China

Reforms and policy developments in China are difficult to understand without reference to
their grounding in ideology. The Chinese Communist Party’s S&T policy was based on the
Marxist view of S&T (Gong, 1962). P.381

From the 1975 Outline Report to the 1978 Science Conference. During this period, Deng
Xiaoping launched a “rectification” of the economic, S&T and education systems damaged by
the Cultural Revolution. After the death of Mao and the arrest of the Gang of Four, Deng’s
ideas were reflected in the Science Conference of 1978.

• Systemic reform, 1979-94. This period saw a spontaneous trial stage (1979-84), followed by
official reforms (1985-94). The CCPCC issued the decisions on the reform of economic system
in 1984, on the reform of the S&T system in 1985, and on the reform of education system also
in 1985.

• Deepening reform, 1995-2005. Following Deng’s proposal of faster reform, the Fourteenth
Congress of the CCPCC proposed establishing a socialist market economy. The top leadership
launched the 1995 Decision on accelerating the progress of S&T,

the National Strategy on Science and Education, the 1999

Decision on strengthening technical innovation and high-technology industrialisa- tion, and the
National strategy on sustainable development.

• Towards an innovation-driven nation, 2006-20. The leadership proposed the Concept of

Scientific Development and the Harmonious Society; it launched the strategy for revitalising
the nation by talents, the Strategic Plan for the Develop- ment of Science and Technology over
this period and the corresponding Decision. (OECD, 2009)

“Last year the

Central Committee adopted a decision on reform of the economic structure. … Now the

Central Committee will also adopt a decision on reform of the system for managing

science and technology.” (Deng, 1985) (OECD, 2009)

In the 1990s, the CCPCC and the State Council issued two policy reform documents:

the 1995 Decision on Accelerating Scientific and Technological Progress (5 May 1999),

which proposed a national development strategy to revitalise the nation through science,

technology and education (kejiao xingguo strategy). The second was the 1999 Decision
on Strengthening Technological Innovation and Developing High Technology and

Realising Its Industrialisation. (OECD, 2009)

In the 1990s, the knowledge economy was making its place in the technologically

advanced countries. Also during this period, China made great efforts to join the WTO to

which it acceded in 2001. The knowledge economy and WTO membership provide both

opportunities and challenges to China’s future development.

The 1995 Decision and the 1999 Decision were issued against this background. (OECD, 2009)

One characteristic of science policy after 1995 is prioritisation and concentration of

resources on major programmes (Cao, 2002): • The Knowledge Innovation Programme of the
CAS. • The Education Revitalisation Action Plan towards the 21st Century. • The State Key
Basic Research and Development Programme (the 973 Programme). • The National Science
Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars. • The State High-technology R&D Programme (the 863
Programme). • The World Class University Programme (the 985 Programme). (OECD, 2009)

In January 2006, a national conference on S&T was held. The Medium- and Long-

term Strategic Plan for the Development of Science and Technology (2006-20) was issued by
the State Council, and the Decision on Implementing the Medium- and Long- term Strategic
Plan for the Development of Science and Technology and Improving Indigenous Innovation
Capability was issued by the CCPCC and the State Council. These two documents signify that
China is adopting an innovation-driven development model. (OECD, 2009)

The overall objectives to be realised by 2020 are many:

• Strong improvement in indigenous innovation capability.

• Solid improvement of the capability of S&T to promote economic and social

development and to safeguard national security in order to provide strong support

for building China into a comprehensive well-off society.

• Significant increase in the overall strength of basic science and frontier technology

research.

• Achievement of a series of S&T results with significant global impact.

• Participation in the group of innovation-oriented countries in order to become a

world S&T power by the middle of the 21st century. (OECD, 2009)

These overall objectives are elaborated in specific goals for eight sectors: industry,

agriculture, energy, pharmaceutical and medical, national defence, R&D human resources, and
R&D. In addition, certain indicators are proposed, e.g. by 2020, the ratio of gross expenditure
on R&D to GDP should rearch or exceed 2.5%, S&T should contribute 60% to economic
development, the degree of reliance on foreign technology should drop to 30%, and the
international citations of Chinese-authored scientific publications should rank among the top
five worldwide.

The plan defines 11 key research areas and 68 priority issues in these areas, 16 major

special programmes, frontier technology programmes in eight key technology research areas,
and 18 basic research topics(OECD, 2009)

The country’s top leadership’s decision in 1995 to revitalise the nation through science and
technology epitomises this belief. It is not surprising; then, that China’s innovation policy has
been technology-driven, with a strong focus on R&D as the driver of innovation.

(OECD, 2009)

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National Programs for Science and Technology

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As of the 1980s, China has formulated a series of general programs for scientific and
technological R&D, with the strategic aim of improving China's competitiveness in science and
technology in the 21st century. The Key Technologies R&D Program, the 863 Program and the
973 Program have formed the main body of state programs for science and technology. The Spark
and the Torch programs have been important in raising China's strength in this area.
Key Technologies R&D Program

The Key Technologies R&D Program, launched in 1982, was the biggest scientific and
technological program in China of the 20th century. Oriented toward national economic
construction, it aims to solve critical, direction-related and comprehensive problems in national
economic and social development, covering agriculture, electronic information, energy resources,
transportation, materials, resources exploration, environmental protection, medical and health
care, and other fields. This program, engaging tens of thousands of researchers in over 1,000
scientific research institutions nationwide, has had the largest funding, employed the most people,
and had the greatest impact on the national economy of any plan to date.

863 Program
In March 1986, the National Hi-tech R&D Program (863 Program) was launched, after exhaustive
examination by scientific experts. The program set 20 themes in biology, space flight,
information, laser, automation, energy, new material and oceanography. Government's role is one
of macro-control and support. The general direction of research is decided by scientists after
discussion, and specific projects are decided by an committee of experts, responsible for keeping
abreast of international research, and report annually on their own fields, so as to set new research
directions. Another feature of the program is that its results can be quickly industrialized.

973 Program
A national key program for development of basic scientific research, the 973 Program was
launched in 1998. It mainly involves multi-disciplinary, comprehensive research on important
scientific issues in such fields as agriculture, energy, information, environment of resources,
population and health, and materials, providing theoretical basis and scientific foundation for
solving problems. The program encourages outstanding scientists to carry out key basic research
in cutting-edge science and important sci-tech issues in fields with a great bearing on economic
and social development. Representing China's national goals, it aims to provide strong scientific
and technological support for significant issues in China's economic and social development in
the 21st century.
Torch Program
Launched in August 1988, the Torch Program is China's most important hi-tech industry program
and a national guideline program. It includes: organizing and actioning development projects for
hi-tech products with advanced technology levels and good economic benefits in domestic and
foreign markets; establishing hi-tech industrial development zones throughout the country; and,
exploring management systems and operation mechanisms suitable for the development of hi-tech
industry. The program mainly involves projects in new technology fields, such as new materials,
biotechnology, electronic information, integrated mechanical-electrical technology, and advanced
and energy-saving technology.

Spark Program
Launched in 1986, the Spark Program aims to revitalize rural economy through development and
popularization of science and technology in rural areas so as to improve the lives of the rural
population. Today, there are more than 140,000 sci-tech demonstration projects being carried out
in 90 percent of rural areas throughout China.

http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/Brief/193304.htm

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