Fudan University alumnus donates 1 billion yuan to launch advanced research institute

(ECNS) -- A Fudan University alumni couple has donated 1 billion yuan (about $136.76 million) to help establish an advanced research institute focused on basic and interdisciplinary.

The Xuemin Advanced Research Institute will invite the world's most outstanding young scientists within five years of completing their PhD to carry out groundbreaking, technologically revolutionary, and profoundly impactful work.

According to Fudan University, Li Ping is an alumnus of the university's Department of Materials Science who graduated in 1985, while Liao Mei graduated from the Department of History in 1986. The two met here. After completing his undergraduate studies, Li entered the business world and became a co-founder of CATL. Liao spent 10 years studying at Fudan and got a PhD degree.

In November 2024, the couple returned to campus and learned from the university's research leadership about plans to establish a high-level research institute. After in-depth discussions with the university, they decided to construct the Xuemin Advanced Research Institute.

Explaining the meaning behind "Xuemin," the couple shared that Xue represents the path of scholarly pursuit while "Min" embodies both diligence and intellectual acuity.

The institute aims to break down barriers between disciplines, with interdisciplinarity as one of its defining features, the university said.

It will focus on cutting-edge domains including mathematics, physics, chemistry, materials science, biology, medicine, environmental science, artificial intelligence, and big data. Its mission is to explore innovative scientific theories, methodologies, and technologies—pioneering entirely new research frontiers rather than chasing trends or publications.

The institute will provide tailored resources and 20-year support to talents, ensuring they can focus on high-risk, high-value projects without concerns over short-term pressures.

It aims to attract passionate innovators with interdisciplinary potential, especially top scientific talents born in the 1990s, encouraging collaborative breakthroughs to produce Nobel-caliber achievements.

(By Zhang Dongfang)