Recently, the National Natural Science Foundation of China announced the review results of the 2019 centralized application projects for the National Natural Science Foundation. The School has secured approval for a total of 8 projects of various types, including 1 key project, 4 general programs, and 3 youth projects, with a total direct funding of 4.79 million yuan. The overall project funding rate reached 36%, and the direct funding increased by 213% compared with 2018. The number of approved projects, the categories of approvals, and the approved funding have all hit a record high, marking a major breakthrough—particularly the School’s first-ever approval of a Key Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

In recent years, the School has regarded basic research as the core of its development, with national strategic demands as the orientation of academic research. Combining national strategies and the disciplinary advantages of the university and the School, it has formulated and proposed guidelines for major and key national-level foundation projects, and carried out solid work in the cultivation and application of such projects. To encourage and guide faculty members to actively engage in basic research, the School has also launched support programs for outstanding young teachers, interdisciplinary frontier exploration projects funded by the fundamental research funds for the central universities, and cultivation programs for major and key national-level projects, providing special funds to support faculty in conducting basic research. In addition, the School has further tapped into faculty potential, expanded the scope of project applications, and improved the quality of application proposals by organizing experience-sharing sessions, guidance lectures, and review meetings on national foundation applications. Meanwhile, various research teams of the School have played an important role in the application process. Each applicant has been assigned a one-on-one supervisor within the team, which has effectively enhanced the targeted guidance for project applications.

The major breakthrough achieved by the School in the 2019 National Natural Science Foundation project approvals is the result of the joint efforts of all faculty members. Going forward, the School will continue to improve the organization and planning of scientific research project applications, further elevate the output of high-quality research achievements, enhance its capacity to serve social and economic development, improve the effectiveness of research team building, give full play to the leading and supporting role of basic research, and contribute to the university’s "Double First-Class" initiative.