Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

46 outstanding scientists from 28 institutions in 13 cities have become the new "new cornerstone researchers". Among them, there are 10 "post-80s", and the youngest is only 38 years old. As one of the most powerful public welfare projects funded by social forces in China, the "New Cornerstone researcher Project" today (October 30) unveiled the list of recipients for the second phase of the project to support the most potential, daring and ambitious scientists "from 0 to 1" to explore the unattainable territory of mankind.

The New Cornerstone researcher Project is a new type of basic research funding project focusing on original innovation, encouraging free exploration and public welfare. In 2022, Tencent announced that it would invest 10 billion yuan in 10 years to support a group of outstanding scientists to devote themselves to basic research and achieve "from 0 to 1" original innovation for a long time. The project sets up two major fields: mathematics and material science, biology and medical science, and encourages interdisciplinary research. The funding categories of "new cornerstone researchers" are divided into two categories: 25 million yuan for each person in the experimental category and 15 million yuan per person in the theoretical category for five years. In January 2023, 58 outstanding scientists became the first "New Cornerstone researchers".

"original innovation is unpredictable and difficult to plan, and the 'unpopular' and 'hot' in basic research are also dynamic. The real original innovation must be made by the smartest, boldest and most original people. So our biggest feature is to choose people rather than projects." Shi Yigong, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, president of West Lake University, and chairman of the Scientific Committee of the New Cornerstone researcher Project, said: "the free exploration of 104 researchers in the two periods will certainly make continuous breakthroughs at the forefront of basic research. to lay a new foundation for the long-term development of Chinese science."

Shi Yigong, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, president of West Lake University and chairman of the Scientific Committee of the New Cornerstone researcher Project, made a speech.

"selecting people but not selecting projects" does not stick to one style to select talents

Adhering to the principle of "better lack than abuse", the second phase of the "New Cornerstone researcher" program funded no more than 50 people, and 46 were actually selected, including 21 in the fields of mathematics and material science and 25 in biological and medical sciences. The average age of the 46 researchers was 47, well below the 55-year-old threshold, including 10 post-80s, with the youngest only 38 (Xue Jinxin, Tsinghua University). Five other women scientists received funding. They come from 28 institutions from 13 cities (including Hong Kong, China). In terms of geographical distribution, cities such as Tianjin, Jinan, Wuhan and Guangzhou are on the list for the first time; in terms of institutions, the distribution of researchers is also more extensive. Liangzhu Laboratory and other new research institutions, Sichuan Agricultural University, Yunnan University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and other universities have "new cornerstone researchers" for the first time. The new phase of researchers confirms the vigor and vitality contained in the rapid development of basic research in China.

In addition, Dr Xu Wendong (Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University), Dr Su Shicheng (Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University) and Dr Huang Xiujuan (School of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong) have been selected as "medical scientists" this year. "Medical scientist" refers to clinicians who independently carry out medical scientific research. They condensed important scientific issues from clinical practice and made important breakthroughs through scientific research.

From the mathematical correlation of sound waves and gravitational waves to quantum enhanced optical telescopes, from biomimetic hydrogenation catalysis to perennial rice, from one side of the brain tube to both hands to efficiently clean up cell waste. The future research plans of the new issue of "New Cornerstone researchers", aiming at the most important scientific issues, are ambitious dreams of exploration.

What makes scientists dare to pursue their dreams is the most distinctive feature of the "New Cornerstone Research Project": "choose people instead of projects." This means that there are no clear research tasks for researchers and no project progress assessment. Support researchers to do challenging and innovative work for a long time and steadily.

The second issue of the New Cornerstone researcher comes from 28 institutions.

Tens of billions of dollars support hundreds of scientists in ten years

At the final site of this year's "New Cornerstone Fellowship Project", most of the respondents had only one page of personal profiles and previous honors in their PPT, and they were more likely to show their ideas and thoughts on scientific issues. Another respondent said shyly, "if I take part in the defense of other projects, I should not say this idea, which is a bit like bragging." but I have been thinking about this question for more than a decade. "

They are evaluated by nearly a thousand first-class scientists who have an international perspective and have experienced the evaluation of large-scale scientific projects at home and abroad. They evaluate the applicants according to the three criteria of 'originality', 'importance' and 'breakthrough'.

The New Cornerstone Fellowship Project adopts a strict avoidance system and "zero tolerance" for any form of misconduct that affects the review process. Wang Zhizhen, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, researcher of the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and chairman of the supervisory committee of the New Cornerstone researcher Project, said: "for more than six months, the scientific committee and the evaluation committee have carried out rigorous and meticulous work, and the evaluation experts have conscientiously followed the selection criteria to carry out academic evaluation and strictly implement the avoidance system. The Supervisory Committee believes that the evaluation of the second phase of the New Cornerstone Fellowship Project is objective and impartial and meets the requirements of the project charter. "

Wang Zhizhen, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, researcher of the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the New Cornerstone researcher Project, made a speech on the spot.

As a young research-funded project, the New Cornerstone Fellowship Project is also being optimized. In terms of the review mechanism, 100% of overseas peer reviews were conducted during the preliminary examination stage this year. Pan Jianwei, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, executive vice president of the University of Science and Technology of China, and member of the scientific committee of the "New Cornerstone researcher Project", said: "the project review is divided into preliminary screening, preliminary examination, and final adjudication, and we have implemented a 'disconnected review'. Avoid the same group of experts' evaluation to the end. Therefore, in the preliminary screening and final trial stage of the project, it is mainly carried out by domestic experts, while the preliminary trial stage is carried out by overseas experts, hoping to reflect diversified scientific taste to the greatest extent in this way, while avoiding the influence of human interests and other relationships.

The same optimization is also reflected in the adjustment of the project opening cycle. Shi Yigong said that the "New Cornerstone Research Program" will be opened for two consecutive years in 2022 and 2023, and applications for the third phase of the "New Cornerstone Research Program" will be opened in 2025.

"after years of efforts, China has accumulated a number of outstanding scientists who explore freely in the field of basic research. therefore, the new Cornerstone Fellowship Program was opened continuously in 2022 and 2023 at the beginning of its establishment, responding to the expectations of the scientific community. After two selections, 104 people were selected. After careful discussion and summing up experience by the Scientific Committee, respecting the law of the growth of scientific talents, and adhering to the high standard of being selected as a researcher, the new cornerstone fellowship program plans to open its applications to the scientific community in 2025, and form a long-term system of opening every two years. We believe that such an arrangement is more in line with the original intention and intention of the support of the New Cornerstone Fellowship Project. " According to reports, as of October 2023, Tencent has donated 10 billion yuan in cash to the New Cornerstone Science Foundation and will support 200 to 300 outstanding scientists through the "New Cornerstone Research Project" within 10 years. "

The representative of the Science and Technology Commission answered the reporter's questions on the spot.

Give full play to the flexibility of social funds

Some people have bought desired scientific equipment, some have recruited excellent research assistants, and some have organized top international academic exchanges. With the funding of the project, the researchers are working hard.

The flexibility of social funds is reflected not only in encouraging scientists to put forward dreams, but also in the intensity of funding and high degree of free control in implementation, giving researchers complete control over scientific research resources and the right to choose research routes. everything starts from the actual needs of scientific research work and the objective laws of basic research. " The new cornerstone researcher project "give full play to the advantage of the flexibility of social funds, explore to become a useful supplement to basic research supported by the state, and create a stable scientific research environment for researchers to" sharpen a sword for ten years ".

In addition to financial support, the New Cornerstone Fellowship Project also provides researchers with new opportunities for interdisciplinary and cross-regional scientific exchanges and cooperation. In September 2023, the first "New Cornerstone Science Conference" was held, which is a private academic event centered on "New Cornerstone researchers", at which researchers share their scientific ideas and even unpublished work. Hu Hailan, the first "new cornerstone researcher" who attended the meeting, said that the project is not only financial support, but also the creation of a free, open and cooperative scientific research environment.

"the next 10 to 20 years will be a critical period for China's scientific and technological development. The leap from quantity accumulation to quality is inseparable from the breakthrough of basic research from 0 to 1." Ma Huateng, chairman and CEO of Tencent, said, "therefore, through the 'New Cornerstone researcher Project', we support a group of outstanding scientists to devote themselves to basic research, focus on original innovation, and respond to the needs of national development. ultimately contribute to the promotion of human well-being."

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