**Interview with Sun Rui and Sun Yiping: The Future of Young Science and Technology Talent in China**
**Interviewer:** Thank you both for joining us today. It’s great to have you here to discuss the crucial role of young science and technology talents in China’s innovation ecosystem. President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of nurturing a robust cohort of young scientific professionals. Can you elaborate on why young talent is considered the backbone of technological advancement?
**Sun Rui:** Absolutely. Young science and technology professionals are not just integral to present-day innovation; they are the driving force of future advancements. Their unique perspectives, energy, and skills are vital for fostering an innovative spirit and propelling the nation toward becoming a global leader in technology. Understanding their growth characteristics and developmental needs is key to crafting effective strategies for their training and support.
**Sun Yiping:** Exactly. During the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, focusing on the challenges and common issues faced by these young talents will allow us to enhance their training and create a more supportive environment. It is essential to stimulate their creativity and foster a culture of innovation—effectively enabling them to shoulder significant responsibilities in achieving a technologically advanced nation.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like a comprehensive support system is needed to realize this vision. Can you discuss specific aspects of the talent funding programs aimed at supporting young scientists?
**Sun Rui:** Certainly. It’s important to develop a well-structured funding system that prioritizes young researchers. We recommend a dual-track approach for defining young talents based on both their research age and actual age. Additionally, increasing the number and proportion of funding opportunities for youth-led initiatives within various scientific projects is crucial. We also propose establishing a “Youth Exploration Development Research Fund” for high-risk, innovative research projects. By offering initial support through small grants, we can help these projects transition into substantive research phases.
**Sun Yiping:** And to enhance evaluation processes, we advocate for a specialized international peer-review mechanism. This would involve increasing the representation of young scientists in project assessments and engaging international experts to ensure an unbiased evaluation of significant research proposals. This strategy includes developing distinct evaluation paths for high-risk, innovative projects that wouldn’t be overly scrutinized for feasibility but rather focus on their potential impacts.
**Interviewer:** Those ideas are promising. Now, could you touch upon the importance of creating a conducive environment for young talent to thrive in research institutions?
**Sun Rui:** Absolutely. We propose an innovative evaluation system that moves away from traditional metrics, such as the number of publications or awards, which often skew talent assessments. Instead, we aim to implement a recommendation system that allows for the recognition of promising young scientists based on their potential, regardless of their academic background. This fosters a more inclusive approach to identifying talent.
**Sun Yiping:** Furthermore, we believe in establishing flexible and supportive employment models within research institutions. By giving principal investigators full autonomy over their teams and project directions, we can cultivate environments where innovative ideas can flourish. This requires a significant shift toward a more empowering governance model within research organizations and greater incentives within public enterprises to attract top talent.
**Interviewer:** It’s fascinating to hear about these targeted reforms. How do you envision cultivating a spirit of scientific integrity and camaraderie among young researchers?
**Sun Rui:** We must inspire a culture that honors the dedication of earlier generations of scientists, advocating for values such as collaboration and perseverance. By promoting academic integrity and ethical standards, we encourage young scientists to delve into rigorous research without succumbing to pressures to conform to prevailing norms.
**Sun Yiping:** Ultimately, the goal is to create an environment where young talents can excel—one that values honesty, truth-seeking, and innovative exploration. Supporting them through mentorship and collaborative opportunities, while also recognizing their contributions, will play a crucial role in our nation’s journey toward being a leader in technology.
**Interviewer:** Thank you both for your insights and commitment to nurturing young scientific talent in China. Your vision will undoubtedly empower the next generation of innovators.
