Chinese national lawmakers began deliberating a draft revision to the law on scientific and technological progress, as the country seeks to advance the quality and efficiency of its innovation in science and technology.
The draft was presented to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for its first reading. The lawmakers would add three chapters to the existing law which are “basic research,” “regional scientific and technological innovation” and “international scientific and technological cooperation”.
To strengthen basic research and innovation capabilities, the draft proposes establishing an investment mechanism to provide stable support for basic research, and increasing the proportion of funds for basic research in the total sum of funds for research and development across society.
The draft also calls for a focus on major scientific issues related to scientific and technological frontiers, economic and social development, and national security, and a focus on enhancing the capacity for related innovation.
Highlighting breakthroughs in key and core technologies, the draft urges the construction and strengthening of the country’s strategic scientific and technological strengths: national laboratories, national science and technology research and development institutions, high-level research universities and leading enterprises in science and technology.
To further stimulate the vitality of scientific and technological innovation, the draft stresses the importance of creating a favourable environment for scientific and technological personnel. It also proposes improving relevant legal responsibilities and banning scientific and technological research, developments and applications that endanger national security or human health, harm public interests, or violate the integrity or ethics of scientific research.
Strengthening scientific and technological innovation is top of the list of tasks in the 14th Five-Year Plan. Hefty investments are already pouring into power innovation and growth. In the first half of this year, China’s economy expanded 12.7% year on year, while investment into high-tech industries surged 23.5% year on year.
A report shows that the nation’s economic and technological strength has increased significantly. By devoting great energy to implementing the innovation-driven development strategy, China has made several accomplishments towards making the country a leader in science and technology.
According to an article, China’s technological capabilities have been given incredible momentum. This is reshaping the global economic structure in medium-level technology as well as high-tech capability. Chinese industries are getting closer to the technological frontier in conventional areas such as electronics, machinery, automobiles, high-speed railways and aviation.
Technological innovations in emerging areas are also on the rise, including new and renewable energy, advanced nuclear energy, next-generation telecommunication technologies, big data and supercomputers, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, space technology, and e-commerce.
Several key aspects of sci-tech developments have also been significantly improved by focusing o strengthening basic research in applied sciences, launching major national science and technology projects, and prioritising innovation in key generic technologies, cutting-edge frontier technologies, modern engineering technologies, and disruptive technologies.
China strives to foster a culture of innovation, and strengthen the creation, protection, and application of intellectual property. it cultivates a large number of world-class scientists and technologists in strategically important fields, scientific and technological leaders, and young scientists and engineers, as well as high-performing innovation teams.
As reported by OpenGov Asia, China’s Ministry of Science and Technology has played an important role in China’s efforts to build a moderately prosperous society. China has taken a host of practical measures to promote science and technology in socio-economic development, foster innovation, support the transfer and industrialisation of research results, and encourage more investment in scientific and technological infrastructure.
Regarding the ministry’s targets in core technologies, the ministry will continue concentrating on basic materials, essential manufacturing techniques and high-end chips as well as industrial software so these fields can catch up with current world leaders.
In addition, cutting-edge disciplines like Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum information, advanced manufacturing, brain sciences and aerospace technology will remain at the top of the ministry’s support list.
