A cohort of 50 young Chinese scientists won the 2022 Xplorer Prize on Thursday, with each receiving a total of 3 million yuan ($434,000) over the next five years to support their research, according to the organizer.
The 50 recipients come from 18 cities and regions, with Dalian, Shenyang, Jinan, and the Macao Special Administrative Region producing their first winner ever. The recipients include four women, and the youngest winner is 31 years old.
The award was launched in 2018 by the Tencent Foundation and 14 renowned scientists. It has 10 categories from basic sciences to frontier technologies, ranging from mathematics to environmental sciences, with medical sciences added to the category this year.
The goal of the award is to encourage scientists younger than 45 to pursue their work. The award has funded 200 promising young scientists since its launch.
Wang Guangyu, a researcher from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, is the youngest recipient of the award this year. Her research focuses on the use of artificial intelligence to empower medical treatment.
"My work is still in its early phase, but the award has given me incredible encouragement and recognition," she said. "This will allow me focus on my work and pursue more challenging work. But I also feel a stronger sense of responsibility to produce truly original work."
Mak Pui-in, an electrical engineering professor from Macao University, said Macao's science and technology development has seen rapid growth in recent years thanks to support from the nation and interactions with the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area.
"We will keep focusing on making breakthroughs in specific but advanced fields, and make more contributions to the nation's science and technology innovations," he said.
