China’s top young scientists rewarded with exponential growth in research grants

With US$3.8 million over 15 years for the best 10 per cent of young researchers, updated scheme will ‘cultivate leading talent’

But some in the scientific community are concerned that the expanded Distinguished Science Youth Fund will entrench funding inequalities

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The National Natural Science Foundation of China is offering up to US$3.8 million in research funding to the country’s most exceptional young scientists. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 6:00am, 9 Nov 2023Updated: 11:06am, 9 Nov 2023

China’s best and brightest young scientists will get a significant long-term funding boost with the government offering up to 28 million yuan (US$3.8 million) over 15 years to support their research.

The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), which funds most basic research, is extending and expanding its 4 million yuan talent scheme, offering five-year grants that will increase exponentially each term.

From 2024, the Distinguished Science Youth Fund recipients whose funding ended last year will be assessed and rated, with the top 20 per cent eligible for a further five-year grant of 8 million yuan, the NSFC said on Monday.

Half of those eligible will go on to receive a third five-year grant of 16 million yuan, bringing total support for the top 10 per cent of China’s young scientists to 28 million yuan.

The exponential growth in research funding will “concentrate superior resources to cultivate high-level leading talents”, the NSFC said, without elaborating.

It is widely accepted internationally that the investment required to move discoveries out of the lab and into daily lives grows faster over time.