Highlights

• China Rare Earth Society participates in CAST's 2025 Doctoral Talent Development Program to cultivate next-generation rare earth scientists with up to 2 years of mentorship and funding support.
• The program combines political training, professional development including global conferences and overseas visits, and social engagement through 240+ hours of activities over two years.
• This initiative signals China's strategic focus on human capital development to sustain its global leadership in rare earth innovation and critical mineral supply chains.

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Workforce development: China moves to invest in the next generation of rare earth scientists.   The China Rare Earth Society (CRES) has officially announced (opens in a new tab) its participation in the 2025 China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) Doctoral Talent Development Program, a national initiative designed to cultivate the next generation of young scientific leaders in strategic industries—including critical minerals and advanced materials.

According to the Society’s circular (CRES Notice [2025] No. 31), the program—organized under CAST’s “Young Scientific Talent Cultivation Project”—aims to strengthen doctoral researchers’ professional capabilities, deepen their understanding of China’s industrial priorities, and align early-career research with national technological and economic goals. The Rare Earth Society’s role is to identify, mentor, and recommend top doctoral candidates for inclusion in the CAST program.

Key Details: Program Scope and Application

• Eligible Candidates: Full-time Chinesedoctoral students with at least two years remaining before graduation.
• Selection Limit: CRES may recommend up to three candidates to CAST headquarters.
• Application Deadline: November 17, 2025.
• Program Duration: Up to two years of support and mentorship.

According to the entry, applicants must submit materials through CAST’s online service platform and select “China Rare Earth Society (B33)” as the preferred sponsoring organization. Once submitted, the Society will review applications and forward selected candidates to CAST for final matching with mentoring societies.

A Three-Pillar Model: Politics, Practice, and Purpose

The program offers an integrated training model of political guidance, professional development, and social engagement.

1. Political Training: Participants attend seminars on national development, scientific ethics, and the “Spirit of Chinese Scientists.”
2. Professional Practice: Funding supports publication of high-level papers, participation in global conferences, overseas academic visits, and cross-disciplinary research exchanges.
3. Social Experience: Students may take on assistant roles in academic journals or research institutes, participate in corporate R&D programs, and join national innovation platforms to strengthen problem-solving and leadership skills.

CRES will oversee each participant’s progress, requiring completion of at least 240 hours of training activities over two years. Those performing exceptionally will be invited to join CAST’s Young Scientists Advancement Association, which provides continued mentorship beyond the doctoral stage.

Strategic Significance for China’s Critical Mineral Sector

While the program applies across scientific fields, CRES’s participation carries particular weight for the rare earth and strategic materials ecosystem. By cultivating early-stage research talent in separation chemistry, new magnet materials, and clean refining technologies, the Society is aligning academic research with China’s long-term goal of maintaining global leadership in rare earth innovation. The effort underscores China’s recognition that human capital is now as strategic as mineral capital, ensuring the next generation of scientists can sustain advances in the nation's critical mineral and advanced material supply chains.

Disclaimer: This announcement originates from the China Rare Earth Society, an organization affiliated with Chinese state scientific institutions. Information should be independently verified by third-party sources.

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