Group 1 - The "Science Exploration Award" is the highest monetary youth science talent funding project in China, providing each of the 50 awarded scientists with a total of 3 million yuan over five years [1][2] - The award has funded 347 scientists over the past seven years, with a notable increase in younger recipients, including 6 "post-90s" scientists [2][5] - The research areas of this year's awardees include cutting-edge fields such as artificial retinal light sensitivity repair, non-Abelian anyon generation and manipulation, and searching for life markers in Martian rock paint [3][4] Group 2 - China's basic research funding is projected to reach 249.7 billion yuan in 2024, a growth of over 70% compared to 2020, with significant achievements in quantum technology, life sciences, and material sciences [1][6] - The current funding structure shows that most basic research funding comes from the central government, with relatively low contributions from enterprises and society [1][6] - Major companies like Tencent, Alibaba, and Xiaomi are increasingly involved in funding basic research, providing a more flexible and long-term financial support model [6][7] Group 3 - The "Future Science Prize," established in 2016, rewards outstanding scientific achievements in mainland China and has awarded 46 scientists to date [6] - The "Damo Academy Qicheng Award" by Alibaba aims to discover and support young scientists under 35, with each recipient receiving 1 million yuan [7] - Recent tax incentives have been introduced to encourage enterprises to invest in basic research, allowing for tax deductions on contributions to non-profit research institutions and universities [8]

Core Viewpoint - The "Science Exploration Award," funded by Tencent, is one of the highest monetary awards for young scientific talent in China, providing 300 million yuan over five years to each of the 50 awardees, with a notable increase in younger recipients this year [1][6][9]. Group 1: Award Overview - The "Science Exploration Award" has funded 347 scientists over seven years, with each awardee receiving a total of 300 million yuan over five years [5][9]. - This year's awardees include 13 young scientists and 6 recipients from the "90s generation," reflecting a focus on nurturing younger talent [6][8]. - The award aims to support original research in cutting-edge fields, aligning with national scientific needs [8]. Group 2: Funding Landscape - China's basic research funding is projected to reach 249.7 billion yuan in 2024, a 70% increase from 2020, but is primarily sourced from government funding, with corporate and social contributions being relatively low [3][11][13]. - Various private awards, such as the "Future Science Prize" and "Damo Academy Orange Prize," have been established by entrepreneurs to support scientific research, indicating a growing trend of private sector involvement in basic research funding [3][13][14]. - The introduction of tax incentives for corporate contributions to basic research aims to encourage more private investment in this area [14][15]. Group 3: Research Focus and Challenges - Awardees' research spans diverse fields, including artificial retinal light sensitivity repair and the search for life indicators in Martian rocks, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches in basic research [8][9]. - Young scientists face challenges in pursuing original research due to the inherent uncertainties and long return cycles associated with basic research [8][9]. - The "Science Exploration Award" aims to provide a supportive environment for young researchers, allowing them to focus on innovative projects without the pressure of immediate commercial returns [8][9].

Core Points - The "Scientific Exploration Award" is one of the highest monetary awards for young scientific talent in China, providing each of the 50 awardees with a total of 3 million yuan over five years [4][5] - The award ceremony held on September 20 showcased a younger cohort of winners, including six individuals born in the 1990s, with research spanning various cutting-edge fields [1][5] - China's basic research funding is projected to reach 249.7 billion yuan in 2024, reflecting a growth of over 70% since 2020, although the majority of funding still comes from the central government [9][10] Funding and Awards - The "Scientific Exploration Award," established in 2018, is funded by Tencent and managed by the New Cornerstone Science Foundation, focusing on original scientific research [4][10] - Other notable awards include the "Future Science Prize" and the "Damo Academy Qicheng Award," which have been established by prominent entrepreneurs to support young scientists [10][11] - In 2022, the Chinese government introduced tax incentives to encourage corporate investment in basic research, aiming to diversify funding sources [12] Research Focus - This year's awardees are engaged in innovative research areas such as artificial retinal light sensitivity restoration, the generation and manipulation of non-Abelian anyons, and the search for life indicators in Martian rock paints [6][7] - The increase in young awardees aligns with the introduction of a "New Star Quota" aimed at recognizing emerging scientists [5][6] - The research outcomes of past awardees have been recognized in top international journals, with 11 researchers' work included in the "Top Ten Scientific Advances in China" [7][10]