By LI Linxu

Organizations or individuals, from both home and abroad, are encouraged to set up sci-tech awards, particularly the high-level and specialized awards in the key disciplines and fields, according to a policy recently released by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).

The awards targeted at young or female sci-tech personnel or those conducting researches in the fields of basic research or frontier sci-tech, are also greatly welcomed.

To guide their healthy development, the policy laid out a series of management rules and regulations.

Sci-tech awards set up by social forces have become an important part of sci-tech awards systems with Chinese characteristics, said an official from MOST, adding that these awards have played a positive role in stimulating innovation vitality of sci-tech personnel.

The award ceremony of the 17th Chinese Young Women in Science Award held in Beijing on July 15, 2022. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

In recent years, sci-tech awards set up by social forces have witnessed continuous growth in China. Statistics show that, to date, there are 297 such awards, including Future Science Prize, Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation Award, Li Siguang Geological Science Award, Hua Luogeng Mathematics Prize, and Zhou Peiyuan Mechanics Award.

Compared with well-known state sci-tech awards funded by public expenditure, such as the State Natural Science Award, the State Technological Invention Award, and the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award, sci-tech awards set up by social forces have diverse fund sources, flexible award cycle periods, and dedicated coverage scope, which can help meet the needs of talent incentives at various levels.

The evaluation orientation of sci-tech awards set up by social forces should focus on the quality of, performance of, and contribution to sci-tech innovation, with emphasis on the scientists or first line sci-tech personnel who have made the original innovation, according to the policy.

The administrative department of science and technology under the State Council is responsible for the guidance, supervision, and administration of such awards at national or international level, while those regional awards will be guided, supervised and administrated by local administrative departments of science and technology, as per the policy.