IT News on September 28th: According to today's report from "Voice of the Chinese Academy of Sciences," the Chinese Academy of Sciences has officially released its "15th Five-Year Plan" for development (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"), which outlines the development goals, main tasks, and significant measures for the next five years.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the Chinese Academy of Sciences received nearly 20% of the national science and technology awards. The number of achievements led by it in the list of significant annual accomplishments accounted for about 40% of the nation's total. Its natural index ranking firmly topped that of global scientific and educational institutions, and the number of highly cited scientists has ranked first in the world for three consecutive years. The conversion rate of invention patents reached 21.1%.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences, aiming at the goal of building a strong country in science and technology, aligns itself with the "five strengths" that characterize a scientific and technological powerhouse. Focusing on the core task of seizing strategic high grounds in science and technology, it has established a 32-character guideline that emphasizes "mission-focused approach, innovation as the key to success, systematic planning, leading breakthroughs, talent as the foundation, integration of science and education, governance reform, and open collaboration." It has set six major development goals for 2030, which include making significant progress in seizing strategic high grounds in science and technology, achieving notable results in building sources of original innovation, making major breakthroughs in key core technologies, establishing a national highland for innovative talents, fully leveraging the role of the national science and technology think tank, and making significant progress in building world-class research institutions.
Looking ahead to 2035, the Chinese Academy of Sciences will be fully established as a world-class research institution, becoming a national strategic scientific and technological force that meets the expectations of the country and society, with distinct Chinese characteristics and full of vitality. It will also become a source of original innovation and a high ground for innovation with significant global influence.
Overall, the 'Plan' features four distinct characteristics:
First, it is to highlight and strengthen the systematic tackling of scientific and technological innovation, and to gather a powerful joint force to seize the high points of science and technology.
The "Plan" takes enhancing the systematic research and development capabilities of scientific and technological innovation as an important starting point and focal point for planning various tasks and measures. This requirement is integrated into all aspects such as the layout of scientific and technological innovation, the organization and management of scientific research, and the allocation of resource elements. It emphasizes leveraging the systematic and institutional advantages of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, integrating resource forces for collaborative efforts, and accelerating the production of more key, original, and leading major scientific and technological achievements.
In terms of technological innovation layout, we adhere to the "four orientations," focusing on key priority areas such as integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, life sciences and biotechnology, brain-computer interfaces, and controlled nuclear fusion. We also concentrate on strategic high-tech fields like optoelectronics, space, information, oceanography, energy, and materials, as well as sustainable development areas including agriculture, earth and resources, and atmospheric and marine ecosystems. Additionally, we focus on foundational and cutting-edge interdisciplinary fields such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, and geosciences. We have identified a number of key development directions and are strengthening the strategic, forward-looking, and systematic layout of technological innovation. We coordinate and optimize regional scientific and technological layouts, accelerating the establishment of a tiered regional layout system known as "3+4+X," with Beijing (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region), Shanghai (Yangtze River Delta), and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as strategic highlands; Hefei, Chengdu-Chongqing, Wuhan, and Xi'an as strategic fulcrums; and several key regions as strategic nodes. Our goal is to provide systematic scientific and technological support for the country's major regional strategies.
In the management of scientific research organizations, we adhere to the principle of "both centralization and decentralization, combining both." We improve the two-level management system of institutes. On the basis of the current vertical linear organizational structure based on the legal person status of public institutions, we establish a networked matrix-style scientific research organization system that relies on key areas, major tasks, and significant platforms. We explore the formation of domain-specific "scientific research consortia," task-oriented "attack teams," and platform-based "innovation facilities groups," focusing on strengthening collaboration across institutions, disciplines, and fields, in order to rapidly enhance the overall organizational strength and combat effectiveness of the entire institute.
In terms of resource element allocation, efforts are focused on enhancing the organization of scientific and technological research efforts. This includes promoting the integrated allocation of projects, platforms, talents, resources, and policies. Mechanisms for the distribution and management of scientific and technological funds are improved, and an economic resource allocation model that is compatible with established scientific research organizational patterns is established. Support and guarantees for major scientific and technological tasks are strengthened, aiming to achieve a unity between increased investment scale and enhanced innovation efficiency.
Secondly, it is essential to actively embrace the vigorous development opportunities of artificial intelligence to empower technological innovation and transform scientific research management.
The "Plan" deploys a dedicated chapter on using artificial intelligence to lead a paradigm shift in scientific research as an important approach to accelerate breakthroughs in technological innovation, comprehensively promoting the empowerment of key areas through artificial intelligence, and reshaping the management model of scientific research organizations with intelligent scientific research management.
On one hand, by focusing on key areas such as leveraging artificial intelligence in basic sciences, strategic high technologies, and sustainable development, we fully utilize the foundational strengths of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in mathematics, computer science, control science, and scientific data. We strengthen the construction of new types of scientific and technological infrastructure, including the 'Panshi' large-scale scientific foundation model, intelligent scientist systems, scientific corpora, and scientific data centers, to rapidly develop an efficient and coordinated support system. At the same time, we actively promote the digitalization, networking, and intelligent upgrading of major national scientific and technological infrastructures and national field scientific observation stations. We further enhance the capabilities for data collection and integration, standardization, and security protection, and improve the application of integrated data to provide strong support for scientific research in key areas and the implementation of major scientific and technological tasks.
On the other hand, efforts are being made to implement the 'Smart Chinese Academy of Sciences' initiative, which includes building an integrated intelligent scientific research management platform. This platform serves as a central hub for the coordination and allocation of innovative resources, the command and dispatch of scientific and technological innovation activities, and the collaborative integration of scientific research management information. It systematically integrates the basic capabilities of scientific research across the academy, the distribution of scientific and technological resources, and the deployment and implementation of research tasks. As a result, a comprehensive, dynamically updated, and accurately detailed 'scientific research capability map' is created. This foundation strengthens the data support and decision-making basis for the intelligent organization and management of scientific research, enabling the rapid allocation of innovative resources and the efficient aggregation of innovative forces for key areas and major tasks.
Third, we focus on the deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation to accelerate the cultivation of new high-quality productive forces for development.
The "Plan" focuses on the needs of building a modern industrial system, concentrating on key areas, major regions, and significant projects. It emphasizes the dual efforts of technological innovation supply and industrial demand traction, aiming to resolve the issue of a disconnect between technological innovation and industrial development, and to accelerate the transformation of scientific and technological achievements into real productive forces.
In terms of enhancing the supply of high-quality technology, efforts are focused on the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, the clustered development of strategic emerging industries, and the forward-looking layout of future industries. A 'whitelist' for the supply of scientific and technological achievements is established, and dynamic monitoring and evaluation of patents are conducted based on classification and grading. A database of high-quality patents for transfer and transformation is also set up. Systematic technological solutions are provided to address the 'bottlenecks' and 'obstacles' in key links of key industrial chains, ensuring that scientific and technological achievements are effectively utilized, produce tangible results, and have a significant impact.
In promoting the efficient implementation and transformation of technologies, efforts are being made to strengthen high-level technology transfer and transformation platforms such as concept validation centers, pilot testing platforms, and national-level technological innovation platforms, as well as the construction of specialized talent teams. The intellectual property management system is being improved, and in-depth actions are taken to facilitate the transformation of scientific and technological achievements at "integration points." Various methods of transformation are actively explored to ensure a smooth pathway for these achievements to move from the "laboratory" to the "production line."
In terms of establishing an organized mechanism for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, we have established and improved regular coordination mechanisms with industry authorities, local governments, and leading technology enterprises. We have jointly implemented special initiatives for collaborative innovation with the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, deepened cooperation with key enterprises in the industrial chain, and helped to cultivate a group of 'chain leader enterprises' in the innovation chain. This has maximized the overall efficiency of the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, providing strong support for the development of new productive forces.
Fourth, we must adhere to the integrated development of education and scientific and technological talents, and accelerate the building of a national strategic talent force.
Aiming at the goal of building a national highland for innovative talents, the "Plan" proposes to create a "commando team" to seize the high ground in science and technology, to establish a "cluster area" that attracts high-level talents from home and abroad, to run "excellent institutions" for cultivating talents urgently needed by the country, and to set a "high benchmark" for the institutional environment and excellent ecosystem for talent development.
Focusing on the construction of a strategic talent force, it emphasizes the need to closely revolve around the core task of seizing technological high ground. By following the growth patterns of different types of talents, efforts are made to cultivate a large number of strategic scientists, leading scientific and technological talents, innovative teams, young scientific and technological talents, and a team of outstanding engineers. In particular, the construction of a young scientific and technological talent team is regarded as a strategic project. It is proposed to continuously organize and implement projects for young teams in the field of basic research to support outstanding young talents in tackling major scientific challenges; by establishing assistants to the "chief commander" and "chief technical officer," reserve leaders are trained and seasoned in major tasks; support is provided to affiliated universities to advance the construction of demonstration areas for integrated development of educational and scientific and technological talents, optimize the mechanism for deep collaboration in education and science, and strengthen the independent cultivation of top-notch innovative talents.
Focusing on deepening the reform of the talent development system and mechanism, it is proposed to establish and improve a classified evaluation system that conforms to the types of scientific research activities and the laws of talent growth. Further improvements will be made to the income distribution system, which should stimulate innovation, reflect a mission-oriented approach, ensure comprehensive incentives, and be managed in a standardized and effective manner. Efforts will also be made to accelerate the formation of an incentive and support mechanism suitable for systematic research efforts, with the goal of building a competitive talent system that continuously stimulates innovation and vitality. Great efforts will be devoted to inheriting and promoting the spirit of scientists, creating a clean and upright scientific research ecosystem, and fostering an innovative environment.
