Advocated and promoted by SGCC Chairman Liu Zhenya, the "UHV Scholarship Fund" (also referred to as the "Scholarship" or the "Fund") was founded in Beijing on May 16th. 160 outstanding graduates majoring in electric power from 17 universities will be rewarded a 10,000-yuan scholarship each year. SGCC President Shu Yinbiao attended the founding ceremony and delivered a speech. SGCC EVP Cao Zhian presided over the ceremony. Relevant leading cadres from Ministry of Civil Affairs and Ministry of Education, representatives from initiating power companies and organizations as well as representatives from universities including Tsinghua University participated in the ceremony and witnessed the inauguration of the Scholarship.

The First Session of the First Board of Governors of the Scholarship was convened after the ceremony. The session discussed and adopted the Articles of UHV Scholarship Fund, and established the organizational structure and job responsibilities of the Fund.

The CPC and the State Council attach great importance to energy issues. The first meeting of National Energy Administration emphasized that energy supply and energy security is vital to the overall modernization of our country, and a clean, efficient, secure and sustainable path of energy development should be paved. The meeting also instructed the commencement of several major UHV projects. 4 AC and 4 DC transmission projects have been prioritized as a way to curb the national air pollution.

As an advanced, secure, efficient and green power transmission technique, UHV is a major world-leading achievement of independent innovation, made and led by China. The founding of the Scholarship aims at encouraging more outstanding university graduates and young people to devote themselves to the development of UHV and the power industry, fortifying their belief in the electric power industry and serving for its development, encouraging more young talents to work in this field, demonstrating the spirit of the times, giving full play to their talents and skills and realizing their dreams. The Fund adopts open fund-raising methods with initial offering of no less than 20 million yuan. The Fund accepts joint donations from individuals, power companies and relevant industrial organizations. Up to now, 19 electric power companies and organizations have participated in the Fund.

The Scholarship offered electric power majors a new dream, a new opportunity and a new momentum for development. It is a positive action and an important initiative of the power industry to implement its social responsibilities, supports public welfare and education, demonstrate the pursued value and commitment to the society and build up the brand image of the industry.

Five aspects would be implemented with priority in the next step, that is, to ensure the legitimacy of the fund operation, to grant effective scholarships, to stabilize investment returns, to forge the public welfare brand of "UHV Scholarship Fund" and to exert the Fund's function as a publicity platform.

The founding of the Scholarship was widely praised. Leaders from the Ministry of Civil Affairs recognized the industry's effort in supporting social welfare, and offered to provide professional guidance and help to its development when necessary. The Ministry of Education appreciated the electric power industry's support to education, and expected the establishment and provision of the Scholarship would serve as a new platform that strengthens the communication between enterprises and universities.

On behalf of initiating companies, EVP of China Hua Neng Group Corporation Kou Wei said that this Fund was collectively established by grid companies, power generation companies, electric construction companies, electric equipment companies and relevant industrial organizations based on the brand of UHV. It shows that the industry believes in responsible, cooperative and innovative development and actually takes actions to strengthen the cooperation within the industry and with universities to give back to the society and the public.

Representatives from participating universities acknowledged the tremendous influence UHV technologies had on HV applications. Zeng Rong, Director of Department of Electrical Engineering of Tsinghua University, said that the university would fully utilize its multi-disciplinary advantages to facilitate the improvement of independent innovation capability of China's electric power industry.