It is important to keep the "strength to weight ratio" in mind. It is also important to consider how they measure "strength". Is it compressive strength? Strength in tension? Resistance to deformation in torsion?
There are many different measures of "strength" depending on what loads are expected in a part.
They have come up with a 3D printing technology that allows them to engineer metallurgical structure at the sub micron level to create and engineered micro structure of titanium alloys not processable by conventional metal working technology. . This allows them to do some very interesting things and the technology scales up to practical components surprising well.
This has been in the works for quite some time, but it looks like many of the disparate path critical technologies are coming together in practical implementation. What is not clear is how other material properties are effected in the process.
Ma Qian is a fairly brilliant researcher.
A high strength-to-weight ratio means nothing if the strength is not adequate for practical application.
To be of practical use, a material must first be strong enough for that use, regardless of weight… then and only then does minimizing the weight become an advantage.
For example, an ant’s strength-to-weight ratio is orders of magnitude greater than a horse’s. However, that does NOT mean we can put an ant’s strength to any practical use.