Publication of excellent young scholar election results of National Natural Science Foundation

          Pursuant to the information released by the National Natural Science Foundation, in the project application period from March 1 to 20, 2018, this Foundation received 214,867 project applications totally, and accepted 211,462 applications through preliminary examination and reexamination. Pursuant to the Regulation of National Natural Science Foundation, the management regulation for relevant project of the Foundation and the review comments of experts, this Foundation decided to fund 41,250 projects, including 18,947 general projects, 701 significant projects, 1 major project, 106 significant international (regional) cooperative research projects, 17,671 projects of the Science Fund for Young Scholars, 400 projects of the National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars, 38 innovative research group projects, 102 cooperative research foundation projects of overseas and Hong Kong & Macao scholars, 2,937 projects of regional science foundations, 261 projects of partial joint foundations (NSAF, Joint Research Fund in Astronomy, Joint Scientific Research Foundation for Large Scientific Devices, Joint Research Foundation for Civil Aviation and Joint Foundation for Iron & Steel Research), and 86 national significant scientific instrument R&D projects (free application). The rest projects are being reviewed.

           For the medical researchers, the Foundation may pay more attention to the financing of life science and medical science. Before introducing the financing of the two fields, it is necessary to know the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars and the National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars which have become two most important steps in the talent team in China, the objective of almost every young or middle-aged scholar, and the talent project for which the scientific research institutes compete.

          The National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars is a scientific foundation especially established to urge the growth of young scientists and technicians, encourage the overseas scholars to return home and quicken the cultivation of a group of excellent academic leaders who will enter the world technology frontier. About 200 excellent young scholars are funded every year; normally, each scholar is funded by 0.8~1 million Yuan every year in the 4-year research period.

           The National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars established in 2012 is a preliminary technology support branch of the National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars, and has established the effective links with the Science Fund for Young Scholars and the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars to urge the rapid growth of innovative young talents. This Fund mainly supports the young scientific and technological scholars who have had the 5~10-year scientific research experience and acquired some scientific research achievements, and gives supports to about 400 excellent young scholars every year, normally 1.3 million Yuan directly to every scholar.

          Among the projects of National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars that have been published this year, 53 scholars related to life science and medical science are funded, accounting for more than 1/4 of total number of funded scholars; among the projects of the National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars, 95 scholars related to life science and medical science are funded, accounting for nearly 1/4 of total number of funded scholars.