Reform of China's S&T system, quo vadis?
Year: 2014
Type: editorial
Abstract: The current science and technology (S&T) system in China has drawn both criticism and recommendations from the local and international academic community. Reform of China's S&T system has recently become a hot topic for government leaders and the Chinese scientific community. ‘Deepening reforms of the management system for S&T’ was written into the Communiqué of the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in 2013. In a subsequent visit to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), President Xi Jinping further stressed the importance of the reform of the S&T system and called for the eradication of all institutional obstacles to innovation. Despite the urgency, this reform may still prove to be an arduous task. This editorial examines the obstacles and proposes some specific steps that need to be taken if such reforms can be achieved. China's S&T system is renowned for its deficient cross-institutional collaboration and sharing of resources. Poorly coordinated funding mechanisms have resulted in fragmentation and duplication of research programs, and outdated, discipline-based higher education has offered little flexibility to cultivate innovative minds. Further, limited incentives and mechanisms have led to an inefficient transfer of research to application that could drive economic development. To address these concerns, both the Ministry of Education and the CAS are directing effort toward the establishment of collaborative innovation centers comprising researchers from multiple research institutions. While it is too early to assess the impact of these centers, several fundamental issues need to be addressed in order to ensure the success of the reform. Although S&T appear to be twinned and referred to in the single word ‘Keji’ in China, their distinct features should not be overlooked. While government investment in research and development (R&D) is increasing, the proportion of funding for basic science is only about 5%, significantly lower than investment in advanced countries (10–25%). This pragmatic emphasis of funding for applied research, together with the lack of long-term programs for the sustained support of basic research, has serious consequences in the scientific community. We applaud the government's recent announcement to completely overhaul the current system of research funding, assessment and evaluation. Effective mechanisms are needed to ensure the principle that funding decisions are based on merit and peer review. The new system of grant management must also adapt to the distinct features in the practices of basic versus applied research. While the importance of applied research that meets societal needs is well recognized, it is critical to maintain substantial and stable research funding for basic science, where curiosity-driven and investigator-initiated small projects are the training ground for innovative minds and sources for innovative ideas and inventions. In response to President Xi's call for S&T system reform, the CAS is spearheading the most drastic structural reform in its 65-year history. This involves the reorganization of its 100 plus institutes into four distinct categories, including centers of excellence in frontier basic research, innovative academies for applied research and technological transfer, mega-science research centers for big science projects and feature institutes that address specific domestic and regional needs. The lack of innovation in the current Chinese S&T system should also be discussed within a broader context that includes the system of higher education. Recent debate surrounding this issue was ignited by the question posed by Qian Xuesen: ‘Why didn't Chinese universities produce scientific masters (“Da Shi”)?’ China's examination-oriented education system that emphasizes book knowledge rather than innovative thinking is often to blame. Reform in universities must include not only educational approaches that instill innovative spirit and capability among the students, but also the policy and philosophy of the university appointments and administration. Given the importance and complexity of the reform, it seems desirable to have a President's scientific advisory committee in the form of an immediately accessible ‘think tank’ composing of senior members of the S&T community. This will help the government formulate S&T policies, design a detailed plan of the reform and provide timely assessment and adjustment of reform practices. In the current ‘top-down’ approach, it is critical that the process is receptive and adaptive to timely feedback from the S&T community, facilitating the fine-tuning of any implementations. Finally, the government's investment in basic research is pivotal, not only to elevate China's contribution to global scientific advancement, but also to promote technological innovation and economic development of the country. As the old proverb goes, ‘Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.’ Development of home-grown basic science is necessary for achieving a sustainable S&T system that is required for the long-term development of the country.
Source: National Science Review
DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwu077
Author: Zhonghe Zhou
Language: English
Subfield: Information Systems and Management
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,000
OpenAlex ID: W2145459212