On August 18, 2021, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) published the “the Announcement on the Evaluation Results of the 2021 NSFC Acceptance of Application Projects”. USTB has been approved for a total of 157 projects with direct funds of 82.07 million yuan, up 18.05% and 11.74% respectively compared with the same period last year. The approved projects include two National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, two Excellent Young Scientists Fund, three Key Projects, 73 General Projects, and 77 Young Scientists Fund.

This year, USTB' s average funding rate for accepted projects is 21.10%, 4.30% higher than the national average funding rate. Among them, the average funding rate of the general projects is 19.41%, nearly 2% higher than the national average funding rate; on the premise that the number of applications for the Young Scientists Fund has increased by 67, the average funding rate reached 28.95%, 11.66% higher than the national average funding rate and a new high in recent years, fully demonstrating the scientific research ability of young teachers in our university.

Two teachers have been awarded by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, which means that eight teachers have been awarded by the Fund for six consecutive years; two teachers have been awarded the Excellent Young Scientists Fund, which means that 21 teachers have been awarded by the Fund for ten consecutive years; three teachers have been awarded by the key projects in the fields of metallic materials, mining and metallurgical engineering, new concept materials and materials common science, which means that 52 teachers have been awarded the key projects for 16 consecutive years. At present, Joint Funds, Major Research Plan, Special Fund for Research on National Major Research Instruments, and the Research Fund for International Young Scientists are still in the evaluation process and are not included in this announcement.