2017 Science and High Technology Development Report Released

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) held a seminar today (September 30th) at the Institute of Science and Technology Strategy Consulting, Chinese Academy of Sciences, to release its "2017 Science Development Report" and "2017 High Technology Development Report." These reports, part of a major annual report series by the CAS, were released at the meeting. CAS President Bai Chunli wrote the preface, titled "Scientific Planning and Accelerating the Construction of a World-Class Science and Technology Power."

The "Science Development Report," first published in 1997, is hailed by scientists as my country's only authoritative annual overview of scientific development. The "2017 Science Development Report," the 20th in the series, comprises six main parts: Scientific Outlook, Scientific Frontiers, Representative Achievements of Chinese Scientific Research in 2016, Observations on the Development of Science and Technology, An Overview of China's Scientific Development, and Suggestions for China's Scientific Development. Each year's "Science Development Report" adopts a relatively stable logical structure to continuously reflect the overall situation and trends of international scientific development, as well as my country's position and level of scientific development within this context.

Zhang Zhiqiang, head of the research group for the "2017 Science Development Report," deputy director of the Documentation and Information Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and director of the Chengdu Documentation and Information Center of CAS, stated that 20 consecutive years of systematic and comprehensive reporting on scientific research progress helps to grasp the overall situation and trends of global scientific development, to conduct forward-looking thinking and planning for the future development of science and technology and the economy and society, to promote and improve the scientific level of national development decision-making, and also contributes to the dissemination of advanced scientific culture and the improvement of the scientific literacy of the entire nation.

The "High-Tech Development Report," published since 2000, comprehensively focuses on four major areas: "Information Technology," "Biotechnology," "Materials and Energy Technology," and "Aerospace and Marine Technology," focusing on one area each year, with a four-year cycle. The "2017 High-Tech Development Report" focuses on "Biotechnology," summarizing the dynamics of high-tech development in 2016, highlighting new developments in biotechnology and its industrialization, analyzing and evaluating the international competitiveness and innovation capabilities of China's pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, discussing major issues of widespread public concern such as gene editing and scientific peer debates, and inviting well-known domestic experts to provide policy recommendations on major issues such as the transformation and development of high-tech zones and military-civilian integration innovation.

Mu Rongping, head of the research group for the "2017 High Technology Development Report" and Party Secretary of the Institute of Science and Technology Strategy Consulting, Chinese Academy of Sciences, stated that high technology plays an irreplaceable role in promoting industrial restructuring and upgrading, and cultivating new drivers of economic development, strongly supporting the construction of an innovative nation and a moderately prosperous society. This report helps government departments and the public understand the dynamics of high technology development, particularly biotechnology, and its industrialization, as well as its impact on society.