The R&D team headed by Dr Yongqiang Zhu is consisted of researchers with credentials of professorship and doctorates, together with researchers from the ACCELE-TECH laboratory centre and postgraduate students under Dr Zhu’s supervision. The team has successfully obtained many patents, among which five are utility patents. The team also has undertaken many disciplinary and cross-disciplinary research projects. Their research project into the in-depth treatment technology of wastewater was awarded in 2011 the Major Program Grant for International Cooperation Fund supported by the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission (Grant No. 11230705000).

Upon the verification of the Shanghai Evaluation Centre of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the said innovation is proven to have revolutionised the conventional technology in treating high salinity wastewater. Its technological excellence ranks a leading position at home and abroad. Furthermore, in 2010, Dr Zhu won the Research Excellence Award of National Science and Technology in the campaign of Aspiration and Contribution, and a Third Prize for the Advancement of Science and Technology by the Municipal Government of Shanghai. The ACCELE-TECH formula of special microbial strains and ACCELE-TECH multiphase catalytic reactor have won the Gold Prize in the Shanghai International Innovation and Invention Exhibition.