Plenum ushers in culture of science

Once the market gets to play its proper role, it would reduce to the minimum authorities' intervention and eliminate the division of interests in the science and technology sector. At present, many agencies and authorities have control over the resources needed to support the development of the science and technology sector. And since each has its own interest, they tend to differ on some issues and thus harm the development of the sector.

Worse, some research scholars have to bribe officials to get the needed funds. Responding to a recent China Academy of Science survey, about 60 percent of science researchers said vested interests have hindered cooperation and nurtured corruption. The plenum document aims to solve this problem by gradually ending the gradation system for research institutes by government agencies, depriving officials of wielding the decisive power in allocating funds. When scientists and research scholars have a bigger say in the distribution of resources, officials will get fewer opportunities to seek favors.

Self-governance of scientists, too, will be promoted. The procedure of promoting selected top scientists and awarding them honorary titles has always been criticized for not being transparent and fair given the role some powerful figures play in the decisions. The document says an exit mechanism for academics will be introduced, and younger and promising scientists will get more support to make the system more transparent.

By introducing these bold, market-oriented reforms, the plenum has also emphasized the government's role in supporting basic research, which might not bring much immediate returns but would be of immense importance in the long run.

The blueprint for China's science and technology management system is thus clear: a free, regulated market will mobilize resources for programs that can directly stimulate economic development, while the government will support basic research, and both will play important roles in transforming China into an innovative country.

The author is director of the Institute of Industrial Technology Development, Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development, affiliated to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

(China Daily 12/27/2013 page9)