On June 30, the website of the Ministry of Science and Technology published the *Implementation Rules for the Regulations on National Science and Technology Awards* (hereinafter referred to as the "Implementation Rules"). The document mentions that the National Highest Science and Technology Award is granted to no more than 2 persons each time, with a bonus of 8 million yuan, all of which belongs to the winners as personal income. It should be noted that candidates for the National Highest Science and Technology Award shall love the motherland, exemplarily practice the spirit of scientists, and still be active at the forefront of contemporary science and technology, engaged in scientific research or technological development. According to the *Implementation Rules*, the National Science and Technology Awards are evaluated every two years. The total number of projects awarded each time for the National Natural Science Award, National Technological Invention Award, and National Science and Technology Progress Award shall not exceed 300. Among them, the number of special prize projects for each award category shall not exceed 3, and the number of first prize projects shall not exceed 15% of the total number of awarded projects in that category. The number of International Science and Technology Cooperation Awards granted each time shall not exceed 10. It is learned that since the Ministry of Science and Technology first issued the *Implementation Rules* in 1999, it has been revised twice in 2004 and 2008. The *Implementation Rules* have played an important role in promoting the implementation of the *Regulations on National Science and Technology Awards* and standardizing the work of national science and technology awards. The *Implementation Rules* consist of 9 chapters and 102 articles. It clarifies that major matters concerning the work of national science and technology awards shall be reported to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in accordance with relevant regulations. At the same time, it emphasizes that the National Science and Technology Awards adhere to the national strategic orientation, adhere to the "four orientations", are closely integrated with national major strategic needs and medium- and long-term scientific and technological development plans, promote the in-depth integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, and focus on rewarding scientists and front-line scientific and technological personnel who have made creative contributions in basic research and applied basic research, tackling key core technologies, and helping develop new productive forces. Regarding nomination and acceptance, the *Implementation Rules* mention that the National Science and Technology Awards implement a quota nomination system. The qualification conditions for nominating units and nominating experts, as well as the requirements for quota nomination, shall be stipulated by the Ministry of Science and Technology in the formulation of nomination measures. Nominating experts shall nominate within the disciplinary fields they are familiar with. The *Implementation Rules* also strengthen the responsibilities of nominators and specify the circumstances under which candidates shall not be nominated. For example, those who endanger national security, harm public interests, endanger human health, violate ethics, or have scientific research misconduct shall not be nominated. It is worth noting that the work of national science and technology awards implements a scientific research integrity review system. The Ministry of Science and Technology has established a database of serious scientific research integrity violations for nominators, review committee members, review experts, and candidates. The National Science and Technology Awards Office shall review the integrity of relevant individuals and organizations during nomination, review, and other activities. Individuals and organizations within the disciplinary period shall be disqualified from participating in national science and technology award activities in accordance with procedures. **Order No. 22 of the Ministry of Science and Technology** **Implementation Rules for the Regulations on National Science and Technology Awards** The *Implementation Rules for the Regulations on National Science and Technology Awards* have been revised and adopted at the 4th executive meeting of the Ministry of Science and Technology on June 4, 2025, and are hereby promulgated, and shall come into force as of the date of promulgation. Minister: Yin Hejun June 27, 2025 **Implementation Rules for the Regulations on National Science and Technology Awards** (Promulgated on December 24, 1999 by Order No. 1 of the Ministry of Science and Technology; first amended in accordance with the *Decision on Amending the Implementation Rules for the Regulations on National Science and Technology Awards* issued by Order No. 9 of the Ministry of Science and Technology on December 27, 2004; second amended in accordance with the *Decision on Amending the Implementation Rules for the Regulations on National Science and Technology Awards* issued by Order No. 13 of the Ministry of Science and Technology on December 23, 2008; revised on June 27, 2025 by Order No. 22 of the Ministry of Science and Technology) **Chapter I General Provisions** Article 1 These Rules are formulated in accordance with the *Regulations on National Science and Technology Awards* (hereinafter referred to as the "Award Regulations") for the purpose of doing a good job in the national science and technology award work and ensuring the quality of national science and technology awards. Article 2 These Rules shall apply to the nomination, review, and award of the National Highest Science and Technology Award, National Natural Science Award, National Technological Invention Award, National Science and Technology Progress Award, and the People's Republic of China International Science and Technology Cooperation Award (hereinafter referred to as the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award). Article 3 The work of national science and technology awards shall adhere to the centralized and unified leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, follow the basic principles of the Party and the state's meritorious honor recognition and award work, adhere to openness, fairness, and impartiality, implement a scientific review system, and shall not be interfered with by any organization or individual. It shall accept discipline inspection and supervision as well as social supervision. Major matters concerning the work of national science and technology awards shall be reported to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in accordance with relevant regulations. Article 4 The National Science and Technology Awards adhere to the national strategic orientation, face the world's scientific and technological frontier, face the main economic battlefield, face the major national needs, and face the people's life and health. They are closely integrated with national major strategic needs and medium- and long-term scientific and technological development plans, promote the in-depth integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, focus on rewarding scientists and front-line scientific and technological personnel who have made creative contributions in basic research and applied basic research, tackling key core technologies, and helping develop new productive forces, and inspire and guide the majority of scientific and technological workers to anchor the goal of building a strong science and technology country and accelerate the realization of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement. Article 5 The National Science and Technology Awards are awarded to individuals and organizations that have made outstanding creative contributions in scientific discovery, technological invention, and promotion of scientific and technological progress. Individuals and organizations awarded for the same project shall be ranked according to their contributions. Personnel who only engage in organizational leadership, administrative management, or auxiliary services in scientific research and technological development projects shall not be candidates for national science and technology awards. Article 6 The National Science and Technology Awards are honors awarded by the state to individuals or organizations, and the award certificates shall not be used as a direct basis for determining the ownership of scientific and technological achievements. Article 7 The Ministry of Science and Technology is responsible for formulating relevant measures for national science and technology awards and organizing review activities. The National Science and Technology Awards Office (hereinafter referred to as the Awards Office) is responsible for relevant daily work. The Ministry of Science and Technology, together with relevant departments, shall conduct performance evaluation on the work of national science and technology awards. Article 8 The National Science and Technology Awards Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Awards Committee) shall invite experts, scholars, etc. from relevant fields to form a review committee and a supervision committee to be responsible for the review and supervision of national science and technology awards. The list of members of the Awards Committee shall be proposed by the Ministry of Science and Technology and reported to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council for approval. Article 9 The National Science and Technology Awards are reviewed every two years. The National Highest Science and Technology Award is granted to no more than 2 persons each time. The total number of projects awarded each time for the National Natural Science Award, National Technological Invention Award, and National Science and Technology Progress Award shall not exceed 300. Among them, the number of special prize projects for each award category shall not exceed 3, and the number of first prize projects shall not exceed 15% of the total number of awarded projects in that category. The number of International Science and Technology Cooperation Awards granted each time shall not exceed 10. Article 10 A sound confidentiality management system for the work of national science and technology awards shall be established. For projects involving national security, strict confidentiality measures shall be taken in accordance with national confidentiality laws and regulations and scientific and technological confidentiality provisions, and full-process confidentiality management shall be strengthened. **Chapter II Scope of Awards and Review Criteria** **Section 1 National Highest Science and Technology Award** Article 11 The phrase "made major breakthroughs at the forefront of contemporary science and technology or made outstanding achievements in the development of science and technology" as mentioned in Item (1) of the first paragraph of Article 8 of the *Award Regulations* means that the candidate has made a series of or particularly significant discoveries in basic research and applied basic research, enriched and expanded the theories of the discipline, led the breakthrough development of the discipline or related disciplines, is recognized by peers at home and abroad, and has made particularly significant contributions to serving national strategies, scientific and technological development, and social progress. Article 12 The phrase "made great economic, social, and ecological benefits in scientific and technological innovation, transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and industrialization of high technology, or made great contributions to safeguarding national security" as mentioned in Item (2) of the first paragraph of Article 8 of the *Award Regulations* means that the candidate has made a series of or particularly significant technological breakthroughs in scientific and technological activities, especially in key fields oriented to major national needs, led major scientific and technological progress and industrial transformation in related industries and fields, and has made particularly significant contributions to promoting economic and social development, ensuring people's life and health, protecting the ecological environment, and safeguarding national security. Article 13 Candidates for the National Highest Science and Technology Award shall love the motherland, exemplarily practice the spirit of scientists, and still be active at the forefront of contemporary science and technology, engaged in scientific research or technological development. **Section 2 National Natural Science Award** Article 14 The phrase "not yet discovered or elucidated by predecessors" as mentioned in Item (1) of the second paragraph of Article 9 of the *Award Regulations* means that the natural science discovery is proposed for the first time at home and abroad, or its scientific theory is elucidated for the first time at home and abroad, and the main treatises are published for the first time at home and abroad. Article 15 The phrase "has significant scientific value" as mentioned in Item (2) of the second paragraph of Article 9 of the *Award Regulations* means: (1) Having original ideas in scientific theories and doctrines, or having innovations in research methods and means; (2) Having significant significance for promoting the development of disciplines, or having important impact on economic construction and social development. Article 16 The phrase "recognized by the natural science community at home and abroad" as mentioned in Item (3) of the second paragraph of Article 9 of the *Award Regulations* means that the main treatises have been published in publicly issued academic journals at home and abroad or published as academic monographs for more than three years, and their important scientific conclusions have been positively cited or applied by domestic and foreign peers in important academic conferences, publicly issued important academic journals, and academic monographs. The proportion of main treatises published in domestic academic journals shall be gradually increased. Article 17 Candidates for the National Natural Science Award shall be the main authors of relevant scientific and technological treatises and meet one of the following conditions: (1) Proposed the overall academic ideas and research plans; (2) Discovered important scientific phenomena, characteristics, and laws, and elucidated scientific theories and doctrines; (3) Proposed research methods and means, solved key academic problems or experimental technical difficulties, and systematically collected and comprehensively analyzed important basic data. Article 18 The number of recipients for a single item of the first and second prizes of the National Natural Science Award shall not exceed 5; the number of recipients for a single item of the special prize shall be determined by the Awards Committee after being reviewed by the National Natural Science Award Review Committee. Article 19 The award grades of the National Natural Science Award shall be comprehensively evaluated based on the scientific discoveries made by the candidates, and the evaluation criteria are as follows: (1) Those that have made major original breakthroughs in science, whose discovered natural phenomena, revealed scientific laws, proposed academic theories, or research methods are recognized by the academic community at home and abroad, led the development of the discipline or related disciplines, or provided important theoretical support for key core technological breakthroughs, and have a significant impact on economic and social development may be awarded the first prize. (2) Those that have made important original breakthroughs in science, whose discovered natural phenomena, revealed scientific laws, proposed academic theories, or research methods are recognized by the academic community at home and abroad, promoted the development of the discipline or related disciplines, or provided theoretical support for related technological breakthroughs, and have an important impact on economic and social development may be awarded the second prize. Scientific discoveries with particularly prominent foresight and leadership, made particularly significant scientific breakthroughs, have particularly significant scientific value, and produced particularly significant impacts may be awarded the special prize. **Section 3 National Technological Invention Award** Article 20 The phrase "not yet invented or disclosed by predecessors" as mentioned in Item (1) of the second paragraph of Article 10 of the *Award Regulations* means that the technological invention is the first of its kind at home and abroad, or although it exists at home and abroad, the main technical content has not been published or disclosed in various domestic and foreign public publications, media, and other public channels, nor has it been publicly used. Article 21 The phrase "has advanced nature, creativity, and practicality" as mentioned in Item (2) of the second paragraph of Article 10 of the *Award Regulations* means that compared with similar technologies at home and abroad, the technological invention is comprehensively superior in terms of main performance (properties), technical and economic indicators, scientific and technological level, and its role and significance in promoting scientific and technological progress, with innovations in technical ideas, technical principles, or technical methods, prominent substantive characteristics and significant progress in technology, and produces obvious positive effects after manufacturing and use. Article 22 The phrase "after implementation, has created remarkable economic, social, and ecological benefits, or made remarkable contributions to safeguarding national security, and has good application prospects" as mentioned in Item (3) of the second paragraph of Article 10 of the *Award Regulations* means that the technological invention is mature, has been implemented and applied for more than three years, has achieved remarkable application effects, and has broad application potential or good prospects for sustainable development in the future. Article 23 Candidates for the National Technological Invention Award shall be the independent completers of all or part of the creative technical content of the technological invention. The number of recipients for a single item of the first and second prizes of the National Technological Invention Award shall not exceed 6; the number of recipients for a single item of the special prize shall be determined by the Awards Committee after being reviewed by the National Technological Invention Award Review Committee. Article 24 The award grades of the National Technological Invention Award shall be comprehensively evaluated based on the technological inventions made by the candidates, and the evaluation criteria are as follows: (1) Major technological inventions that are the first of their kind at home and abroad, with major innovations in key technologies, whose technical and economic indicators have reached the leading level of international similar technologies, promoted technological progress in related fields, generated significant economic, social, and ecological benefits, or made significant contributions to safeguarding national security, and have broad application prospects may be awarded the first prize. (2) Important technological inventions that are the first of their kind at home and abroad, with major innovations in main technologies, whose technical and economic indicators have reached the advanced level of international similar technologies, promoted technological progress in the field, generated remarkable economic, social, and ecological benefits, or made remarkable contributions to safeguarding national security, and have good application prospects may be awarded the second prize. Technological inventions with particularly prominent originality and subversive innovation, whose main technical and economic indicators are significantly better than international similar technologies or products, have created particularly significant economic, social, and ecological benefits, or made particularly significant contributions to safeguarding national security, and are of particularly significant significance for seizing the commanding heights of scientific and industrial development may be awarded the special prize. Article 25 The scope of the National Technological Invention Award does not include technologies that only rely on personal experience, skills, and techniques and cannot be repeatedly realized. **Section 4 National Science and Technology Progress Award** Article 26 The phrase "completed and applied to promote innovative scientific and technological achievements" as mentioned in the first paragraph of Article 11 of the *Award Regulations* includes the following categories: (1) Technology development category, that is, completing products, technologies, processes, materials, designs, and biological varieties with significant market practical value or meeting major national needs and their application and promotion, oriented to the main economic battlefield and major national needs; (2) Social public welfare category, that is, scientific and technological achievements and their application and promotion obtained in social public welfare scientific and technological undertakings such as ensuring people's life and health, protecting the ecological environment, investigating and rationally utilizing natural resources, monitoring, forecasting, and preventing natural disasters, and in scientific and technological basic work such as standards, metrology, scientific and technological information, scientific data, scientific and technological archives, and popularization of science and technology; (3) National security category, that is, scientific and technological achievements generated in activities related to national security, used only for national security purposes within a certain period, and of important significance for promoting the modernization of national defense and the military, enhancing national defense strength, and safeguarding national security; (4) Major engineering category, that is, major comprehensive capital construction projects, scientific and technological projects, national defense projects, etc. The major engineering category of the National Science and Technology Progress Award is only awarded to organizations. Individuals who have made scientific discoveries and technological inventions in completing major projects may be nominated separately for the National Natural Science Award and Technological Invention Award if they meet the conditions specified in the *Award Regulations* and these Rules. Article 27 The phrase "technically innovative and with advanced technical and economic indicators" as mentioned in Item (1) of the second paragraph of Article 11 of the *Award Regulations* means having important innovations in technology, especially independent innovation in high-tech fields, forming leading technologies and landmark products in the industry,