems and applications in aerospace and robotics.
Duan has also established the Technical Committee on Fully Actuated System Theory and Applications under both the Chinese Association of Automation and the Asian Control Association.
He initiated the International Conference on Fully Actuated System Theory and Applications (FASTA), which has become a high-profile event after four editions. His team has twice won the Second Prize of the National Natural Science Award and once the Special Prize of the Heilongjiang Provincial Natural Science Award, with achievements recognized among the “Top Ten Scientific Advances in Chinese Universities”.
Academician Duan Guangren delivers a speech at an international conference. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]