China’s National Natural Science Foundation (NSFC) is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026, marking four decades of driving breakthroughs in fields from quantum computing to climate science. President Xi Jinping recently emphasized the fund’s role in advancing basic research and empowering scientists to tackle tomorrow’s challenges. 🌱🔬
Launched in 1986, the NSFC has become a cornerstone of China’s innovation ecosystem, supporting over 800,000 research projects to date. Xi highlighted the need to ‘seize opportunities in AI, green energy, and bio-tech’ as global competition for tech leadership heats up. 💡🌍
Young researchers are taking center stage: nearly 80% of 2025’s funded projects were led by scientists under 45. ‘The NSFC lets us dream big,’ says Dr. Li Wei, a 32-year-old materials scientist developing next-gen solar cells. ⚡️👩🔬
With cross-border collaboration now a priority, the foundation is partnering with institutions in 18 countries and regions, including joint projects with the DPRK and the Republic of Korea on sustainable agriculture. 🤝🌾
