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 the Guangdong Meize Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd., and is undertaken by the Meize Science Development Center of Shunde District, Foshan City. The HE Research Fellowship is one of the founding programs currently implemented by the HE Foundation.

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 insisted on and 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 three fields: medical and life sciences; energy, environment, and climate change; intelligent science. The HE Research Fellowship is awarded to n no more than 30 young scientists totally 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 and intelligent science.

7. Funding Amount

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

Chapter 3. Organization and Management

8. Council

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

9. Evaluation and Selection Committee

The evaluation and selection committee is composed of senior scientists with excellent research experience and expertise, higher academic levels, and well-established scientific and technological reputations. This committee is eventually responsible for the specific evaluation and selection 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 the routine management of the candidate nomination, evaluation, selection and funding of the program to ensure the smooth operation of the program.

Chapter 4. Nomination

12. Nomination Method

Nominees are nominated by the HE Science Foundation-designated nominating institutions. The nominating institutions and experts 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 administrative formal review - Peer review expert communication review - Evaluation and selection committee meeting review - Council approval - Announcement of award recipients" process.

15. Evaluation and Selection Criteria

The HE Research Fellowship comprehensively evaluates the scientific background and research achievements, research originality and potential, and application value of future research plans of the nominees.

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, and contain content that violates research integrity, ethics, and public morality, such as pornography, discrimination, violence, hatred, and racism.

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

The reviewers should voluntarily disclose their relationship with the nominee, including nomination, competition, colleagues, teachers and students, collaborations, mentorships, and relatives, etc.Decisions on avoidance shall be jointly made by the Council and the Supervisory Committee based on circumstances.

20. Confidentiality

All personnel involved in the operation and evaluation 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 should have all the rights for the final interpretation of the rules.

22. Effectiveness and Implementation of the Rules

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