Internet Giants Are Racing to Award Scientists: The Rise of Corporate-Backed Research Prizes

In recent years, many “tech giants” have been exploring pathways for cross-disciplinary scientific research, and establishing research awards has become one of the most common approaches.

Among numerous scientific research awards, the Alibaba Qingcheng Award stands out as somewhat unique. First, in terms of selection criteria, the Qingcheng Award is more inclined toward encouraging young researchers, emphasizing technological innovation, practical application, and real-world impact. Second, regarding reward policies, the award imposes no restrictions on how recipients may use their prize money. In fact, when one recipient received the RMB 1 million prize, they openly stated that they would “use it to buy a house,” a stance that Alibaba supported and encouraged.

Finally, in addition to funding, the Qingcheng Award has established a special “prize,” namelyQingcheng Scholars are granted unrestricted access to Alibaba’s global R&D facilities and can leverage research resources provided by Alibaba’s research institutions, including data, real-world scenarios, and computing power.For researchers, such platform and team support is of great importance, as it further helps young scholars translate their scientific ideas into reality—this is also Alibaba’s ultimate goal.

In 2023, Alibaba DAMO Academy presented the Qingcheng Award for the fourth time. What innovation signals are conveyed by the 15 awardees, whose average age is just 33?

As is well known, the Qingcheng Award focuses on “rising stars” at the forefront of scientific research. What noteworthy common characteristics did the 15 researchers honored in 2023 exhibit?

2023 “Qingcheng Scholar”

In terms of research achievements, more than half of the researchers among the 2023 Qingcheng Scholars have brought"First Breakthrough in the Field"Results.

For instance, Gu Yingfei, a researcher at the Institute for Advanced Study of Tsinghua University, was the first to extend the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) theoretical physics model to higher dimensions, spearheading its development in the fields of condensed matter physics and quantum many-body chaos. Additionally, Su Jun, a researcher at the National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, has pioneered a potential approach for preventing and treating chromosomal aneuploidy in human oocytes.

From the numerous “first-of-their-kind breakthroughs,” it is evident that the importance of original research and development technologies is increasing year by year, both in the scientific community and in the market. The primary reason for this trend is likelyThe Drivers of Scientific Research Have Changed。

In the past, many innovative research efforts followed a “imitation–absorption–innovation” model. Over time, these prior experiences with innovation have been internalized into a logic well-suited to the development of scientific research in China. Furthermore, in recent years, major research institutions and universities have continuously strengthened their innovation infrastructure by building innovation platforms and improving institutional environments, thereby providing objective support for source innovation.

Therefore, in terms of both innovative capacity and the objective environment, China’s scientific research has reached a critical juncture for transitioning from “imitative innovation” to “independent innovation.”

Furthermore, from a market perspective, the rising trends of “domestic substitution” and “global expansion” have imposed higher demands on technological innovation. Compared to incremental upgrades of existing technologies, the market is more eager for fundamental theoretical breakthroughs.Only by building their own technological moats can innovative enterprises complete the transition from followers to leaders.

Emphasizing the translation of scientific research into practical applications is also a major characteristic of the Qingcheng Scholars awarded this time.. For example, Su Jun is attempting to apply research on centrosome-free spindles in oocytes to clinical practice, offering new solutions for women’s reproductive health; meanwhile, Gu Rong has established collaborations with multiple leading enterprises and successfully implemented the Fluid open-source project in practical applications across these companies.

Nowadays, enhancing the capacity to translate scientific research outcomes into practical applications has become a broad consensus within both the academic and market communities; the importance of developing such translation capabilities needs no further elaboration. From Alibaba’s perspective, by grounding itself in the market and participating as a corporate entity, it can effectively eliminate the “silo effect” in technological innovation.

From the perspective of the awardees' affiliations,Peking University is undoubtedly the institution that has produced the most Qingcheng Scholars.Among the 15 recipients of the Qingcheng Award, three are from Peking University. Additionally, Dr. Chen Xiaodian, a researcher at the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is also an alumnus of Peking University, having received his Ph.D. in Astronomy from the Department of Astronomy, School of Physics, in 2016.

In the popular stereotype, Peking University is regarded as a “fertile ground for scholars,” always distinctive in its literary and ideological research. However, in recent years, the university has placed increasing emphasis on basic research, providing support to researchers through policies, talent recruitment, financial funding, and platform development. We are increasingly sensing that Peking University’s scientific research strength is becoming more robust day by day.

Due to the long-term, complex, and unpredictable nature of basic research, its returns require a very lengthy cycle.Why Are Universities, Dedicated to Teaching and Nurturing Talent, Also Focusing on Basic Research?

First, from the perspective of disciplinary development, basic research is indispensable. Disciplinary advancement and fundamental scientific research are mutually reinforcing. The accumulation of substantial foundational, original, and disruptive achievements is essential to foster disciplinary growth; conversely, as a discipline matures, scientific outcomes will emerge more abundantly. Second, basic research serves as the starting point for the translation of scientific findings. In an era that places significant emphasis on translating research outcomes into practical applications, universities’ commitment to basic research is also a crucial strategy for enhancing their influence and attracting talent.

In summary, basic scientific research is of paramount importance, both from the perspective of disciplinary development within universities and in terms of talent cultivation.

Driven by source innovation, collaboration among innovation stakeholders is no longer confined to traditional models such as the commercialization of university-enterprise research achievements and the joint establishment of research institutions. Major tech companies are also focusing on frontier technological fields through more flexible and open approaches, bridging the gap with scientific research by establishing awards.

In addition to the Qingcheng Prize established by Alibaba’s DAMO Academy, Tencent has also set up the New Cornerstone Science Foundation and launched the Science Exploration Award, aiming to provide long-term, stable support for a group of outstanding scientists to independently choose their research directions, while encouraging researchers to focus on “zero-to-one” original innovation.

Taking a broader view, we find that not only major corporations but also some “non-governmental organizations” are keen on establishing scientific research awards. In 1994, the Hong Kong-based Qiu Shi Science and Technologies Foundation established the Qiu Shi Outstanding Scientist Award to honor Chinese scientists who have made outstanding achievements in science and technology fields such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biomedicine. In 2016, a group of scientists and entrepreneurs jointly launched the Future Science Prize, aimed at rewarding scientists for their outstanding scientific and technological achievements...

Non-Governmental Research Awards

Although the focus areas and reward mechanisms of major private scientific research awards vary, they all send the same signal—Encourage Free Exploration。

Inspiration often strikes unexpectedly. Young researchers need more opportunities to experiment so that, driven by curiosity, they can produce scientific achievements. Furthermore, a research environment that encourages free exploration provides a “fault-tolerance mechanism.” While encouraging young researchers to take bold initiatives, it also alleviates the pressures associated with administrative paperwork, accumulation of academic credentials, and grant applications.

The emergence of non-governmental science and technology awards has provided more young scientists with opportunities to realize their research dreams, while also demonstrating society’s emphasis on scientific research and respect for innovation. Only under a favorable climate for innovation can China’s capacity for original research and development be further enhanced, thereby accelerating the translation of scientific achievements into practical applications.

While recognizing the catalytic role of private-sector research awards in fostering scientific innovation, we cannot help but ask: Why has this “surge” occurred now?

Scientific research is a pursuit that demands the ability to endure solitude. It is characterized not only by long cycles but also by slow progress; achieving breakthrough results inevitably requires the accumulation of time. Therefore, senior researchers hold a distinct advantage in processes such as grant applications and award selections.

However, we must not overlook the capabilities of young scientists. Although they may have less experience compared to senior researchers, they are more likely to think outside the box and generate wildly creative innovations.

Moreover, in an era that demands technological convergence, young scientists are akin to digital natives of this age. Most young scientists began engaging with and experimenting on the integration of knowledge and technologies across various disciplines during their academic years; for them, understanding the interplay between different fields is more like an innate ability.

In summary,Without intergenerational succession, how can we speak of the endless vitality of innovative scientific research?Young scientists, tempered by time, will one day take the baton from their senior counterparts. Investing in young talent today is an investment in the future of scientific research.

Funding is an inescapable topic on the path of scientific research. In the past, researchers mostly obtained funding through “public” channels such as the Ministry of Education, their affiliated institutions, and foundations. To ensure that funds are used exclusively for their designated purposes, researchers often have to navigate numerous restrictions and undergo complex procedures before they can access the money.

While strict rules reduce the likelihood of waste in research funding, they also constrain the development of scientific research. For instance, funds designated exclusively for basic research cannot be reallocated to support the commercialization of research findings. Although both activities are integral to innovative scientific work, such “rules” can lead to an abrupt cutoff of research grants.

Moreover, outside the laboratory, researchers are ordinary individuals who must contend with the pressures of daily life. However, no matter how much research funding a laboratory secures, it cannot be diverted for personal use. When researchers are preoccupied with basic living expenses, it is difficult for them to devote themselves fully to their research.

As societal perceptions evolve, the stereotype of researchers as being “out of touch with reality” is gradually fading.In this era, private scientific research awards that propose handing over complete control of fund allocation to researchers, allowing them to have the final say, are more conducive to fostering innovative research.

Finally, we focus on the “sponsors” of scientific research awards, most of whom are pioneers and leaders in the industry. They are capable of making substantial investments in scientific research,On the one hand, this demonstrates their capacity to support young professionals; on the other hand, it underscores their substantial expertise in scientific research.

This also reflects that China’s economy is in a stage of steady development, with further upgrades in its level of industrialization. Today, leveraging innovative research strengths and building proprietary technological moats have become the preferred strategy for many enterprises. Driven by these enterprises, the market can foster a culture that values and advocates innovation, which in turn feeds back into scientific research.

“Planting the phoenix tree to attract the phoenix.” By establishing research funds with substantial investment, large corporations can not only foster a social climate that values scientific research but also further encourage young scholars to join the research community. Meanwhile, only by enhancing original innovation capabilities can the momentum for translating scientific achievements into practical applications be fully unleashed.