State Natural Science Award (China)


The State Natural Science Award, or the "National Natural Science Award", is one of the State [Science and Technology Prizes] of the People's Republic of China. Awarded achievements are approved and granted by the State Council of China.
The State Natural Science Award is awarded to Chinese citizens who have made significant scientific discoveries in basic research and applied basic research in mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, earth sciences, life sciences, information, materials, and engineering technology, etc., elucidating natural phenomena, characteristics, and laws.
Since 2000, the State Natural Science Award only has two award grades: First Prize and Second Prize. The First Prize was the highest award in the field of natural sciences in China, before the Highest Science and Technology Award was established in 2000.

History

The award was established by the State Council of China in 1956. It was then called the "Chinese Academy of Sciences Award"
In 1982, the award was formally called the "State Natural Science Award")
In 2025, China revised its national science and technology award guidelines to align more closely with national strategic priorities, emphasizing frontier science, major national needs, and research integrity. Under the updated system, the State Natural Science Award continues as one of the core national prizes. And, together with the State Technological Invention Award and the State Science and Technology Progress Award, amounts to fewer than 300 prizes biennially.
The State Natural Science Award is administered by the National Office for Science and Technology Awards, which oversees the nomination, evaluation, and final approval procedures.

First Prize

The winning projects of the State Natural Science Award First Prize over the years are:
1956
  1. Theory of functions of multiple complex variables on typical domains
  2. Research on characteristic classes and embedding classes
  3. Engineering cybernetics
1982
  1. Research on the total synthesis of bovine insulin, Ji Aixue, Xing Qiyi, Wang You, Xu Jiecheng
  2. Earth Science Work During the Discovery of Daqing Oilfield ; Zhang Wenzhao, Yang Jiliang, Zhong Qiquan, Weng Wenbo, Yu Boliang, Qiu Zhongjian, Tian Zaiyi, Hu Hanyuan, Zhao Shengzhen, Li Desheng, etc. ; Zhang Wenyou, Hou Defeng, Gu Gongxu, Gu Zhiwei )
  3. Coordination Field Theory Research and his research group: Sun Jiazhong, Deng Conghao, Zhang Gan'er, Jiang Yuansheng, Yan Guosen, Liu Ruozhuang, Zhao Jingyu, Gu Zheng, Li Bofu )
  4. Discovery of the Anti-Sigma-Negative Hyperon -
  5. Geological Maps of China and Asia, Wang Shaowei, Li Tingdong, Geng Shufang, Li Chunyu, Wang Hongzhen, Zhang Zonghu
  6. Goldbach Conjecture Research -, Pan Chengdong )
  7. History of Science and Technology in China -
  8. Physical, Mechanical and Mathematical Theoretical Problems in the Design Principles of Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs.
1987
  1. Comprehensive Study on the Uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its Impact on the Natural Environment and Human Activities
  2. Stability Study of Differential Dynamical Systems
  3. East Asian Atmospheric Circulation
  4. Molecular Orbital Graphical Theory and Its Applications
  5. Artificial Total Synthesis of Yeast Alanine Transfer RNA
  6. Proteins Quantitative Relationship between Functional Group Modification and its Bioactivity
  7. Illustrated Flora of Higher Plants of China and Key to Families and Genuses of Higher Plants of China
  8. Research on Ancient Chinese Architectural Theory and Conservation of Cultural Relics
  9. Discovery and Research on Five-fold Symmetry and Ti-Ni Quasicrystal Phase
  10. Geochemistry of Stratabound Deposits in China
  11. Research on the Large Set of Disjoint Steiner Ternary Systems
1989
  1. Discovery of Oxide Superconductors in the Liquid Nitrogen Temperature Range
  2. Theory and Design of Software Engineering Environment Based on Temporal Logic
1991
1993 Systematic Arrangement and Historical Origin of Families and Genus of Ferns in China -
1995
1997
  1. Symplectic Geometric Algorithm of Hamiltonian System
1999, 2000, 2001
2002
  1. Research on organic molecular clusters and free radical chemistry-
2003
  1. Chengjiang Fauna and the Cambrian Explosion, Hou Xianguang, Shu Degan )
2004
2005
2006
  1. Design, preparation, properties and applications of dielectric superlattice materials-
  2. Reactivity of multiple bonds in metal complexes-
2007, 2008
2009
  1. Flora of China, Chen Huanyong, Wu Zhengyi, Wang Wencai, Li Xiwen, Hu Qiming, Chen Yilin, Chen Xinqi, Cui Hongbin, Zhang Hongda
2010, 2011, 2012
2013
  1. Discovery of Fe-based Superconductors with Tc＞40 K and Determination of Some Basic Physical Properties, Chen Xianhui, Wang Nanlin, Wen Haihu, Fang Zhong )
2014
  1. Research on network computing paradigms and their fundamental theories -, Zhou Yuezhi, Lin Chuang, Ren Fengyuan, Wang Guojun )
2015
  1. Multiphoton entanglement and interferometry
2016
  1. Discovery of A new Type of Neutrino Oscillation at the Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment - Wang Yifang, Cao Jun, Yang Changgen, Heng Yuekun, Li Xiaonan
2017
  1. Molecular basis underlying high-yield and superior-quality traits and breeding elite rice varieties by molecular design, Han Bin, Qian Qian, Wang Yonghong, Huang Xuehui )
  2. Aggregation-induced emission-, Qin Anjun, Dong Yuping, Li Zhen, Sun Jingzhi )
2020
  1. Creation and application of ordered mesoporous polymers and carbon materials-
  2. "Nano-confined catalysis"- Bao Xinhe, Pan Xiulian, Fu Qiang, Deng Dehui.

Events

  • On February 2, 2015, an IT engineer posted on the open-source code software platform GitHub, claiming that Zhang Yaoxue and his research team's project, "Research on network computing paradigms and their fundamental theories", which won the first prize of the 2014 National Natural Science Award, was suspected of plagiarizing open-source code software. The post caused great controversy.