In recent days, after strict expert evaluation, a batch of scientific research projects completed their first conclusion reviews for the National Natural Science Foundation’s Outstanding Young Scientists (OYS) Fund and the subsequent continuation of funding review. Among them, 41 projects rated as “A” were selected for continued funding over the next five years, while those evaluated as “C” had their results reported back to their respective supporting institutions, with a recommendation for enhanced supervision and guidance for the project leaders from these institutions. This process demonstrates the determination of the National Natural Science Foundation Committee to strengthen the cultivation of scientific research talent and management, and to resolve the challenges faced by the OYS funding in practice, through reforms.
Since its establishment in the 1990s, the OYS program aimed to alleviate the shortage of scientific research talent and structural gaps in China, providing stable support for young researchers, and committing to the cultivation of leading science and technology talents. With 30 years of practice and development, the program has become a recognized successful brand for talent projects in China’s science and technology innovation field.
The Outstanding Young Scientists Fund project selects research directions and candidates through a comprehensive evaluation of the researchers’ achievements, uncovers research projects with significant original ideas, and provides ample funding support to encourage researchers to engage in scientific and technological innovation and public service.
With the support of this project, many top talents in various fields of basic research have emerged, with many becoming academic leaders in their own fields, forming the backbone of the nation’s construction as an innovative country. Data shows that among the academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences selected from 1995 to 2023, 43% had received OYS funding. In the National Natural Science Awards granted from 2000 to 2020, 82% of the award-winning projects were related to OYS project leaders. Between 2013 and 2020, all projects that won first prize in the National Natural Science Awards had OYS project leaders as core members.
As the Natural Science Foundation Committee aspires to advance the training of high-level basic research talents, the OYS program has also undergone a series of reforms. For example, the age limit for female researchers applying for the program has been increased to 48 years old, the application has been opened to Hong Kong and Macau regions, and pilot reforms in the research evaluation system for clinical physicians have been implemented. These measures have not only improved the systematic structure of the OYS program but also strengthened the training chain for innovative talents.
Nonetheless, it must be acknowledged that there are still areas that need supplementing and improvement in the implementation of the OYS program, in order to continue enhancing the overall funding efficacy and societal impact of the project.
In the field of scientific research, some researchers, after receiving important funding, develop a complacent attitude, mistakenly thinking they have retired after their achievements and reducing their willingness to continue striving. Furthermore, some may treat these project achievements as a professional title or a symbol of status, a practice that is contrary to the fundamental purpose of scientific research and betrays the original intention of the project.
From the perspective of dialectical materialism, these problems and challenges are inevitable in the process of scientific research development. Development-oriented thinking and measures must be adopted to address these issues. Accordingly, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) has put pressure on itself and engaged in self-examination in its new round of reforms. They have thoroughly improved the management process of the Outstanding Young Scientists Fund (OYSF) projects, fully leveraging the supervisory function of the scientific community. Rigorous reviews are conducted on project completion and subsequent funding evaluations to ensure that the OYSF projects adhere to the core principles of scientific research, making researchers clearly aware that receiving OYSF funding should not be seen as the end of a career, but rather as a starting point and a beginning for more in-depth research.
The NSFC, on the path of reform and innovation, has resolutely displayed its determination and courage in managing talent evaluations and stimulating innovative potentials. This is both an innovative attempt to eliminate labels on scientific personnel and a beneficial exploration to develop a high-level and systematic foundation for training research talents, winning widespread support.
Project leaders believe that the continuous excellent support mechanism has eliminated their previous difficulties in project applications, providing firmer support for those dedicated to basic scientific research. This allows them to invest their time in research and pursue outstanding results. Evaluation experts emphasize that through project completion evaluation, the previous easy application, hard completion situation has been changed, pushing project leaders towards higher quality scientific research. Affiliated institutions have also expressed their opinions, believing that through feedback on the implementation of the OYSF projects, they can make more objective assessments of researchers’ capabilities and innovative achievements.
It must be recognized that assessments are merely a means to an end, not the goal itself. Governing the talent evaluation system is a systemic engineering project that requires efforts and collaboration from multiple aspects, governing from a holistic and systematic perspective. Accelerating the establishment of an innovation-centered scientific research evaluation system is most critical. Such a system will value actual scientific outcomes and allocate precious resources to the most innovatively potent researchers, spurring numerous young science and technology workers to forge ahead in the journey to build a world-leading science and technology nation.
We firmly believe that with continuous reform, China will not only be able to create a highland of talent and innovation but will also realize the grand dream of building a powerful nation in science and technology.