Notices & Calls

I. Award Introduction

To thoroughly implement China's dual-carbon strategic goals, support disruptive technological breakthroughs and demonstration-driven change in carbon neutrality, and advance scientific innovation and talent development in this field, Tsinghua University and Envision Group have jointly established a globally oriented academic award: the Tsinghua-Envision Carbon Yuan Award (hereinafter referred to as the Carbon Yuan Award). The award is supported by a public-interest donation from Envision Group. Drawing on the expert network of the Institute for Carbon Neutrality at Tsinghua University and the international Grand Science Plan platform for Carbon Neutrality and Energy Intelligence, it aims to build a multidimensional innovation system and create a globally influential source of carbon-neutrality science, technology, innovation, and talent.

The Carbon Yuan Award is open to enrolled graduate students and postdoctoral researchers at Tsinghua University. It encourages young scholars to work at the academic frontier, serve national strategies, and carry out research explorations with originality, interdisciplinarity, and demonstration value, contributing to high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology. By recognizing original individual contributions in carbon neutrality, the award supports the cultivation of high-level, interdisciplinary young innovators urgently needed by the country and contributes breakthrough solutions for a sustainable future.

II. Organization

Hosts: Tsinghua University and Envision Group

Organizers: Institute for Carbon Neutrality, Tsinghua University; Center for Global Competence Development, Tsinghua University

Co-organizers: Tsinghua-Envision Indonesia Center for Sustainable Development; Tsinghua-Envision Brazil Center for Sustainable Development

Founding Committee of the Carbon Yuan Award:

He Kebin, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Dean of the Institute for Carbon Neutrality, Tsinghua University; Professor, School of Environment

Jiang Yi, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Professor, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University

Ouyang Minggao, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Professor, School of Vehicle and Mobility, Tsinghua University

Jiang Peixue, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Vice President of Tsinghua University; Professor, Department of Energy and Power Engineering

Li Zheng, Dean of the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Tsinghua University; Professor, Department of Energy and Power Engineering

Kang Chongqing, Chair and Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Electronics, Tsinghua University

Zhang Xiliang, Professor, Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University

Wei Fei, Chair of the Academic Committee and Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University

Executive Committee:

Guan Dabo, Vice Dean of the Institute for Carbon Neutrality, Tsinghua University; Professor, Department of Earth System Science

Zhang Yi, Deputy Director of the Center for Global Competence Development, Tsinghua University

Supervisory Committee:

Huang Feng, Deputy Secretary of the Tsinghua University Youth League Committee

III. Competition Tracks

The Carbon Yuan Award selection is divided into three tracks: Basic Research, Industrial Innovation, and Policy Research. Applicants must select the specific track for their project when submitting the application form. The tracks are as follows:

(1) Basic Research Track: focuses on fundamental scientific questions, principle breakthroughs, and technological innovation research in carbon neutrality, emphasizing originality, frontier value, and academic contribution.

(2) Industrial Innovation Track: focuses on engineering and industrialization pathways for innovative technologies, products, and services in carbon neutrality, emphasizing implementability and economic feasibility.

(3) Policy Research Track: focuses on global carbon-neutrality policies, mechanisms, social impact, and institutional design innovation, emphasizing foresight, operability, and general applicability.

IV. Awards and Support

1. Prize awards

2. Development support

The Carbon Yuan Award is committed to building a long-term development platform for participants, connecting them with an innovation community in carbon neutrality, and continuously helping them broaden their perspectives, enhance their capabilities, and make further progress in research, industry, policy, and related fields.

V. Selection Process

The Carbon Yuan Award is generally selected once each year. The selection process strictly follows the procedure of independent application, preliminary expert review, candidate defense, and deliberation by the Institute for Carbon Neutrality's administrative meeting. The specific selection schedule is subject to the annual announcement on the official website of the Institute for Carbon Neutrality, Tsinghua University.

The selection process for this round is as follows:

1. Individual application stage: from now until 24:00 on October 15, 2025 (based on the email submission time). The Carbon Yuan Award includes three categories: Basic Research, Industrial Innovation, and Policy Research. Eligible graduate students or postdoctoral researchers may apply voluntarily. Applicants should submit the Tsinghua-Envision Carbon Yuan Award Application Form (template provided in the attachment), supporting materials (such as published papers, authorized patents, business plans, policy research reports, or other proof of achievements), and a presentation PPT for the defense stage (optional).

The above application materials, signed by both the applicant and the supervisor, should be sent before the deadline to the designated email address for the Carbon Yuan Award selection: icon-office@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn. The email subject should be named as Carbon Yuan Award + [Award Name] + Applicant Name (Unit), for example: Carbon Yuan Award + [Carbon Yuan Pioneer Award] + Li Ming (Department of Energy and Power Engineering).

2. Preliminary review stage: October to November 2025. Experts will conduct written reviews and determine the shortlist.

3. Defense stage: November to December 2025. Candidates will make public defenses, and experts will conduct on-site reviews.

4. Public announcement and award ceremony: December 2025 to January 2026. The Institute for Carbon Neutrality's administrative meeting will deliberate on the results, announce the award list, and hold the award ceremony. Awardees may be invited to visit Envision Group for on-site study and research.

VI. Review Criteria

The Carbon Yuan Award selection upholds the principles of fairness, impartiality, and openness. It focuses on the applicant's original individual contribution and leading role, and conducts a comprehensive review across five dimensions: innovation, feasibility, interdisciplinarity, impact, and presentation.

VII. Application Requirements

Full-time enrolled graduate students and full-time in-station postdoctoral researchers at Tsinghua University are eligible to apply. Applicants should demonstrate excellent moral character, comply with laws, regulations, and university rules, maintain sound academic conduct and strong academic performance, and actively work at the academic frontier and serve national strategies during their time at the university. They should carry out research explorations with innovation, interdisciplinarity, and demonstration value, and contribute to high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology.

(1) The submitted achievement must list Tsinghua University as the first completing institution.

(2) The project must be submitted in the name of an individual. The applicant should be the first contributor to the project, with an individual contribution of no less than 50%, and must be able to clearly explain the leading contribution. The project may be a team collaboration result, and other members may be listed in the materials. The award is granted only to the individual applicant.

(3) The submitted project must be reviewed and approved by the supervisor, who must sign the application form. Classified projects are not eligible.

(4) Each person may apply for only one award and may not submit duplicate applications across awards. The name of the award applied for must be specified.

(5) The submitted project must be the applicant's original achievement. If it has already received another science and technology innovation award of the same type, the applicant should explain the innovation, relationship to previous achievements, and the applicant's new contribution.

(6) The submitted project must not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others, and all materials must be true, accurate, and verifiable.

VIII. Competition Supervision

To ensure the seriousness, fairness, impartiality, and transparency of the selection work, a Supervisory Committee for the Carbon Yuan Award has been established. Details are as follows:

1. Supervisory Committee setup: The Supervisory Committee for the Carbon Yuan Award is composed of representatives from the host and organizing units and relevant university departments. It is responsible for supervising the full process of application, review, public announcement, and related stages, and for accepting relevant appeals and reports. The Supervisory Committee operates independently from the Executive Committee and the Award Review Committee.

2. Acceptance of appeals and reports: During the selection period, the Supervisory Committee will establish and announce dedicated channels for appeals and reports. Any individual or organization with objections to a participating project or to the selection process may submit a real-name written report to the Supervisory Committee within the specified period. The Supervisory Committee will verify and handle the report and keep the reporter's information confidential.

3. Investigation and handling: After receiving an appeal or report, the Supervisory Committee will initiate an investigation, verify the reported circumstances, take appropriate action against relevant individuals or projects according to the seriousness of the case, and notify relevant units.

4. Supervision of benefit implementation: After the selection is completed, the Supervisory Committee will supervise the implementation and process of prize disbursement and subsequent support to effectively protect the rights and interests due to awardees.

IX. Supplementary Provisions

These measures take effect from the date of publication and are interpreted by the Institute for Carbon Neutrality, Tsinghua University.

X. Others

If an applicant is found to have committed fraud or other misconduct during the Carbon Yuan Award selection process, the applicant will be disqualified once verified. If a Carbon Yuan Award recipient is later found not to meet the selection requirements, or after receiving the award commits violations of laws, regulations, or discipline and can no longer serve an exemplary role, the award already granted will be revoked according to procedure, and relevant rewards and certificates will be withdrawn.

Contacts:

Liu Yingxue and Wu Haiping

Email: icon-office@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn

Huang Feng (competition supervision and oversight)

Email: huangfeng2021@tsinghua.edu.cn