From Classroom Dreams to AI Breakthroughs: Inside Alibaba’s Qingcheng Award

The Qingcheng Award: A New Boost for Young Researchers

Thirty years ago, a child in a Chinese primary school might answer "I want to be a scientist" when asked about future ambitions. Today, Alibaba’s DAMO Academy has created the Qingcheng Award to turn such dreams into reality, awarding nine scholars under 35 with a 1 million‑RMB prize and full research support.

Yang Shusen – Distributed Optimization and Edge Computing

Professor Yang Shusen from Xi’an Jiaotong University, specializing in big‑data analysis and edge‑cloud collaborative intelligence, describes how the award enabled his team to grow from 30 to nearly 50 members. Their projects include optimizing aerospace engine manufacturing, improving power‑grid IoT efficiency, and enhancing 5G user experience. He emphasizes distributed optimization, which solves problems via many independent agents communicating to protect privacy while contributing data.

Jiang Wenshuai – Quantum Computing Collaboration

Jiang Wenshuai, a PhD from Peking University now at Zhejiang University, recounts his journey from early fascination with mathematics to leading quantum experiments. The Qingcheng Award facilitated a partnership with Alibaba’s Quantum Lab, allowing rapid hardware development and access to massive data for quantum algorithm testing.

Zhang Weinan – AI for Ride‑Hailing and Graph Matching

Assistant professor at Shanghai Jiao‑Tong University, Zhang Weinan, uses multi‑agent reinforcement learning to solve graph‑matching problems in ride‑hailing platforms. The award’s resources let him collaborate with a domestic mobility company, improving matching efficiency and reducing passenger wait times.

Other Winners’ Perspectives

Several awardees share personal reflections on research motivation, work‑life balance, and the value of societal impact over publications. They discuss challenges such as the loneliness of research, the importance of industry‑academic recognition, and the satisfaction of seeing their work improve everyday life.

Impact on Chinese Research Landscape

The winners note a growing trend of Chinese breakthroughs in AI, big data, and quantum computing, citing examples like the deep residual network from Microsoft Research Asia. They anticipate that in the next decade, many world‑changing discoveries will originate from China.

Overall, the Qingcheng Award not only provides financial support but also opens doors to extensive data, industry collaborations, and a platform for young scholars to pursue research that delivers real societal value.