昨天上午，国家科学技术奖励大会在北京人民大会堂举行，大会颁发了2009年度国家最高科学技术奖，中国科学院院士、知名数学家谷超豪和中科院院士“两弹一星”元勋、资深航天专家孙家栋荣获2009年度国家最高科学技术奖。中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席胡锦涛向他们颁奖。

Backgrounder: China's State Science and Technology Awards & The past winners

China's State Science and Technology Awards are offered in five categories. And while some have more than one winner every year, others are more elusive.

The State Supreme Science and Technology Award is China's highest and most esteemed national science honor.

The award is given out each year to no more than two scientists. Winners receive a cash prize of 5-million yuan, or over 730-thousand US dollars. It honors important breakthroughs in basic scientific research, with far-reaching influence.

It also rewards prominent scientists who have generated enormous economic returns or facilitated social progress.

The first State Supreme Science and Technology Award was given in 2000. Mathematician Wu Wenjun and hybrid-rice expert Yuan Longping were the deserving recipients.

Two academicians won the award the following year. They were computer scientist Wang Xuan from Peking University and semi-conductor expert Huang Kun from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

No winner was announced for the Supreme Award in 2004. It was the first and only time in the history of the award.

In 2008, neurologist Wang Zhongcheng and chemist Xu Guangxian shared the Supreme Award.

The Natural Science Award, the Technology Innovation Award, and the Science and Technology Advancement Award are the three major science awards handed out at the state level.

The Natural Science Award honors achievements in basic research and applications. This includes math, physics, chemistry, astronomy, geology, biology and other disciplines. In the past ten years, there have only been winners on 3 occasions.

The Technology Innovation Award honors important inventions for manufacturing, processing, and material and systems research. The award declared its first winners in 2004.

The Science and Technology Advancement Award focuses on projects crucial to social progress, state security, and social well-being.

The International Science and Technology Cooperation Award honors foreigners or international organizations that have contributed to the advancement of China's science and technology fields.