The Tencent Foundation has announced the establishment of a scientific discovery award with an initial endowment of 1 billion yuan ($145 million).
The award will be granted to 50 young researchers under 45 years old in the science sector every year. Each one of them will be granted 600,000 yuan ($87,000) annually for five consecutive years, according to Tencent News.
The award will be granted in a total of nine areas of fundamental science and cutting-edge core technology: mathematical physics, bioscience, astronomy and geosciences, new chemical materials, information electronics, energy and environment, advanced manufacture, transportation and construction technology and frontier interdisciplinary techniques.
The science award was launched by Pony Ma, Tencent Holdings' co-founder and chairman, together with famous Chinese scientists such as Yang Zhenning, Zhang Yitang and Shi Yigong.
Renowned scientists including Xu Kuangdi, Wang Zhizhen and others will work as consultants, providing directions and guidance for the future operation of the award.
The continuing funding for the award will be from enterprises and operated in a philanthropic pattern over the long term. Various activities will be held to serve as a communication platform for young science workers.
Preparation work for the award is underway. The official application and nomination process will start in January 2019, and the first batch of scientists granted the award will be released in July 2019.
