湖南省自然科学基金立项数创新高 青年人才担纲基础研究主力

Core Insights - Hunan Province is significantly increasing its investment in basic research, with the total number of projects and funding for the 2026 Natural Science Fund reaching a historical high of 4,556 projects [1] - The ability of young scientific talents in Hunan to undertake major national tasks has notably improved, with a record of 10 approved A-class projects and 20 B-class projects in 2025, marking a continuous growth over three years [1] - The funding system has been optimized to support various disciplines, with a focus on cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and quantum information [1] Funding and Support Mechanisms - Since the 14th Five-Year Plan, the average funding rate for youth talent projects has remained above 60%, with innovative measures to create a comprehensive training pathway for young scholars [2] - The annual number of provincial youth A and B class projects has been stabilized at 100, with age limits for applications being adjusted to broaden support [2] - A "Youth Student Basic Research Project" was piloted in 2024, expanding its coverage to 14 full-time undergraduate institutions by 2025, establishing an early research training system from undergraduate to doctoral levels [2] Collaborative Funding Initiatives - Hunan has established 53 joint funds to broaden the funding pool and nurture talent, successfully leveraging over 200 million yuan in social funds alongside a provincial financial input of over 50 million yuan for the 2026 projects [3] - The government aims to enhance the basic research funding system, focusing on the collaborative configuration of projects, platforms, and talent to stimulate innovation and achieve original research outcomes [3]