Dear Faculty Members,
In accordance with the requirements outlined in the “Notice of the Shandong Provincial Department of Education on Issuing the Implementation Plan for the Shandong Provincial Higher Education Institutions’ Youth Innovation Team Development programme” (Lu Jiao Ke Zi [2022] No. 1), the Provincial Department of Education has initated to launch the selection process for Youth Innovation Team Development programme. Relevant details are hereby notified as follows:
I. Application Requirements
The Youth Innovation Team shall comprise a leader and core members, including one leader and two to six core members, all under the age of 35 (born after 1 January 1987). Generally, members should hold a doctoral degree or possess a senior professional technical title (professional title). Team members must demonstrate academic integrity, high academic achievement, and innovative academic thinking, while also meeting the following requirements:
(I) Team Leader
a. Must be a full-time young faculty member engaged in research and teaching at a higher education institution within the province.
b. Possess strong organisational and coordination skills, demonstrating significant cohesive influence within the Youth Innovation Team.
c. Have sufficient time and energy dedicated to the Youth Innovation Team’s research and organisational management.
d. May serve as the leader of only one Youth Innovation Team per development cycle.
e. Individuals who have already received support from provincial/ministerial-level or higher talent programmes are ineligible to apply.
(II) Core Team Members
a. Possess a solid collaborative foundation and a balanced disciplinary structure within the Youth Innovation Team, with encouragement for interdisciplinary integration.
b. Have clearly defined task divisions, with each member committing sufficient time and effort to their assigned research responsibilities within the Youth Innovation Team.
(III) Research-Based Education
Members of the Youth Innovation Team shall undertake relevant teaching duties and be able to transform the team’s research outcomes into teaching resources through various means, such as delivering core courses, conducting technical skill training, and organising academic lectures.
The Youth Innovation Team should support student participation in research projects and activities and foster an environment conducive to student innovation, entrepreneurship, internships, and practical training.
(IV) Organizational Support
The host university must provide a conducive research environment and work atmosphere for the Youth Innovation Team. The Youth Innovation Team should possess the capacity to secure a portion of its research funding independently.
II. Research Content
Research content of the Youth Innovation Team must demonstrate distinct contemporary relevance, problem-oriented approaches, and innovative thinking. This includes fundamental research, applied fundamental research, frontier technology research, technological innovation and integration, engineering research, new product development, and interdisciplinary research between natural sciences and philosophy/social sciences. Research projects of the Youth Innovation Team must feature scientifically sound research plans, reasonable funding budgets, and clearly defined, objective, and quantifiable outcomes with demonstrable socioeconomic benefits.
Priority will be given to breakthrough innovations in key core technologies, frontier-leading technologies, modern engineering technologies, and disruptive technologies by the Youth Innovation Team;
Priority will be given to research serving national strategies and provincial socio-economic development needs by the Youth Innovation Team, including ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin, major projects for new-old kinetic energy conversion, rural revitalization, ocean development, military-civilian integration, and major disease prevention and control.
III. Other Requirements
(I) The construction cycle for Youth Innovation Teams is three years. Following the principles of “selective support, annual reporting, and final assessment,” Youth Innovation Teams recommended by their universities and passing our department’s formal review will undergo evaluation by experts from relevant fields within and outside the province. Support will be granted based on expert review opinions.
(II) Application materials serve as critical basis for evaluation and future funding support for the Youth Innovation Team. Universities must attach high importance to this process and organize applications diligently. Team leaders should complete applications meticulously, emphasizing the Youth Innovation Team’s innovative potential, developing robust research plans, setting reasonable output targets, and ensuring high-quality application materials.
(III) The application form for the Youth Innovation Team must be factual, accurate, and objective in its wording. Supporting materials must be authentic, reliable, comprehensive, and clearly presented. Any instances of inaccuracy or falsification will result in disqualification and public notification.
Law School
2022.07.08
