HE Research Fellowship Rules

Chapter 1. General Provisions

1. Regarding the HE Foundation and HE Research Fellowship

The HE Science Foundation is a non-profit organization launched in May 2023 by Mr. He Xiangjian, the founder of Midea Group, with a personal donation of RMB 3 billion. It is operated by Guangdong Meize Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd. The HE Research Fellowship, one of the programs currently implemented by the HE Science Foundation, is undertaken by the Meize Science Development Center of Shunde District, Foshan City.

2. Aims

The HE Research Fellowship aims to encourage and support young scientists in the early stages of their careers to make breakthroughs in applied basic research fields to meet the challenges that human society will face in the next few decades or even centuries.

3. Principles

The HE Research Fellowship adheres to the principle of public welfare. The nomination, evaluation, selection, and funding of the program follow the principles of objectivity, fairness, and impartiality. The independence, professionalism, and authority of expert reviews are emphasized.

4. Purpose

To ensure the objective, rigorous, fair, and orderly operation of the HE Research Fellowship evaluation, this chapter is formulated.

Chapter 2. Program

5. Program Settings

The HE Research Fellowship is aimed at the following two fields: medical and life sciences; energy, environment, and climate change. 

The HE Research Fellowship is awarded to no more than 20 young scientists in total from both fields each year.

6. Criteria for Principal Investigators of HE Research Fellowship

6.1 Hold a doctoral degree.

6.2 Work as a full-time researcher in universities and research institutes in China. 

6.3 Nominees must be 35 years old or younger at the time of nomination, with the exception of female candidates, who may be up to 38 years old. Clinical medicine nominees may be up to 40 years old, with female candidates up to 43 years old. 

6.4 Engage in innovative and cross-application research and practices in the fields of scientific exploration, technological breakthroughs, and engineering practices, with research results applicable to the fields of medicine and life sciences, energy, environment, and climate change.

7. Funding Amount

The funding amount for a single project of the He Research Fellowship is RMB 2 million, distributed over three years.

Chapter 3. Organization and Management

8. Council

The council of the HE Science Foundation is the decision-making body of the HE Research Fellowship, responsible for determining the members of the evaluation committee, supervisory committee, annual budget, and  approval of funding recipients.

9. Evaluation Committee

The evaluation committee is composed of senior scientists with excellent research experience and expertise, higher academic levels, and well-established scientific reputations. This committee is responsible for the specific evaluation work of the program.

10. Supervisory Committee

The supervisory committee is composed of professionals in finance, law, auditing, and public welfare, responsible for auditing and supervising the program evaluation and selection process.

11. Secretariat

The Secretariat is responsible for organizing the evaluation process and daily management of the program to ensure the smooth operation of the HE Research Fellowship. 

Chapter 4. Nomination

12. Nomination Method 

Nominees are nominated by the HE Science Foundation-designated nominating institutions. The nominating institutions are responsible for the authenticity of the nomination content, reviewing the compliance with scientific research norms, and ensuring compliance with confidentiality regulations.

Chapter 5. Evaluation

13. Evaluation Period

The evaluation period is generally from February to June each year.

14. Evaluation and Selection Process

The evaluation process strictly follows the "Nomination institution submission of materials - Secretariat formal review - Peer review by experts - Evaluation committee review - Council approval - Announcement of funding recipients".

15. Evaluation and Selection Criteria

The HE Research Fellowship comprehensively evaluates the nominees based on their scientific achievements, research potential, and the innovation and application value of their future research plans.

16. Announcement 

The funding recipients' information will be announced on the HE Science Foundation's official website.

Chapter 6. Funding

17. Funding Method 

The HE Research Fellowship is granted by the council, and the funding recipients sign the " HE Research Fellowship Funding Agreement."

Chapter 7. Revocation and Withdrawal

18. Revocation and Withdrawal

According to the evaluation and selection criteria of the HE Research Fellowship, even if the fund is granted, if the following situations occur, the HE Science Foundation will evaluate whether to revoke the fund, title, or withdraw the fund money, and implement it according to the evaluation results:

18.1 The recipient's public statements, papers, works, etc., do not meet the requirements of Chinese laws and regulations, violate research integrity and ethics, or contain content that is fabricated, fraudulent, pornographic, discriminatory, violent, hateful, racist, or otherwise against public morality or criminal.

18.2 The recipient is found to have falsely reported or falsified important information such as nationality, education, academic achievements, and age.

18.3 Violation of the " HE Research Fellowship Funding Agreement " signed by the recipient.

Chapter 8. Supplementary Provisions

19. Disclosure and Avoidance

Reviewers should voluntarily disclose their relationship with the nominee, including nomination, competition, colleagues, teachers and students, relatives, etc. The council and supervisory committee will jointly decide whether avoidance is necessary based on these situations and factors.

20. Confidentiality

All personnel involved in nomination, evaluation, funding, and operation of the program are obligated to keep the relevant information of the HE Research Fellowship confidential.

21. Publication, Revision, and Interpretation of the Regulations

These rules are revised and interpreted by the HE Science Foundation. The council has the final authority for the interpretation of the rules.

22. Effectiveness and Implementation of the Rules

These rules are effective and implemented from the date of publication.