Fri,Sep 27,2013
Jack Ma, founder of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, and his wife Cathy Zhang have joined several other Internet entrepreneurs as sponsors for the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences Foundation, Alibaba said in a statement on Friday.
The company said the couple will donate 3 million U.S. dollars to the foundation every year, bringing the total number of its annual 3-million-dollar prizes to six.
Founded in February 2013, the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences Foundation awards prizes to research aimed at curing intractable diseases and extending human life.
Its sponsors have included Yuri Milner, founder of DST Global, Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, and his wife, and Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook, and his wife.
Ma also agreed to serve as a director of the foundation, according to an announcement by the foundation.
He said he joined the foundation hoping to encourage scientists to find more effective cures for diseases, cancers in particular, according to a statement provided by Alibaba.
Ma stepped down as Alibaba CEO in May, saying he aimed to focus on areas like education and environmental protection.
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