"Mr. Huang, regarding the two new awards you've introduced, the Mathematics and Industry Award and the Outstanding Contributor Award, we haven't heard of them before. What are their selection criteria?" a reporter asked.
"The Mathematics and Industry Award is quite straightforward. It's for enterprises, collectives, or individuals who have made outstanding contributions in mathematics or large-scale civilian industrial production. Mathematics, well, you all know about it since childhood. For industrial production, let me elaborate: it refers to industries that have filled a gap in our country, and this award is for those breakthroughs!"
"For example, if an enterprise or unit produces a domestically made long-range regional jetliner, a large aircraft, they would be eligible for this award!"
"Or, if an enterprise can overcome production challenges to create a fully domestic engine for large passenger aircraft, that would also be award-worthy!"
"For instance, sending our people to the moon, or establishing a space station, these are industrial miracles and also qualify for the award."
"Furthermore, if an enterprise can establish a complete, domestically produced production line for computer chips, that would naturally be recognized as well."
"These are generally major industrial breakthroughs. In fact, such awards are not new; our country has had plans for industrial breakthroughs for a long time, but no one has ever presented them with awards. Today, I am rectifying that," Huang He explained.
"This is truly unusual!" All the reporters couldn't help but murmur. Awarding breakthroughs in large-scale industrial production is likely a first among various major awards worldwide. Mr. Huang really knows how to come up with new ideas.
"Mr. Huang, by establishing an award that doesn't exist anywhere else in the world, aren't you being a bit out of touch?" another reporter pressed.
"What do you mean by 'out of touch'?" Huang He's expression soured slightly. "The clothes you are wearing are produced by the textile industry; the food you eat, the coffee and tea you drink, are processed by the agricultural industry; the glasses on your nose are manufactured by the resin materials industry; the microphone in your hand, and the computer on your back, are produced by the electronics industry. Everything about you, from head to toe, apart from your physical body which your parents gave you, is an industrial product!"
"Whether it's chemistry, physics, mathematics, or any other discipline, they all, in essence, serve industrial production. The lives of all people worldwide are supported by industrial production."
"Yet, for such a vital industry, there isn't a single award worldwide dedicated to it. Isn't that rather comical?" Huang He chuckled. "Therefore, I've decided to establish an award for these industrial breakthroughs as a form of recognition. This is not an out-of-touch award; rather, the world seems to be out of touch with the importance of industry."
The audience was left speechless by Huang He's explanation. Although, some might argue that Huang He's statement had a loophole: industrial production is inherently profitable, making the breakthrough itself the greatest reward. Additional awards might seem redundant.
However, Huang He had already considered this. These awards are specifically intended for China's industrial contributors. After all, China's industry differs from that of other nations.
Other countries' industries are profit-driven, with all industrial endeavors focused on making money. However, many of China's industries are focused on public welfare, undertaken by state-owned enterprises that engage in research and development without prioritizing cost or profit.
Thus, Huang He's awards are planned to be presented to these industrial breakthroughs.
In truth, Huang He would have preferred to award breakthroughs in the military industry. However, due to secrecy concerns and the risk of becoming a target for foreign entities, and considering that Jiangnan Group would eventually venture abroad to earn foreign currency, Huang He felt the need for a degree of discretion in this area.
"As for the Outstanding Contributor Award, it's also quite straightforward. It's specifically for individual researchers in our country. Many researchers in China may not have produced earth-shattering research results, but they have dedicated their entire selves to the development of our nation and its people. Such fearless researchers are also individuals we need to recognize."
After Huang He finished his explanation, the venue erupted in warm applause. They suddenly felt that Huang He's points were quite valid, and these two awards were indeed worthy of establishment.
Moreover, they seemed to carry more significance than the Nobel Prizes.
"Mr. Huang, have you considered a potential issue? You mentioned that the awards are for Chinese researchers. If your aim is to surpass the Nobel Prize, wouldn't imposing such a restriction, rather than an international scope for selection, make it difficult to gain universal recognition?" another reporter inquired.
"Your point is valid. However, as I said, in my lifetime, Huang He Awards will surpass the Nobel Prize. Given my current age, I likely have about sixty years left, so I can afford to wait."
"Of course, the Huang He Awards will eventually be open for global nominations. However, this comes with a prerequisite: China must become the world's number one economy."
"Our Chinese people are still poor, very poor. So, my money is currently intended to support our compatriots at home. Only when the Chinese people are prosperous can we consider looking outward; that's the natural order of things!" Huang He said with a smile.
"Haha!" The reporter couldn't help but chuckle. "Mr. Huang, do you truly believe China can surpass the United States and become the world's number one economy within sixty years? Do you genuinely think such a thing is possible, considering we are currently only the third-largest economy?"
"It's not a possibility, it's a certainty!" Huang He shook his head. "I believe I will witness this day in my lifetime. Under the leadership of all our citizens and the great people's government, this day will surely arrive, and the Chinese nation will achieve complete rejuvenation!"
"Clap, clap, clap!" Scattered applause echoed through the hall. Those applauding were mostly staff members from Jiangnan present at the event. Naturally, some guests on the stage also applauded, but most reporters merely followed suit with polite, insincere claps. Some didn't even bother to move their hands.
"Just for show," many reporters thought to themselves.
"Then, Mr. Huang, the Nobel Prize is evaluated by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Who will be responsible for evaluating your Huang He Awards?" another reporter posed a very important question.
"I have a complete plan for this. Starting next year, the entire selection process for the Huang He Awards will consist of three steps: nomination, voting, and final selection," Huang He stated very seriously.
"Firstly, I will invite approximately 100 experts from various industries across the country to form a Huang He Award Selection Council. This council will be responsible for the nomination process."
"Any expert within the council will have one nomination opportunity, allowing them to nominate candidates for any award. Once compiled, each award must have a minimum of 10 nominated candidates. If this number cannot be reached, the council will convene to supplement the data for the 10 nominees."
"Following that is the voting. We will establish a dedicated Huang He Award website, and all website members will vote for the nominated candidates. We will then select the top 5 nominees for each award to proceed to the final selection stage. The entire council will collectively review these candidates to determine the award recipients, after which the awards will be presented at a ceremony!" Huang He explained.
The process sounded quite reasonable, yet many reporters identified potential issues.
"Please tell us, Mr. Huang, how will you ensure that a large number of fake votes or vote rigging won't occur during the online voting process?" a reporter immediately asked. "With online voting, and prize money as high as 10 million RMB, wouldn't it be very easy to engage in fraudulent activities during the voting?"
"That's an excellent question, and it's precisely what I was about to elaborate on!" Huang He replied. "Our website is not intended for the general public. Since this is a scientific voting website, all members and users eligible to vote must possess a certain cultural foundation."
"I am not discriminating against anyone; this is merely to ensure the fairness of the voting!"
"Therefore, our website will not be open for general registration. Instead, we will adopt an invitation system. We are currently applying to cooperate with relevant authorities to send registration invitations to all scholars in science and arts across the country through these organizations."
"Upon receiving an invitation, scholars will need to register an account using their invitation code and personal identification to be eligible to vote."
"However, scholars are a minority. In the future, we will also open registration to all users with a university degree. Registration will first require an ID number and an academic degree certificate code. Additionally, we will prepare a question bank, and registered users will randomly answer questions. Only after passing will they be able to register as a member of the Huang He Award website and gain voting eligibility!"
"Furthermore, our website's backend will monitor all users. Any suspected vote rigging will be immediately and strictly suppressed."
"Finally, we still have the council review process. In front of the council's experts, anyone attempting to gain attention through sensationalism or commit fraud will be exposed!" Huang He explained.
"Then, Mr. Huang, will you also be a member of this council, participating in the award evaluation process?" a reporter pressed further.
"Naturally!" Huang He nodded. "I will serve as the chairman of this council. However, the chairman will not have the final voting rights."
"What if an award recipient you don't favor is selected?" the reporter continued to ask.
"I believe such a situation will not occur!" Huang He said with a smile. "Although I indeed lack voting power, I possess another right: the ultimate veto. The council's final review results will be presented to me. If I truly dislike someone, I will veto them, and they will certainly not receive the award!"
"..." A ripple of laughter spread through the venue.
"Mr. Huang, do you believe your judgment will be superior to that of all the experts on the council?" the reporter asked.
"No, the judgment of the experts is naturally superior to mine. However, I am the one funding this, and I believe the experts will understand my occasional indulgence! Nevertheless, this veto power only applies to me. After my passing, this veto power will disappear, and no one will be able to obtain it."
Huang He chuckled, leaving everyone speechless.
Indeed, money speaks, and it allows for a certain level of caprice.