Science and Technology Policy in China

It is the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) develops China’s scientific policy, as well as launching and financing research programs and promoting international collaboration.

The Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) , the main research body, together with other research and advanced education Institutes, is responsible for the issue of Masters and Doctorate diplomas.

The National Foundation for Natural Science (NNSF) is the principal funding body for basic research: it finances projects chosen by peer review, that have been presented by research, university and industrial organizations. Some of the main organizations involved in scientific research are the China Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), the China Academy of Forestry (CAF), the China Academy for Space Technology (CAST), the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), the Commission of Science and Technology and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND) .

MOST, CAS, and NNSF have national research and development programmes: in particular, MOST finances the “863” program (high-tech R&D), the “key technologies programme”, the “national basic research programme”, “infrastructure and facility development”, “environment building for S&T industries”, “mega-projects for science research”, “Torch programme” for technology for small and medium-sized rural industries, etc.; CAS also supports, amongst others, the “knowledge innovation programme”; NNSF supports programmes which can be requested independently, as well as the fund for young researchers, projects for less developed regions, the fund for scientific and review instruments, the fund for “complex science” and common funds for companies. The guide-lines for scientific development for the fifteen-year period 2006-2020 aim at achieving a R&S investment of 2% of the GDP in 2010 and 2,5% in 2020. At present the figure is around 1,5%, with an increase of 0,1% every year.

Chinese scientific policy can be found on the site of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

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