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Reply to Proposal No. 1045 (Science and Technology Category No. 050) of the Fourth Session of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference:
We have received your proposal regarding enhancing the role of national key laboratories in scientific and technological innovation. After consultation with the Ministry of Finance and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, our reply is as follows:
National key laboratories, as important bases for high-level basic and applied basic research, the gathering and cultivation of outstanding scientific and technological talents, the conduct of high-level academic exchanges, and equipped with advanced research equipment, are an important component of my country's scientific and technological innovation system. They play an irreplaceable and vital role in promoting the generation of major scientific research achievements and the cultivation of outstanding scientists.
After more than 30 years of construction and development, the national key laboratory system has been continuously improved and has become a backbone base for basic and new technology research in my country. It has made outstanding contributions to the forefront of science and addressing major national needs, and has played a vital role in leading and supporting the construction of the national innovation system. As a product of science and technology system reform, national key laboratories have continuously played a leading and exemplary role in deepening science and technology system reform. They have pioneered operational mechanisms such as regular evaluation and merit-based selection, stable support combined with competition, and open sharing. In promoting collaborative innovation, they have expanded from centrally administered universities and research institutes to enterprises, the military, and local governments, supporting the construction of knowledge innovation systems, technological innovation systems, military-civilian integration innovation systems, and regional innovation systems. Under the new historical conditions, national key laboratories have become a key measure and important means to implement the innovation-driven development strategy and enhance independent innovation capabilities. Preliminary statistics show that in the past 10 years, national key laboratories have produced more than 50% of the National Natural Science Awards, more than 30% of the National Technological Invention Awards, and more than 20% of the National Science and Technology Progress Awards.
To ensure the construction and operation of national key laboratories, the central government established a special fund for national (key) laboratories in 2007, and has continuously increased investment and innovated support methods to promote the continuous innovation and development of national key laboratories. The special fund for national (key) laboratories mainly supports three aspects: first, open operation fees, which mainly support the daily operation and maintenance of key laboratories and their open sharing. Second, there is the basic research operating expense, which mainly supports key laboratories in conducting continuous, in-depth, systematic research and exploratory, self-selected research around their main tasks and research directions. Third, there is the research equipment expense, which mainly supports key laboratories that are operating normally and have passed evaluation or acceptance, for equipment upgrades and renovations every five years according to research needs, as well as the trial production of specialized equipment related to the laboratory's research direction. The budgets for open operation expenses and basic research operating expenses are managed in a categorized and tiered manner. The Ministry of Science and Technology, based on the results of regular evaluations of key laboratories, combined with annual assessments, disciplinary characteristics, and scale, proposes suggestions for classifying key laboratories into different tiers. The Ministry of Finance, in conjunction with the Ministry of Science and Technology, determines the tiered support standards based on the tiers and available financial resources. Currently, the highest tier is 14 million yuan per year, including 8 million yuan for open operation expenses and 6 million yuan for basic research operating expenses. The 3 million yuan mentioned by the committee member is the lowest tier support standard.
While increasing stable support, the central government has also established a budget allocation mechanism linked to evaluation results, exploring performance-based budget management. National Key Laboratories implement a five-year periodic evaluation mechanism. Budget allocation is linked to evaluation results, taking into account the characteristics of their operation and management. Specifically, open operation fees and basic research operating fees are determined based on the periodic performance evaluation results of the national key laboratories' operation and management, with tiered support standards and funding allocated accordingly. Research equipment expenses are applied for on demand, with funding allocated based on the results of periodic laboratory evaluations and special fund assessments, combined with the characteristics of the discipline, and laboratories with excellent evaluation results receive greater support.
The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) has always attached great importance to the work of national key laboratories. To support the national key laboratory program, the NSFC established the Excellent National Key Laboratory Research Project in 1992, providing support equivalent to key projects to national key laboratories with excellent evaluation results, until 2014. Statistics show that a total of 169 Excellent National Key Laboratory Research Projects were funded, with a total funding of 251.698 million yuan. At the same time, the NSFC has consistently emphasized the supporting role of national-level basic research bases in its science foundation project funding work. First, relevant project management regulations explicitly state the need to effectively utilize the conditions of national and departmental scientific research bases. Second, applications for various science foundation projects are required to specify the type of research base upon which they are based, for review experts' reference. Third, strong support is given to the scientific research and talent cultivation work of national key laboratories. Statistics show that in 2014 alone, among the 26 national key laboratories in the field of chemistry participating in the evaluation, there were 175 recipients of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, accounting for 41.67% of the total number of National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars projects in the field of chemistry, including 56 newly added projects within the 5-year evaluation cycle; and 25 innovative research group projects, including 12 newly added projects within the 5-year evaluation cycle.
Recently, the Ministry of Science and Technology, in conjunction with relevant departments, is carrying out the compilation of the "13th Five-Year Plan" for the construction of national research bases and their supporting capabilities, in accordance with the requirements of the "Notice of the State Council on Issuing the Reform Plan for Deepening the Management of Central Government-Funded Science and Technology Programs (Special Projects, Funds, etc.)" (Guofa [2014] No. 64), which calls for the rational consolidation and optimized layout of research bases. Next, in accordance with the requirements of the reform plan for the management of central government-funded science and technology programs (special projects, funds, etc.), we will optimize the layout of national key laboratories and, on this basis, increase support. We will continue to adhere to the principle of survival of the fittest, encouraging more national key laboratories to become leaders and equals in international scientific and technological competition, continuously enhancing their scientific and technological innovation capabilities, and making greater contributions to the in-depth implementation of the innovation-driven development strategy and the construction of an innovative country.
Your proposal on enhancing the role of national key laboratories in scientific and technological innovation is of great reference value, and we will consider it comprehensively in our work on national key laboratories.
Thank you for your support of science and technology work!
Ministry of Science and Technology
August 16, 2016
Reply to Proposal No. 2894 (Science and Technology Category No. 139) of the Fourth Session of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference:
We have received your proposal on strengthening the foundation of physiology and helping my country's life sciences reach new academic heights. After careful consideration, our response is as follows:
The "Suggestions of the CPC Central Committee on Formulating the 13th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development," adopted at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, proposed "establishing a number of national laboratories in major innovation fields." In his explanation of the "Suggestions of the CPC Central Committee on Formulating the 13th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development," General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that "to improve innovation capabilities, it is necessary to consolidate the material and technological foundation for independent innovation and accelerate the construction of innovation infrastructure platforms led by national laboratories." The "Outline of the 13th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development" proposes "aiming at the forefront of international science and technology, guided by national goals and strategic needs, and establishing a number of high-level national laboratories."
Establishing national laboratories is a major strategic decision made by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council to implement the innovation-driven development strategy and realize an innovative country. It is also a major measure to deepen the reform of my country's science and technology system, and is currently a top priority, possessing strategic, urgent, and challenging characteristics. The establishment of national laboratories must highlight national will, be goal-oriented, and involve overall planning. It must adopt a top-down decision-making approach, adhere to high standards and high levels, highlight key areas, and embody leading, unique, and irreplaceable characteristics.
The establishment of national laboratories aligns with the strategic deployment and layout requirements for establishing national laboratories in strategically vital areas and in crucial innovation fields that profoundly impact national comprehensive competitiveness, national security, and long-term development. It is necessary and urgent for safeguarding national sovereignty and other core national interests, expanding development space, and maximizing national interests. The establishment of national laboratories requires top-level national design, resource coordination, advantage integration, and consolidation of scientific and technological resources from relevant institutions.
Regarding the suggestion to establish a national laboratory for physiology, once the top-level design plan for the national laboratory is finalized, it will be considered in the next phase of national laboratory construction according to established procedures.
Thank you for your support of scientific and technological work!
Ministry of Science and Technology
August 16, 2016
