Recently, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (hereinafter referred to as the "Natural Science Foundation of China") accepted a free donation of RMB 500 million for Tencent to fund basic research projects (doctoral student projects), mainly to support female funders in the doctoral student projects, the western region, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

This is another youth-friendly funding signal released by the National Science Foundation of China since its long-term exploration of diversified investment mechanisms. Dou Xiankang, Secretary of the Party Group and Director of the Natural Science Foundation of China, said that the development of basic research cannot be separated from the support of all sectors of society. The Natural Science Foundation of China will further strengthen interactive cooperation with Tencent in talent training, project funding, international cooperation, etc., give full play to the demonstration effect, and attract more high-tech enterprises and social forces to invest in scientific research.

The last important event of the Natural Science Foundation exploring diversified investment was in March 2024. The institution accepted social donations for the first time - the Xiaomi Charity Foundation donated 100 million yuan to the Natural Science Foundation. That time, it was also aimed at young people, and the funds were used to fund the National Natural Science Foundation of China's basic research project for young students.

Why did the two basic research injected into social funds to young people?

At the two signing ceremonies, representatives of the enterprise expressed their high attention to young scientific and technological talents. Lei Jun, founder, chairman and CEO of Xiaomi Group, said that Xiaomi Group is committed to becoming a global leader in the new generation of hard-core technology. Scientific research is the cornerstone and young talents are hope. Xiaomi will continue to support the construction and development of the young talent team. Xi Dan, senior vice president and chief talent officer of Tencent, said that strengthening support for young people is an important link and direction of efforts in Tencent's scientific research public welfare funding system.

The National Science Foundation of China, as one of the main forces in scientific research funding in my country, is the main source of competitive funds for my country's basic research researchers. The institution not only needs to help the country select valuable scientific research projects and talents through funding, but also shoulders the mission of talent cultivation.

Dou Xiankang introduced that in recent years, the National Science Foundation of China has implemented the strategic layout of the integrated promotion of education and science and technology talents, and has focused on building a systematic basic research talent training platform to form a more complete funding system and scientific research ecosystem, which has released a policy-oriented signal for young scientific and technological talents.

On the one hand, coordinate resource allocation, increase project deployment for young talents, strengthen stable and continuous funding for outstanding young talents, set up a single track for young talents in team projects, give them more opportunities to shoulder the main points and shoulder heavy responsibilities, and lay a solid foundation for building a team of high-level basic research talents.

On the other hand, reshape the talent funding pattern, continue to promote the reform of the review and evaluation mechanism, deeply manage the "hat" problem of talent projects, break the bad habit of seniority, get rid of the original solidified path dependence, and strive to create a good atmosphere conducive to young scientific and technological talents to sit on the "cold bench" and devote themselves to scientific research.

"We must place the cultivation of young talents in a more prominent position, adopt a more direct and powerful funding model, and invest valuable scientific and technological resources on the most innovative and dynamic front-line scientific researchers, providing 'sourceful water' for the development of China's basic research talent team." Dou Xiankang said.