BEIJING, Oct. 19 -- The Ministry of Science and Technology of China (MOST) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (the foundation) today co-hosted a ceremony to honor 50 outstanding young scientists from China.

The event is organized during the 2015 Grand Challenges Meeting in the hope of encouraging Chinese scientists who have either enjoyed prominence in his or her specific academic field or exhibited potential for translating their research breakthroughs into impacts to continuously commit themselves to innovative research in global health and modern agriculture.

The meeting is seen as an opportunity to showcase scientific research progress and the positive role of China’s outstanding young scientists, who will be deemed as role models for future science professionals. The winners, all under the age of 45, are scientists and researchers from an expanding constituency ranging from academics and private sectors. The group comes from a diverse background of scientific research and industrialization in biotech, population health and modern agriculture. They are recognized for their outstanding scientific research achievements and innovative potentials.

Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellmann, CEO of the foundation, was joined by the Vice Minister of MOST Zhang Laiwu in presenting the awards and certificates at the ceremony.

Representatives of the young scientists gave speeches to share their views on opportunities and challenges, and review the early years of their careers. Former Chinese Grand Challenges grantees were also invited to speak on grant application and implementation so as to inform a wider group of Chinese scientists on the Grand Challenges program and encourage innovators to pursue achievements using the grants to address the needs in global health and modern agriculture.

Vice Minister Zhang attaches great importance to the growth of Chinese young scientists and their scientific research, underscoring that: “Chinese innovators have already shown their capacity to solve the most critical global health challenges. As a rising global player in science & technology, China has the potential for greater scientific discoveries and breakthroughs to benefit global health and modern agriculture and assume greater leadership roles. As China’s scientific management reform deepens, the optimization of integration and allocation of scientific research resources would present unprecedented opportunities for the country’s young scientists.”

Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellmann reinforced the foundation’s long-term commitment to catalyzing innovation through investment, and shared success stories of how the foundation leveraged platforms like Grand Challenges to engage and support creative young minds globally to join and contribute to global health and development.

“The GC approach is changing the way the world tackles tough problems by encouraging focus on potentially game-changing innovations, engaging both new and traditional researchers and fostering non-traditional collaborations across public, private and social sectors,” Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellmann remarked.

The meeting is held to acknowledge young scientists’ commitment to innovative research in global health and modern agriculture. The event is also conducive to the advancement of implementing China’s strategies on innovation driven development, and mass entrepreneurship and innovation.