Ge SongxueCounselor

Embassy of China

E-mail: gesx@most.cn

Briefing on Science and Technology in China

The State Council

http://english.gov.cn

The State Council is the highest organ of State administration in China. It issues important documents, such as:

The National Medium- and Long-term Program for Science and Technology Development (2006-2020)

The 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015)

The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST)

http://www.most.gov.cn/eng/index.htm

The Ministry of Science and Technology is an executive organ of the central government. Its missions include:

to research and set forth the macro strategies for science and technology development, as well as guidelines, policies and regulations for science and technology to promote economic and social development;

to conduct research on key issues relating to the promotion of economic and social development by science and technology;

to take charge of the bilateral and multilateral governmental science and technology cooperation programs.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)

http://english.cas.cn/

CAS is the nation’s highest academic institution in natural sciences and its supreme scientific and technological advisory body, and national comprehensive research and development center in natural sciences and high technology.

It has 90 research institutes, two universities, and more than 43,000 professional staff and 38,000 graduate students. The Academic Divisions of CAS consists of six divisions with 706 CAS Members and 44 Foreign Members.

The Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE)

http://www.cae.cn/english/index.jsp

CAE is the most respected and highest academic advisory institution in China’s engineering community.

Its missions are to initiate and conduct strategic studies, provide consultancy services for decision-making of nation’s key issues in engineering and technological sciences and promote the development of the undertaking of engineering and technological sciences in China and devote itself to the benefit and welfare of the society.

It currently has 439 academicians, including seven members from overseas.

The China Association for Science and Technology (CAST)

http://english.cast.org.cn/

CAST is the largest national non-governmental organization of scientific and technological workers in China. Through its nearly 200 member societies and local branches all over the country, the organization maintains close ties with millions of Chinese scientists, engineers and other people working in the fields of science and technology.

Since its inauguration, CAST has made significant contributions to the prosperity and development of science and technology, to the popularization of science and technology among the public, to the emerging of large numbers of professional talents, and to the overall economic and social development in China.

the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)

http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/Portal0/default106.htm

In accordance with the Government's guiding principles, policies and plans for the national development of science and technology, NSFC directs, coordinates and financially supports basic research and applied basic research, identifies and fosters scientific talents, promotes science and technology, and pushed ahead economic and social development in China.

NSFC complies and distributes the Guide to Programs for basic and applied basic research, receives research proposals from universities and/or institutions all over the country, prepares peer reviews and sessions of evaluation panels, and selects the proposals of higher caliber to grant;

NSFC provides, at request, advisory services on major issues related to the national strategic development of basic and applied basic research in China;

NSFC supports activities of national professional science foundations, and provides them with its coordination and guidance in their plans and decisions of research programs;

NSFC develops cooperative relations with science foundations and relevant scientific organizations in other countries and regions, and conducts active international scientific cooperation and exchange.

In 2006, NSFC arranged the annual funding totaling ¥4.463 billion yuan and approved 13,600 projects of various types.

the Outline of the National Medium- and Long-term Program for Science and Technology Development

(2006-2020)

The State Council issued the Outline as a guideline for China's S&T development.

The guiding principles for S&T activities are:

• Proprietary innovations;

• Leaping development in priority fields;

• Enabling the development;

• Leading the future.

The Outline declares the following strategic focuses in science and technology for the 15 years term:

Energy, water resources, and environmental protection related technologies should enjoy priority in development;

Make proprietary intellectual property in equipment manufacturing and information industries;

Enhance biotechnological application in agriculture, industry, population and health;

Accelerate the development of aerospace and marine technologies;

Strengthen basic research and cutting-edge technology development.

The State Council promulgates a number of supporting policies for ensuring the implement of the Outline. These policies involve: S&T investment; taxation incentives; favorable loans; venture capital investment; financial service; government procurement; combined strength of industry, universities and research institutes; intellectual property creation and protection; capacity building of talented workforce; education and scientific literacy; S&T innovation centers and platforms; overall planning and coordination, etc.

The Outline defines several major special projects, including:

( 1)core electronic devices, (2)high-end generic chips and basic software, (3)super large-scale integrated circuit manufacturing technologies and techniques, (4)next-generation broadband mobile telecommunication, (5)high-end numerically controlled machine tools and basic manufacturing techniques, (6)large oil-gas fields and coal-bed methane, (7)large advanced pressurized water reactors and high temperature gas-coolant reactor nuclear power stations, (8)water body contamination control and treatment, (9)new genetically modified varieties, (10)major new drugs, prevention and treatment of major infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis, (11)key design and manufacture technologies for large passenger aircraft, (12)high resolution earth observation systems, (13)manned space flights, (14)moon probe.

The Law on Science and Technology Progress

An amendment adopted on Dec. 29, 2007 to the Law on Science and Technology Progress including 5 major points:

Innovation-oriented laws, regulations and scientific and technological development plans should be improved to create "a favorable mechanism" for innovation;

The state will implement the strategy for intellectual property rights for turning scientific achievements into productive force;

Heads of state-owned enterprises will be appraised according to the scale of innovation-oriented investments, and innovative capacity and efficiency;

While showing tolerance to scientific failures, the law brooks no scientific fraud;

Set up systems for the integration and sharing of science and technology resources.

Science and Technology Programs

China has developed the following major national S&T programs: National Key basic Research Development Program, National Key Technologies R&D Program, Hi-tech Research & Development Program, R&D Infrastructure and Facility Program among others.

China will establish its own technical benchmarks and enhance the support to industrial technology innovations, as well as to reinforce IP management, establish S&T evaluations system desirable for innovation.

National Key Basic Research Development Program (973 Program)

The objective is to mobilize China’s scientific talents in conducting innovative research on major scientific issues in agriculture, energy, information, resources and environment, population and health, materials, and related areas. This is in accordance with the objectives and tasks of China’s economic, social, and S&T development goals leading up to the mid 21st century. The Program will build up a solid S&T foundation for the sustainable socio-economic development of our nation.

National Key Technologies R&D Program

The Program focuses on R&D and application aspects of generic technologies, and key technologies for public good. While addressing key technical issues encountered in major projects, it strengthens the integrated innovation, and re-innovations. It also deals with key technical issues that have to be addressed at the national, inter-disciplinary, or inter-regional levels. It endeavors to land breakthroughs in key technologies, raise industrial competitiveness, and provide support for a coordinated socio-economic development.

National High-tech Research & Development Program (863 Program)

The Program commits to addressing strategic, advanced, and forward-looking hi-tech issues that are key to the nation’s future development and security. It plays a leading role in the future development of emerging industries by developing, integrating and applying proprietary high technologies, covering 10 priority fields: IT, bio/pharmaceutical-technology, advanced materials technology, advanced manufacturing technology, energy technology, resource and environment technology, marine technology, advanced agricultural technology, transportation technology, as well as earth monitor and navigation technology.

R&D Infrastructure and Facility Program

The Program aims to adjust, enrich, and strengthen the S&T capacity of national S&T research bases of different kinds. It rationalizes the distribution of and efforts to build up S&T capacity. It conducts basic S&T activities involving basic data and national standards, resource specimens, etc. It also provides shared resources and conditions for scientific research and technical development.

The Program contents include: (1) State Key Laboratories Development Program, (2) National Key Science Projects Program, (3) National Engineering Technology Research Centers Development Program, (4) R&D Infrastructure and Facility Development Program, (5) S&T Basic Work Program, (6) Program on Research for Public Good, and (7) Program on Key International S&T Cooperative Projects.

Policy Guidance Endeavors

The endeavors aim at creating a favorable policy environment for more innovativeness, and for the sustainable development at the local and regional levels. It encourages enterprises to become a key player in technology innovations, with the synergy of industry, universities and research institutes, promoting application, demonstration, diffusion, and commercial application of S&T findings.

The contents include: (1) the Spark Program, (2) the Torch Program, (3) the Guiding Engineering for Technology Innovation, (4) National Key New Products Plan, (5) Initiative Action for Regional Sustainable Development, and (6) National Soft Science Research Program.

Science Outreach Activities

Popular science is a major S&T policy in China. It refers to popularizing S&T knowledge, promoting scientific approaches, disseminating scientific ideas, and carrying forward scientific spirit. China has offices for the purpose in government agencies at different levels. The Law of the People's Republic of China on Popularization of Science and Technology went into effect on June 29, 2002. The State Council issued in 2006 the Outline for Raising People’s Scientific Literacy (2006-2010-2020). Popular science activities take diverse forms, including National Science Week, scientific exhibitions and shows, popular science caravans and trains, as well as mobilizing the mass media to promote public awareness of science.

International Science and Technology Cooperation

The principle of China’s international S&T cooperation is “equality and mutual benefit, sharing findings, protecting intellectual property, and observing international norms”.

The Chinese government has established cooperative ties with 152 countries and international organizations, and signed 102 bilateral agreements with 96 countries.

The Chinese government has played a leading role in international S&T cooperation. It stimulates active participation in large international science and engineering projects; encourages qualified universities, research institutes, and enterprises to establish joint R&D centers with their foreign counterparts; supports and employs qualified foreign experts to work for China under diversified arrangements, including research cooperation, academic exchanges, and training programs.

The China-India bilateral S&T cooperation

The Ministerial-level Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation is the Steering Committee, responsible for macro decision and policy guidance;

The Secretary-level Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation is the Joint Committee, responsible for projects approval and governance;

The Director-level Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation is the Working Group, responsible for calling for projects proposals and management.

China-India Joint DeclarationNov. 2006 when President Hu Jintao visiting India

VIII. Boosting Cooperation in Science and Technology: The two sides shall establish a China-India Partnership in

Science and Technology. Agree to launch joint projects in the areas of: (1) earthquake engineering; (2) climate change and weather forecasting; (3) nano-technology with focus on advanced materials; (4) biotechnology and medicines with focus on bio-nano. The cooperation framework shall include entrepreneurs o

n both side, besides the two Governments and their respective institutions.

Agreed in the China-India Joint Declarationto strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields:

Nuclear energy;

Space-based technologies for peaceful and developmental applications;

Agriculture;

water resources;

Environment;

Infrastructure;

Information technology;

Health, education, media, culture, etc.

There is enough space for China and India to grow together, achieve a higher scale of development.

Let’s work for it.

Thank you.