Reporter: Gan Tian | Date: March 10, 2026

Editor's Note: On March 9, China Education News Network reported on the proposal of Chen Yeguang, deputy to the National People's Congress, president of Nanchang University, and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, on stimulating the vitality of scientific research and innovation across all age groups and improving the funding system for scientific research talents. Details are as follows:

Report from China Education Daily and China Education News Network (Reporter: Gan Tian)
As the 2026 National Two Sessions are underway, Chen Yeguang, deputy to the National People's Congress, president of Nanchang University, and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has paid close attention to the cultivation of scientific research talents. He pointed out that while China has achieved remarkable results in supporting young talents at present, there are still problems that the innovation vitality and research value of middle-aged and elderly scientific researchers have not been fully released, and high-quality scientific research talent resources are being lost.At present, most national-level major scientific research projects and talent funding programs have set age limits (generally no more than 60 years old, some require an age limit of 55 years old, and some projects also require the average age of key members to be no more than 50 years old), leading to some experienced middle-aged and elderly scientific researchers losing their eligibility for application.

In response, Chen Yeguang put forward the following suggestions: optimize the scientific research project application policy, relax or cancel the "one-size-fits-all" age restriction.

1.Comprehensively sort out the existing age restriction clauses of scientific research projects. Except for special funds for young scientific and technological talents, cancel the rigid age restrictions on project leaders and members, so as to ensure that all scientific researchers can apply for and compete for projects. For major scientific and technological projects and team-based projects, age restrictions on all members and average age requirements will no longer be set. Instead, based on research capacity and project innovation, scientific researchers over 60 years old who are in good health and have outstanding academic capabilities will be allowed to serve as project leaders or core members.

2.Replace chronological age with academic age. For young researchers who started their scientific research career late due to pursuing degrees, job adjustments and other reasons, appropriately relax the application restrictions for talent-related projects, and effectively guarantee the development rights and interests of all types of scientific researchers.

3.Sort out talent funding programs, so that outstanding talents of all age groups can be recognized.

Original article from China Education News, available at:
http://m.jyb.cn/rmtzcg/xwy/wzxw/202603/t20260309_2111452321_wap.html