基金委 z-bio 2025-07-03 2994

　　"This technology is the commanding height of global competition, and our related discoveries have achieved the world's first." "I hope to understand the principles in 5 to 10 years and realize industrial application in 10 to 15 years." "We have formed a good foundation for cross-cooperation research and will continue to serve this topic with our respective strengths."...

　　Recently, the reporter saw at the 2025 National Natural Science Foundation Innovation Research Group Project Review Site that unlike the applicants in previous years, most of them were senior experts, the defense stage was full of young faces without exception. They confidently introduced scientific research projects facing the forefront of the world and major needs of the country.

　　Over the past 20 years since its establishment, the Science Foundation Innovation Research Group Project has strongly supported a group of outstanding academic leaders to independently form and lead the research team to carry out innovative basic research. However, the funding intensity of science fund team projects is high, and there is a certain degree of "seniority ranking". Compared with the large team led by "big bull", it is difficult for excellent young teams to have the opportunity to receive funding.

　　Starting this year, the National Natural Science Foundation of China has set up a track in innovative research group projects, specifically supporting young scientific research teams under 40 years old, providing them with the opportunity to undertake important projects as soon as possible and promoting their early standout.

　　"The number of applications received by the new track is nearly twice that of the traditional track, far exceeding expectations!" said the head of the Planning and Policy Bureau of the National Science Foundation of China, "The average age of team members is 37 years old, of which '90s' accounted for 30%. This shows that the reform responds to the concerns of young people, and also shows that there are a large number of excellent teams in my country's youth science and technology team with strong strength, great potential and greater breakthroughs."

　　An expert in the review used "timely rain" to describe this reform: "I have also come from this stage and empathized with the needs and difficulties of young scientific researchers. They have the ability and ideas, but lack teams and funds to achieve it. If they can carry out cross-research under major goals, the motivation and success rate of scientific research will be higher."

　　"Why did you choose this research direction? Is there any evidence to support your academic hypothesis?"

　　"What are the advantages of your new route compared to the existing technical route?"

　　"Don't just apply for answering questions, please let other members of the team talk about them in combination with their respective research."

　　……

　　During the expert questioning session, the review experts successively raised sharp and inspiring questions, focusing on examining the applicant's academic macro-grasp ability and leadership, and from time to time throwing the questions to every participant in the team. On the stage, the application team carefully recorded the experts' questions and answered them one by one.

　　"A total of 650 scientific research teams submitted applications, and finally selected 31 to provide support. It is necessary to ensure that truly excellent teams are selected. Experts generally report that there are many projects that are comparable to or even better than traditional tracks." The head of a science department of the National Science Foundation of China told reporters that from the preliminary communication review to on-site defense, the review experts will check whether all members of the team have real talents and knowledge to prevent the phenomenon of "hiking" and "platter". At the same time, under the same circumstances, lean towards teams that lack funding and are more cutting-edge and cross-cutting.

　　"This project is a valuable platform, giving us the opportunity to work together to implement the ideas we have been brewing for a long time." After leaving the defense site, four members of a youth team were still excited. "We came from different colleges and universities, all of which were independent small research groups. We did not dare to apply for such large projects with interdisciplinary disciplines at all, and only conducted some exchanges and cooperation based on our interests and hobbies. Even if we were not selected this time, we have also made clearer the ideas for future research in the project application process and full communication with on-site review experts."

　　In recent years, the National Science Foundation of China has insisted on investing valuable scientific research resources to the most innovative and dynamic front-line scientific researchers, and has launched a series of reform measures in talent funding, especially young talents.

　　The head of the Natural Science Foundation of China said that in the next step, a separate track will be set up for scientific researchers under 35 years old in the Youth Science Foundation project (Class A), breaking the previous "step-by-step" talent growth path, discovering outstanding young talents with potential as early as possible, and providing high-intensity and stable support for up to 20 years, so that they can carry out high-level basic research "in ten years of hard work".

　　The innovative blueprints and confrontations of thinking at the review meeting all confirm that innovative young talents are the place where the country's innovation vitality lies and the hope for scientific and technological development. Paving the way for young scientific and technological talents to become successful, giving them more opportunities to shoulder the main responsibilities and shoulder heavy responsibilities will surely promote the birth of more world-class achievements on the land of China.