Tang Prize Foundation Established in Taiwan: Academia Sinica to be Responsible for the Nomination and Selection of the International Awards in Taiwan

TAIPEI, Taiwan, Jan. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tang Prize Foundation has been officially established in Taiwan. The foundation has signed a contract with the country's highest research institution, Academia Sinica, which will be responsible for the nomination and selection for prizes in four categories: Sustainable Development, Biopharmaceutical Science, Sinology (excluding literary works), and Rule of Law. By recognizing the most original and influential work in these four fields, it is hoped that the Tang Prize will help promote first-class research to spur human development.

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The Tang Prize Foundation was established by Dr. Samuel Yin with a donation of NT$3 billion (around US$102,000,000). Dr. Yin said, "Setting up the Tang Prize has been one of my biggest dreams. I hope that the prize will encourage more research that is beneficial to the world and humankind, promote Chinese culture, and make the world a better place."

The four awards categories are important fields for humankind's future social development. The Tang Prize Foundation hopes to increase attention to these award fields from both academic circles and the public, and further to encourage experts to dedicate themselves to innovative research in these four fields. The efforts channeled into the Tang Prize all focus on the ultimate goal of improving human life. The Tang Prize will become one of the world's most prestigious and visionary awards and will allow Taiwan to be able to contribute even more to the international community.

The president of Academia Sinica, Chi-Huey Wong, said, "Historically, Academia Sinica has always had a first-rate reputation. Both at home and abroad, our academicians hold important positions in many fields, and thus have the professional capability to select the best candidates for the Tang Prize."

"We shall carefully select experts from each field, both in Taiwan and abroad, to compose the selection committee. With the most rigorous objectivity, this committee will select individuals or institutions that have demonstrated the most creative and influential research in the four fields. In this way, the Tang Prize will gradually acquire international credibility," he said.

From 2014, the Tang Prize will be awarded once every two years, to individuals or institutions that have made the most outstanding contributions in the four areas. Each will receive an amount not less than NT$40 million (around US$1,360,000) in prize money, and a further NT$10 million (around US$341,000) will be allocated for the execution of a plan submitted by the prize recipient(s) to promote and cultivate research and talent in the related area within a period of five years.

Nominations for the first Tang Prize will be drawn up by the Tang Prize selection committee, and invitations will be sent to eligible individuals and/or institutions in May 2013. The closing date for candidates to accept their nominations is September 30. The Tang Prize selection committee will present detailed reports on the final candidate(s) to the Tang Prize Foundation board at the end of April 2014. The Tang Prize Foundation board will announce the laureates on June 18, 2014.

About the Tang Prize Foundation

The Tang Prize Foundation was created in 2012 by chairman of the Ruentex Group, Dr. Samuel Yin, who invited a broad range of experts to serve on its board. The foundation is responsible for promoting the guiding principles of the Tang Prize and its sustainable management. It has commissioned Academia Sinica to organize a selection committee responsible for the nomination and selection process. The foundation will then select laureates based on the committee's professional advice. The foundation's website is www.tang-prize.org.

About the Tang Prize

The Tang Prize is an international award that recognizes the most original and influential researchers or institutes in the areas of Sustainable Development, Biopharmaceuticals Science, Sinology (excluding literary works), and Rule of Law. It is hoped that the prize will encourage scholars to dedicate themselves to research and development in these four areas and work towards sustainability and balanced development.

The Tang Prize is named after the Tang Dynasty, which is much admired by the prize founder. The dynasty was a golden age of cosmopolitan culture and the high point of China's prosperity. The Tang Dynasty has inspired generation after generation with admiration for its vibrant characteristics of self-confidence and cosmopolitan inclusiveness. Such are the qualities that the Tang Prize seeks to promote.

SOURCE Tang Prize Foundation