Abstract: The mode of S&T innovation has changed from interest-oriented individual free exploration to goal-oriented organized research mode, and the importance of the team has become increasingly prominent. Stepping into the era of knowledge economy, with the increasingly fierce international competition, the first-class research innovation teams are playing increasingly important role in the national innovation and S&T development stage. The purpose of this study is to investigate the most important influencing factors of the development of first-class research innovation team and qualities that a scientific elite should possess as a team leader. This paper tries to extract the useful experience for Chinese research teams through picking up keywords from the interview of five Nobel Prize winners.