Notice on Launching the 2026 Young Science and Technology Talent Cultivation Program—Special Project on Doctoral Students
CIN Document No. [2026] 98
To all member units:
In order to thoroughly implement the strategy of empowering the country with talents’ development, and advance the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talents, the Institute has decided, in accordance with the unified deployment and requirements of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), to launch the 2026 Young Science and Technology Talent Cultivation Program—Special Project on Doctoral Students (hereinafter referred to as "the Program"). The program aims to vigorously cultivate outstanding young science and technology talent in the maritime field, and give full play to the positive role of China Institute of Navigation (CIN) in enhancing the capabilities, broadening the horizons, and improving the competence of young sci-tech talent in the maritime field. Relevant matters are hereby notified as follows.
I. Eligibility Criteria
The Program is a capacity-building initiative for young sci-tech personnel, designed to help selected participants gain a deeper understanding of China's national conditions, broaden their professional horizons, and gain insight into societal needs. The specific criteria are as follows:
- Be patriotic, abide by laws and regulations, possess sound political qualities, and have no record of disciplinary or legal violations.
- Be a full-time doctoral student, in principle holding Chinese citizenship, no older than 30 years of age (calculated as of August 31 of the application year), with at least two years remaining before graduation.
- Be committed to a long-term career in maritime sci-tech innovation; be diligent in study and dedicated to research; demonstrate good academic conduct and ethics, with no record of academic misconduct.
- The research directions pursued at the doctoral and master's stages should demonstrate continuity, relevance, or interdisciplinary overlap, with the discipline falling within science, engineering, interdisciplinary fields, or related areas.
- Focus on major national strategic needs, conducting research on key and core technologies, strategic frontiers, basic research, emerging industries, and future industries.
- Under equal conditions, candidates meeting one of the following criteria may be given priority in recommendation:
(1) Winners of provincial-level outstanding master's degree theses, or recipients of national-level scholarships during graduate studies (including master's programs, master's-to-doctoral continuity programs, direct doctoral programs, and regular doctoral programs);
(2) Students who have published papers as first author (including co-first author) in high-level journals in this field;
(3) Students who have been granted national or international invention patents as the first inventor.
- Candidates must be individual members of CIN.
- Doctoral students who have previously been selected for this Program may not apply again.
II. Recommending Units and Quotas
(I) Recommending Units
Qualified universities and research institutes that are members of China Institute of Navigation shall carry out recommendation work in accordance with the requirements of this notice and allocated quotas. Following review and public announcement by China Institute of Navigation, the Institute will submit nominations to China Association for Science and Technology (CAST).
(II) Quotas
Each unit shall recommend no more than five candidates.
III. Recommendation Procedures
Online recommendation for this program shall be conducted via the Smart CAST Service Platform, which is now accessible at: http://kecaihui-tm-zz.cast.org.cn/match-page/qtgc
- Recommending channel to assign recommendation codes members with candidates intending to apply shall contact the designated contact for program inquiries to obtain a recommendation code
- Selected candidates complete and submit personal information After organizing internal review, recommending units must conduct public announcement for no less than three working days before confirming candidates for cultivation. Confirmed candidates log in to the service platform (register or sign in with mobile phone number plus verification code), select Applicant — Go to Application, fill out the Recommendation Form for the CAST Youth Science and Technology Talent Cultivation Program (Doctoral Student Special Track) (sample form in attachments), enter the recommendation code, upload supporting documents, and submit all materials by 23:59, September 15, 2026. Meanwhile, recommending entities shall send the ranked recommendation letter and public -announcement supporting documents to the email: kejibu@cinnet.cn by the same deadline.
- Review and submission of recommended candidate list China Institute of Navigation reviews candidate materials, finalizes the official recommended candidate list, and submits it to China Association for Science and Technology.
IV. Relevant Requirements
This program provides selected participants with development services including political training, professional advancement and social practice over a 2 - year cultivation period. Selected participants shall actively take part in cultivation activities and fulfill required program assignments. Those who fail to complete required assignments during the cultivation period will have their cultivation qualification revoked.
V. Contact
- Program-related inquiries: Wang Yan: 010 - 65299866 Rao Jingchuan: 010 - 65299829
- Institutional & individual membership inquiries: Li Sha: 010 - 65299867
- Service platform technical support: Yao Xiaojie, Liu Hongyu: 010 - 62165285
Attachment: Sample of Recommendation Form for the CAST Youth Science and Technology Talent Cultivation Program (Doctoral Student Special Track)
China Institute of Navigation
August 6, 2026
