2025 Breakthrough Prize in Science Announced: Seven Scientists Awarded for Research on Bird Origins, Topological Materials, and Data Storage Technologies

On August 6, 2025, the winners of the 2025 Future Science Prize were officially announced. Seven scientists were honored for groundbreaking contributions in the fields of life sciences, physical sciences, and mathematics and computer science. They will share a total prize fund of approximately 7.2 million RMB (equivalent to 1 million USD), making it one of the most prestigious science awards in Greater China. Since its establishment in 2016, the Future Science Prize has become a leading recognition of outstanding scientific achievements in the Chinese-speaking world, often referred to as the "Chinese Nobel Prize." The award aims to celebrate original, long-term, and impactful fundamental research that has made significant societal contributions and withstood the test of time. Life Science Prize: Providing Definitive Evidence for the Origin of Birds from Dinosaurs The Life Science Prize was awarded to three pioneering paleontologists: Ji Qiang, Xu Xing, and Zhou Zhonghe. Their combined work has provided decisive evidence supporting the long-debated theory that birds evolved from dinosaurs, transforming it from a controversial hypothesis into a widely accepted scientific fact. Ji Qiang, born in 1951 in Jiangsu Province, is a终身特聘教授 (lifetime distinguished professor) at Hebei GEO University. He graduated from the Department of Stratigraphy and Paleobiology at Nanjing University. In the 1990s, Ji and his late colleague Chen Piji independently reported the discovery of the world’s first feathered non-avian dinosaur fossils in the Liaoxi region of China—marking the beginning of a new era in feathered dinosaur research. Over decades, Ji discovered and described numerous rare species, including Shenqiornis and Huameijinfengornis, and published more than 20 papers in top-tier journals such as Science and Nature. Xu Xing, born in 1969 in Xinjiang, is a researcher and deputy director at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, and an academician of the CAS. He earned his degree in geology from Peking University in 1992 and a PhD from IVPP in 2002. Xu and his team discovered and analyzed a series of transitional fossils between dinosaurs and birds. His morphological, taxonomic, and functional studies have clarified the evolutionary link between these groups, particularly in the origins of feathers and flight. He notably proposed the concept of “four-winged dinosaurs,” a key insight into early avian evolution. Zhou Zhonghe, born in 1965 in Jiangsu, is a researcher at IVPP, CAS academician, and foreign member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. He received his PhD in paleoornithology from the University of Kansas in 1999. Zhou was one of the discoverers of Confuciusornis fossils and has dedicated his career to studying Mesozoic bird evolution. Through phylogenetic analysis, anatomical studies, and functional inference, he provided conclusive evidence that birds are a lineage of theropod dinosaurs. His extensive publications in Science and Nature, along with his efforts in science communication, have profoundly shaped public and scientific understanding of bird origins. Physical Science Prize: Pioneering Contributions to Topological Electronic Materials The Physical Science Prize was awarded to three physicists—Fang Zhong, Dai Xi, and Ding Hong—for their groundbreaking work in the theoretical prediction and experimental realization of topological electronic materials. Fang Zhong, born in 1970 in Hubei, is a researcher and director at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a CAS academician. He earned his PhD from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 1996. Fang has long focused on the theoretical study of novel quantum phenomena in condensed matter systems. He and Dai Xi developed a comprehensive computational framework that predicted key topological materials, including topological insulators and Weyl semimetals—predictions later confirmed by experiments, shaping the direction of the field. Dai Xi, born in 1971 in Zhejiang, is a chair professor at the Department of Physics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He received his PhD from the Institute of Theoretical Physics, CAS, in 1999. His research spans strongly correlated electron systems and computational materials science. His collaboration with Fang Zhong laid the theoretical foundation for topological materials, successfully bridging abstract topological concepts with real-world material properties. He has been consistently ranked among the world’s top "Highly Cited Researchers" for years. Ding Hong, born in 1968 in Hunan, is a chair professor at the Li Zhengdao Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and a CAS academician. He earned his PhD in physics from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1995. Ding played a pivotal role in turning theory into experiment. Using innovative angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), he achieved the first experimental observation of Weyl fermions in the semimetal materials predicted by Fang and Dai—marking a milestone in topological physics. His work provided definitive experimental validation of the exotic quantum behaviors in these materials. Mathematics and Computer Science Prize: Invention and Leadership in Non-Volatile Memory Technology The Mathematics and Computer Science Prize was awarded to Dr. Lu Zhiyuan for his pioneering inventions and leadership in non-volatile semiconductor memory (NVM) technology. His contributions have significantly advanced cell density, device integration, and data reliability in memory systems. Lu Zhiyuan, born in 1950 in Guangzhou, is currently the CEO of Macronix International Co., Ltd. and Chairman of Xinquan Technology. He earned his PhD in physics from Columbia University in the United States in 1977 and spent many years leading research at AT&T Bell Labs. With over 30 years of experience in semiconductors, Lu has authored more than 400 papers and holds over 150 international patents. He pioneered key technologies including high-density 4-bit-per-cell NVM, deep sub-10nm BE-SONOS devices, and 3D single-gate vertical-channel NVM—critical innovations that have enhanced the performance of storage systems and underpinned advancements in AI, mobile communications, and cloud computing. Lu also led Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs’ sub-micron technology program, successfully enabling independent R&D and mass production of DRAM, playing a vital role in positioning Taiwan’s semiconductor industry on the global stage. The Future Science Prize Committee announced that the 2025 Future Science Prize Week will take place from October 22 to 26 in Hong Kong, featuring a global summit with leading scientists and a formal award ceremony at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.