To offer greater support to young women researchers, the National Office for Philosophy and Social Sciences recently announced a policy change that raised the age limit to 40 for women applicants to the Youth Projects (under the National Social Science Fund of China). That is five years more compared with the age limit for men applicants. Previously, 35 was the age limit for both men and women applicants. 

The projects are intended to cultivate young social science research talents, and to promote the development and innovation of social sciences. 

The policy change follows a similar move (in 2011) by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSFC), which extended the age limit from 35 to 40 for women applicants to the Youth Science Fund Projects.

That adjustment resulted in a significant increase in women applicants (to the projects), reaching 47.5 percent in 2011, a jump of 11 percentage points from the previous year. By 2022, women made up 51.15 percent of applicants for NNSFC's Youth Science Fund Projects. 

Jin Kuijuan, a prominent physicist and academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, welcomed China's growing support for women researchers. 

She highlighted the roles of funding agencies, such as NNSFC and the National Outstanding Youth Science Fund, in relaxing the age restriction of women applicants (from 45 to 48 years old) earlier this year. The agencies were acknowledging the time women dedicate to family responsibilities.

(Women of China English Monthly May 2024)