On Feb 12, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced the 2026 recipients of the Tan Kah Kee Science Awards and Tan Kah Kee Young Scientist Awards.

Among them, two members of the Biophysical Society of China (BSC), Li Hanjie from the CAS Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, and Liu Xing from the CAS Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, received the Tan Kah Kee Young Scientist Award in Life Sciences.

The news conference in Beijing was attended by Wang Keqiang, vice-president of CAS and vice-chairman of the Tan Kah Kee Science Award Foundation, along with Yang Jun, vice-president of the Bank of China, and representatives of the award-winning scientists. Ning Min, general manager of the Administrative Affairs Department of the Bank of China, hosted the event. Wang Dujin, director of the CAS Bureau of Academic Divisions, announced the awardees.

The 2026 award selection began in May 2025, involving peer reviews, professional committee evaluations and a final review. Six projects received the Tan Kah Kee Science Award, and 12 individuals were honored with the Young Scientist Award.

Wang Keqiang congratulated the winners, emphasizing the award’s dedication to recognizing original scientific achievements and outstanding young scientists in China. Established over two decades ago, the Tan Kah Kee Science Award aims to inspire scientific innovation and leadership. Looking forward, it seeks to enhance its role as a driver of scientific innovation, focusing on national needs and global scientific frontiers, while promoting the spirit of scientists and fostering a supportive research environment.

Named after the patriotic leader Tan Kah Kee, the award began as the Tan Kah Kee Award in 1988 and was reestablished in 2003 with funding from CAS and the Bank of China. The Young Scientist Award was added in 2010.