| - S & T survey - |
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NationalS&TProgrammes |
| Knowledge
Innovation Program 2002-8-19 Knowledge Innovation Program |
| Pilot Project of Knowledge Innovation Program |
| In the second half of 1997,
CAS submitted to the Party Central Committee and the State Council
a report, "Strive to Build Up a National Innovation System to
Meet the Era of Knowledge-Based Economy." In February of 1998,
Chinese President Jiang Zeming gave his instruction in reply: "Both
the knowledge-based economy and innovation consciousness are vital
to the development of our country in the 21st century. The financial
turmoil in Southeast Asia may slow down the development of conventional
industries, but it may also provide an opportune chance for the reorganization
of the industrial structure. The Chinese Academy of Sciences has made
some proposals, and also has a research team.
On 9th June 1998, the first meeting of the Leading Group for Science
& Education under the State Council was convened to ratify the
implementation of the CAS Pilot Project of the National Knowledge
Innovation Program (KIP). In June 1998, the CAS Pilot Project was
formally launched. |
| Construction of China's National Innovation System |
| The Construction of the National
Innovation System is an important strategic decision made by the Chinese
Government to speed up economic and social development in China by
fully implementing the policies of rejuvenating China through science
and education, and of sustainable development. As shown by the progress of world economic and social development in recent years, mankind has witnessed a new revolution in science and technology. Modern science and technology, represented by information science and biotechnology, are developing at a high speed: they have led to the opening of new prospects for the development of productive forces and to a changing of production modes, lifestyles and social structures. The knowledge-based industry has become a new feature in economic growth, while economic globalization and the knowledge-based economy are moving forward rapidly. Science and technology become the primary productive force and powerful driving force for sustained economic and social development. The key factors of a country¡¯s competitiveness are now identified as capability for knowledge innovation, technology innovation, system innovation and the industrialization of high technology. With the increasing development of world economy, science and technology, the Chinese Government duly worked out important strategic decisions on constructing the National Innovation System. In 1998, it approved CAS to initiate the Pilot Project of Knowledge Innovation Program (KIP). Soon after, an action plan was carried out for rejuvenating education in the 21st century, in addition to a national meeting on technology innovation and a working conference on basic science research, in order to further enhance the reform of the scientific research system. Plans are also drawn to open a second-board (Nasdaq-like) stock exchange in the securities market. Science and technology in China are moving forward at an unprecedented tempo in the new era. China's National Innovation System is a networking system composed of institutions involved in knowledge innovation and technology innovation. It includes the following: knowledge innovation system netted with the state research institutions and key universities; technology innovation and technology application system with industrial enterprises; knowledge dissemination system with schools and universities conferring different levels of degrees and with a lifelong education program open to the public. In this connection, the national institutes play a unique role in the popularization of science among the people for S&T development and expansion, and in the promotion of scientific methodology. The KIP piloted at CAS is a major component of the National Innovation
System. The historic missions that CAS is endowed with in the National
Innovation System are as follows: Try hard to scale the heights
of world science; train and nurture and at the same time continuously
dispatch creative S&T talents to the wider society; constantly
create and disseminate high and new technology, and develop high-tech
industries with international competitiveness in a bid to make creative
contributions that are basic, strategic and foresighted to national
economic development and social progress; try to interrelate with
other components of the National Innovation System, including universities
and enterprises, and seek for mutual development, providing powerful
S&T support for economic and social development in China. |
| Overall Planning for the KIP Pilot Project |
| The Pilot Project of the Knowledge
Innovation Program (KIP) was formally initiated in 1998, and will
be completed by 2010. It can be divided into three phases: the Initial
Phase (1998 - 2000); the Phase of All-round Implementation (2001 -
2005); and the Phase of Optimization (2006 - 2010). Under the Pilot Project of KIP, the overall plan of CAS for its development in the new century is as follows: 1. To restructure about 80 national institutes with powerful capacities in S&T innovation¡ê sustainable development and distinctive features: 30 of them will become internationally acknowledged, high-level research institutions, and 3 to 5 will be first-class in the world. They will form the country¡¯s knowledge and technology innovation bases up to the advanced world level. (a) In respect of basic science, it is targeted to conduct cutting-edge
research in some important and strategic areas, and to achieve creative
scientific results with international significance, so as to enhance
the overall research level of basic science in China, and remarkably
enlarge the proportion of China¡¯s contribution to the science development
of the modern world. 3. CAS will become China¡¯s major incubator for the development of high-tech industries by establishing an optimized system and mechanism for the transfer of S&T innovation results, and providing the country with research achievements and outstanding scientific personnel on a constant basis. 4. To further strengthen the role of the Academic Divisions of CAS both as the nation's highest academic institution in natural science and as the nation's top advisory body on S&T issues, and to make it a major source of ideas for the government in making important S&T policies and decisions. The integrated advantages of CAS will be put into full play, and a great emphasis will be placed on the integration of natural sciences, engineering and social sciences, in an effort to make CAS a national think tank that provides high-quality scientific consultations and deliberations on the strategies and policies concerning national economic and social development as well as the nation's S&T advancement. 5. To build CAS into a prominent base and source of modern science civilization and innovation culture in China. This can be achieved through the dissemination of scientific knowledge, spirit and methodology throughout society by adopting an open and networked means, taking full advantage of the abundant knowledge resources and research facilities at the Academy, and providing effective support and services to S&T innovation activities. 6. To build up CAS as a major representative of China in the international science community through further opening to the outside world. For this purpose, diverse high level international cooperation and exchanges will be developed in the Academy, and active participation in international S&T competition and cooperation and getting access to international S&T resources will be promoted. The Initial Phase of the program was completed at the end of 2000. |
| ¡¤ Progress in the Initial Phase of the KIP Pilot Project |
| The KIP Pilot Project started well and proceeded smoothly with remarkable achievements and bright prospects |
| 1. Readjustment of the disciplinary layout and structural reorganization on the largest scale ever since the establishment of CAS |
| At the very beginning of
its foundation in the 1950s, CAS focused on the establishment of various
institutes in accordance with the needs of S&T development in
China. From the late 1970s to the early 1980s, when the Cultural Revolution
had ended, CAS put emphasis on reconstruction. From the late 1980s
to the early 1990s, the Academy tried hard to promote the industrialization
of S&T research results. In line with the rapid development of
world economy and science and technology, CAS now focuses on the disciplinary
layout and its structural reorganization under the Knowledge Innovation
Program. By so doing, it is aimed at constructing an organizational
management system of S&T innovation and a new structural system
full of vitality for meeting the demands of social and economic development
of China in the 21st century. This is considered as the most extensive
and influential endeavor taken by CAS ever since its establishment. As for the readjustment of its disciplinary layout, the Academy puts stress on the following areas: informatics, advanced manufacturing, life science and technology, physical science and new materials, science and technology for resources and the environment, energy science and technology, marine science and technology, astronomy and space science, mathematics, mechanics and systems science. Research was also reinforced in the fields of S&T history, science policy and its developmental strategies, mega-science projects and important interdisciplinary subjects of frontier science. In the spirit of readjusting CAS¡¯s disciplinary layout, various institutes at CAS repositioned themselves with regard to disciplinary orientation and developmental priorities. Obsolete disciplines or research fields were no longer supported, thus being eradicated in the Academy. In this connection, a pan-institute reorganization was carried out on a large scale. For example, the former Institute of Mathematics and three other CAS institutes have merged into the Academy of Mathematics and System Sciences under CAS. Other examples are: the former Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Institute of Cell Biology have merged into the Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology; the former Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Institute of Entomology have merged into the Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology; the former Shanghai Institute of Physiology and Brain Research Institute have merged into the Shanghai Institute of Neuroscience. The Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences, CAS, is formed on the basis of these newly merged institutes. Take one more example: the Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute has been formed by the merger of the former Lanzhou Institute of Glaciology and Cryopedology, the Lanzhou Institute of Desert Research and the Lanzhou Institute of Atmospheric Physics. In the meantime, the CAS Institute of Earth Environment was recently established, and the Institute of Water and Soil Conservation was set up with joint efforts from the Ministry of Water Resources. By 2001, 37 institutes had been restructured into 17 research institutions, 39 institutes were approved to enter the list of pilot units of the KIP¡¯s Pilot Project as independent legal entities, and ten innovation bases had come into being. Although the research institutions are reduced in number, they have become more rational in disciplinary layout, more prominent in their advantages and smaller in number but highly competent as to their team construction. During the Phase of All-round Implementation, CAS will continue to be engaged in the strategic structural reorganization, and to attach great importance to the deployment of research groups of interdisciplinary frontier science and some research institutions with regional characteristics. In the meantime, the reform of the organizational mechanism in various CAS institutes has progressed significantly. A new personnel management system has been built up with a "Contracted Appointment" and "Post Assignment System" at its core, in accordance with common international management modes for science research institutions and the Academy¡¯s actual situation. The practice of lifelong tenure in a permanent position, which was long exercised in research institutions in China, has been totally wiped out. 2. Notable progress in the contingent building for S&T innovation S&T innovation relies heavily on the availability of talented people. Attracting and training outstanding talents for S&T innovation is, therefore, crucial to the enhancement of China¡¯s S&T innovation capacity. To implement the KIP, major efforts have been made by CAS to use the limited resources available to build up a cross-century professional contingent in science, technology and administration. As a result, encouraging progress has been achieved in this aspect. Over the past two or more years, 210 excellent young scholars regarded as S&T backbones were recruited directly by the Academy from abroad, and more than 100 young disciplinary leaders were employed from domestic universities. Meanwhile, all the CAS institutes have invited a large number of young researchers and administrators with at least a bachelor¡¯s degree. Young professionals below the age of 45 are now the primary force in S&T innovation activities in the CAS institutes that made an early start in carrying out the Pilot Project, and many scientific mainstays are holding the leading posts in these institutes. In a word, the age and knowledge distributions of CAS staff have been greatly improved, and the pressure from the "intergenerational discontinuity" in the CAS S&T backbones has been eased considerably. Another important aspect of the contingent building for S&T innovation is to establish a mobile staff mainly composed of graduate students. From 1998 to 2000, graduate education witnessed dynamic development at an unprecedented speed. At present, CAS has a total enrollment of more than 13,000 graduate students and approximately 1,000 postdoctoral researchers. The University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), affiliated to CAS and listed as one of the "top Chinese universities" to be developed, has made new progress in both teaching conditions and quality. 3. Targets of S&T innovation further identified and major S&T achievements obtained Under the KIP, CAS identified and selected new targets of S&T innovation aimed at the frontiers of world science and technology or adapted to China¡¯s socioeconomic demands. The Academy¡¯s top authorities allocated the limited resources available in a more intensive way according to the overall design. From 1998 to 2000, 654 projects aimed at making frontier exploration in new academic fields and disciplines, as well as 81 proposals aimed at acquiring systematic knowledge and achieving important breakthroughs in line with S&T development in the world and China's future strategic needs, have been validated. In addition, 11 cross-institute, interdisciplinary proposals were approved, including major projects on biochips, mini-satellites for store-and-forward communications, nano materials, animal cloning technology, and environmental evolution of China's western regions. The Academy also launched the construction of an astronomical telescope (LAMOST) and the reconstruction of the Beijing Electron Positron Collider (BEPC), Lanzhou Heavy Ion Accelerator, Hefei Synchrotron Radiation Facility and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Device. Furthermore, preliminary study and preparations for the project of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility were conducted on schedule. Through implementation of the Pilot Project of KIP, the competitiveness of CAS institutes in bidding for various scientific research projects in China has been substantially strengthened. Taking a typical example, almost one half of the national major fundamental research projects initiated recently by the Ministry of Science and Technology have been adopted by CAS-affiliated institutes as the principal contractors or project undertakers. Over the past two years, CAS gained a series of major S&T achievements, such as the development of the "Dawning 3000" Super Server, the completion of rice genome sequencing and mapping, the research and development of carbon nano-tube and other new materials, and the integrated demonstration of synthesized technologies for sustainable production of superior-quality high-yield cotton in Xinjiang. S&T accomplishments made by CAS in 1999 increased by 30% over the average figure of the previous three years (1996-1998); the number of CAS published papers cited by SCI equaled the total number from the 20 top universities in China; and the patents filed by CAS increased dramatically, sixty percent of which were classified as inventions, the highest percentage of all institutions throughout the country. Besides, international S&T exchanges and cooperation at CAS developed rapidly, in every direction, at various levels and in a vast variety of areas. From 1998 to 2000, international academic exchange and cooperation activities were unprecedentedly vigorous at both the Academy and institute levels. A number of joint laboratories were established together with foreign governments or scientific institutions, and junior research groups were supported continuously. The Academy¡¯s position in the world scientific community has been further enhanced. 4. Radical changes in "hardware environment" for S&T innovation activities Owing to historical reasons, the "hardware environment" of CAS for S&T innovation is far behind that of the developed countries. A large proportion of the Academy¡¯s institutes has rather old and backward infrastructure and facilities, which can not meet the requirements posed by modern S&T innovation activities. Under the Pilot Project of KIP, the establishment of a favorable physical environment occupies an important place in S&T innovation activities. Following the principles of "unified planning", "focusing on key projects" and "step-by-step approach", a total of 1.543 billion yuan has been invested to reconstruct the campuses of institutes and to build apartments for mobile scientific personnel in both Beijing and Shanghai. Institutes located in other areas have also taken measures to reconstruct their campuses in accordance with the principle of "a high starting point and high standards". It is envisaged that a batch of projects for reconstructing institute campuses will be completed in two or three years, and a new look featuring convenient communication, beautiful environment, efficient operation and express-delivery service will appear at CAS. |
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S & T survey |