TMTPOST--Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute (TCCT) on Friday worked together with Science magazine to launch the Chen Institute and Science Prize for AI Accelerated Reseach in an effort to advance fundamental research.

Submissions are now open for the first year of the prize, which will be awarded in 2025.

This award aims to recognize young scientists worldwide who harness artificial intelligence technologies—such as machine learning, natural language processing and computer vision—to solve important problems and accelerate advancements in the natural sciences, including life sciences and physical sciences.

“Science is delighted to be partnering with the Chen Institute on a new annual prize to honor major research advances that leverage artificial intelligence,” said Yury V. Suleymanov, a senior editor at Science. “We seek to recognize approaches that are unexpected – either in fields where AI hasn’t been used, or where its use represents a new way of tackling a problem.”

The prize-winning approach should not simply be an extension of what a group had been exploring, said Suleymanov, but rather, it should represent an application of AI that opens opportunities for other researchers worldwide.

He emphasized that the winning methodologies or research should serve as a source of inspiration for global researchers, offering a novel approach to leveraging AI beyond the conventional scope of its application.

“We’re very happy to unveil this prize, which will shine a light on novel applications of artificial intelligence that accelerate the pace of research in sciences,” said Chrissy Luo, the co-founder of the Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute. “This is a vital program which will foster innovation and celebrate advancements in AI that have the potential to transform research and ultimately improve lives.”

Applicants are required to submit a 1,000-word research paper detailing their most significant findings. The paper must focus on fundamental breakthroughs achieved through AI technologies in other research fields, particularly those that were previously unattainable without the use of AI.

The application deadline is December 13, 2024. A panel of experts organized by Science will evaluate the submissions, with the winners announced in July 2025. The Grand Prize winner will receive $30,000 and a five-year digital subscription to Science, with their research published in both the print and digital editions of the journal.

Additionally, up to two runners-up will each receive $10,000 and a five-year digital subscription, with their papers published in the digital edition of Science.