"China will enter the ranks of innovative countries in 2020. To realize modernization, our country must place scientific and technological innovation at the core position." Wang Zhigang, minister of Science and Technology replied at the press conference of the second meeting of the National People's Congress on March 11

China's comprehensive scientific and technological innovation ranked 17th across the globe, and the contribution rate of scientific and technological progress to economic growth reached 58.5 percent last year.

Government departments should listen to the voices of scientific researchers, meet their needs and solve their problems, Wang noted.

Basic research calls for multiple inputs

During the two sessions, many deputies mentioned that China's investment in basic research and original creativity were insufficient. Data also show that China's basic research investment only accounted for about 5 percent for a long time.

In fact, China is paying more and more attention to basic research. In 2018, the State Council issued the "Opinions on Comprehensively Strengthening Basic Scientific Research", proposing to target the world's scientific and technological frontiers as well as economic and social development needs, to strengthen basic research and applied basic research.

Wang admitted that the United States races ahead of China in terms of the investment in basic research. However, it is worth noting that the the basic research in America is funded by the federal government, local governments, enterprises, and social forces together.

And China's investment in basic research mostly comes from the central government. "But now we’ve seen some good momentum. While the central government continues to increase investment, some of our companies have begun to focus on basic research."

More than 60 units of pilot research funding

1.Incentive-based contracting system

Wang Zhigang said that the government actually wants to combine the contracting system with the power delegation, but "delegation" does not mean that the government will relinquish power, but the way and concept of government management will be changed.

The research funding system may be tested in some subsidy quotas of basic research, and more than 60 have been selected for piloting.

In the pilot process, we have to see whether the selected pilot units are indeed very standardized in scientific research management and significant in terms of scientific research results.

"We will seek the opinions of the scientific and technological community in accordance with the requirements of the government work report, and finally form a pilot program." Wang noted.

2.Reduce the burden on technical personnel

To such questions like “How to let researchers stay away from the trouble brought by identity, and reimbursement?”, Wang Zhigang replied that, the Ministry of Science and Technology and relevant departments have jointly carried out measures to reduce the burden on scientific researchers.

He said that the synergy of science and technology policies is being strengthened, and the Ministry of Science and Technology will work together with relevant departments to sort out and unify some of the established policies.

3.Facilitate the growth of young scientists

Any country that wants to develop technology and innovation must value young people, Wang said.

He said that the Ministry of Science and Technology should pay more attention to young technology personnel, and provide them with better conditions for scientific research.

Young people have been given more support in the national science and technology plan. For instance, the Young Scientists Project was established in the key R&D program, and the National Natural Science Foundation also offered awards to brilliant youth.

Private enterprises are welcomed to participate in innovation

Wang Zhigang pointed out rules and opportunities are fair for state-owned and private enterprises are the same.

China now has more than 30 million entities in the market, with over 180,000 high-tech enterprises, 70 percent of which are private companies.

The Ministry of Science and Technology has also created equal rules for all types of companies that want to innovate.

The Ministry of Science and Technology and the Federation of Industry and Commerce have jointly issued guidance on supporting private enterprises to participate in national science and technology projects, and also established some high-level research and development institutions in private enterprises, including national key laboratories and engineering technology research centers.