Fourteen members of the Biophysical Society of China (BSC) were included in the list of the first New Cornerstone Investigator Program on Jan 13.

BSC New Cornerstone Investigators

Mathematics and Physical Sciences

Fan Chunhai

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Li Jinghong

Tsinghua University

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Chen Lingling

Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Hu Hailan

Zhejiang University

Huang Zhiwei

Harbin Institute of Technology

Li Dong

Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Li Yulong

Peking University

Liu Ying

Peking University

Lu Boxun

Fudan University

Wang Xiaoqun

Beijing Normal University

Xu Yanhui

Fudan University

Yu Hongtao

Westlake University

Zhang Hong

Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Zhu Bing

Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

The New Cornerstone Investigator Program is a nonprofit and independent funding initiative that encourages innovation and exploration in basic research. Under the guidance of the China Association for Science and Technology, the program is spearheaded by scientists. In 2022, Tencent pledged to offer 10 billion yuan ($1.48 billion) in 10 years to establish the New Cornerstone Science Foundation and support outstanding scientists to devote themselves to basic research.

Funded investigators are divided into two categories. Those who conduct experimental research will be allocated up to 5 million yuan per person per year, while those who do theoretical research will be given up to 3 million yuan per person per year. The funding will be provided for five consecutive years.