Samuel Yin
Yin Yen-Liang | |
|---|---|
| Born | Taiwan |
| Other names | Samuel Yin |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, philanthropist |
| Known for | Founder of Tang Prize, chairman of Ruentex Financial Group, president of Guanghua School of Management at Peking University |
Yin Yen-Liang (; ), also referred to as Samuel Yin, is a Taiwanese billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is widely recognized for establishing the Tang Prize and holding the position of chairman at Ruentex Financial Group. Additionally, Yin serves as the president of the Guanghua School of Management at Peking University.
Early life and education
Yin was born to waishengren parents originating from Rizhao, Shandong. He completed his undergraduate studies in history at Chinese Culture University, followed by an MBA from National Taiwan University in 1982. Later, he obtained a Ph.D. in business administration from National Chengchi University in 1988, where his dissertation focused on how strategies for organizational change influence organizational commitment.
Career
As the head of Ruentex Financial Group, Yin oversees investments primarily in Taiwan and China’s construction, grocery, and retail industries, including the prominent RT Mart chain. He is regarded as a significant advocate for entrepreneurship and startup ventures within the region. In 2014, Yin was one of the major investors backing Taiwanese electric scooter company Gogoro.
Philanthropy
Yin has pledged to allocate 95% of his personal fortune to philanthropic efforts, concentrating on areas such as science, the arts, law, and political studies.
In December 2012, he launched the Tang Prize, contributing US$100 million from his own resources. Often referred to as Asia’s counterpart to the Nobel Prize, the Tang Prize encourages research that benefits humanity and advances Chinese cultural heritage. It grants a total of US$1.7 million across categories including sustainable development, biopharmaceutical science, sinology, and rule of law.
Yin also supports multiple foundations across Taiwan and China, such as the Yin Xun-Ruo Educational Foundation, Yin Shu-Tien Medical Foundation, Kwang-Hua Education Foundation, and Peking University's Guanghua School of Management. In 2016, he donated US$12.8 million to the Scripps Research Institute to establish new laboratory facilities.
Personal life
Yin is married to Wang Chi-Fan (王绮帆) and they have two children.
An accomplished offshore sailor, he commissioned two yachts named Sea Eagle and Sea Eagle II, with the latter recognized as the largest aluminium sailing yacht worldwide.
Awards and honors
In 2004, Yin was honored as a fellow by the Chinese Institute of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering. He became a member of Russia’s International Academy of Engineering in 2008 and was awarded its highest distinction, the Engineering Prowess Medal. In 2010, he received the Henry L. Michel Award for Industry Advancement of Research from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), marking him as the first non-engineering academic to earn this award due to his contributions to construction technology research.