The Breakthrough Prize today announced that Mr. Ma Huateng Pony, founder and chairman of Tencent will join as one of its distinguished founding sponsors.
The Breakthrough Prize, which is the largest individual monetary prize in science, recognizes top achievements in Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics and Mathematics. Mr. Ma will join co-sponsors Sergey Brin (Google), Yuri Milner (DST Global) and Julia Milner, Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) and Priscilla Chan (Chan Zuckerberg Initiative), and Anne Wojcicki (23andMe) to show appreciation and support for the world’s leading scientists in these fields.
“Fundamental science is the bedrock of technological advancement. I believe the Breakthrough Prize can reinforce the bridge within the global community of researchers and mathematicians, facilitating mutual sharing between the East and West. In physics, life sciences or mathematics, the international science community is bringing the world closer together,” said Mr. Ma.
“Since its inception just five years ago, the Breakthrough Prize has seen considerable growth, said Breakthrough Prize co-founder Yuri Milner. “Now with Pony Ma joining us as a sponsor, we have the opportunity to take that growth to the next level. With this support, we would hope to see more nominations from Chinese scientists in the years ahead, along with greater visibility for the Breakthrough Prize among Chinese scientists at all stages of their careers.”
Recipients of the 2018 Breakthrough Prize will be announced at a gala ceremony in Silicon Valley on Sunday, December 3. The program, hosted by Academy Award®-winning actor Morgan Freeman, will air live on National Geographic at 10p ET/ 7p PT. It will feature a performance by multi-platinum selling hip hop artist and entrepreneur Wiz Khalifa with musician Nana Ou-Yang. Actress Mila Kunis, actor and investor Ashton Kutcher, and critically acclaimed actress and producer Kerry Washington, along with former NFL player turned mathematician John Urschel and Miss USA Kára McCullough, will appear as celebrity presenters.
This year, Tencent Video platform will for the first time air a one-hour of highlights of the 2018 Breakthrough Prize ceremony on December 10, 2017, reaching hundreds of millions of viewers in China.
Awarded annually since 2012 and dubbed “the Oscars of Science,” the Breakthrough Prize is the most generous science prize. Each prize is $3 million and awarded in the fields of Life Sciences (up to five prizes per year), Fundamental Physics (one prize per year) and Mathematics (one prize per year). In addition, up to three New Horizons in Physics and up to three New Horizons in Mathematics Prizes are awarded annually to early-career researchers. Laureates attend a star-studded, televised awards ceremony designed to celebrate their achievements, popularize scientific discoveries and inspire the next generation of scientists.
Since 2012, the Breakthrough Prize has awarded close to $200 million to honor paradigm-shifting research.
About the Breakthrough Prizes
For the sixth year, the Breakthrough Prizes will recognize the world’s top scientists. Each prize is $3 million and awarded in the fields of Life Sciences (up to five per year), Fundamental Physics (up to one per year) and Mathematics (up to one per year). In addition, up to three New Horizons in Physics and up to three New Horizons in Mathematics Prizes are given out to early-career researchers each year. Laureates attend a televised awards ceremony designed to celebrate their achievements and inspire the next generation of scientists. As part of the ceremony schedule, they also engage in a program of lectures and discussions. The Breakthrough Prizes were founded by Sergey Brin, Yuri and Julia Milner, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, and Anne Wojcicki. Selection Committees composed of previous Breakthrough Prize laureates choose the winners.
Information on the Breakthrough Prizes is available at www.breakthroughprize.org.
