Guangming Daily:

Over the past few years, the NSFC has thoroughly carried out systematic reform, constantly improved fund performance, and been widely acknowledged among the scientific research community. I would like to ask, what measures have been taken to promote science fund reform, and what achievements have been made over the last few years? Thank you.

Li Jinghai:

Thank you for your attention to the science fund reform. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to fundamental research. In the face of the critical historical period, interweaving global challenges and research-based reforms, the NSFC has intensely realized that deepening science fund reform and constantly improving fund performance is our mandatory historical mission and the responsibility of an era. Therefore, we have adhered to the concept of "science as the root, fairness as the life," and established the goal of building a science fund management system of the new era, featuring advanced concepts, normative systems, fairness, and high efficiency, and confirmed systematic reform schemes regarding three core tasks, including clarifying funding orientations, improving our appraisement mechanisms, and optimizing discipline layouts. I would like to point out that, any science funding institutions will focus on these three tasks.

After five years of constant efforts, our reforms have been rolled out in a gradual manner. I will briefly introduce the situation to you all. In terms of the fund management strategy reform, we have clarified our funding orientation, conducting classified applications and reviews according to the attributes of different scientific issues. The four types are: first, encouraging exploration and highlighting originality, known as the zero-to-one scientific breakthroughs; second, focusing on the cutting edge and opening new roads; third, being driven by needs and making breakthroughs; fourth, being orientated by universality, accommodation, and cross-connections. We have gradually expanded demonstration areas of classified application and review according to the attributes of four scientific issues. Last year, we accepted a total of 280,000 applications, 85% of which were reviewed using this new method. The quality of subjects selected by researchers has witnessed great progress.

Second, we have improved our appraisement mechanism, encouraging each one of reviewers regardless of whether they are senior reviewers or peer reviewers, to uphold their responsibilities, values, the credibility to make contributions. The demonstration area now covers 61% of the discipline, involving 46,000 evaluation experts. Their awareness of their responsibility and quality of appraisement has greatly improved. Judging from the feedback from applicants, they found that over 85% of these review comments were helpful or extremely helpful.

Third, we have optimized the discipline layout, aiming to solve the issue of excessive subject classification and the underlying problems of isolation and overlap among subjects. We have greatly simplified claim codes. By adjusting the three-tier code system to a two-tier one and reducing the number from over 3,500 to 1,300, we have taken the first step in optimizing the funding layout in accordance with the inherent logic and landscape of the knowledge system. This is not an easy task. Thereby, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for all the understanding and support received from the entire scientific research community.

Regarding fund management mechanism reform: first, we have implemented an originality-prioritized exploration program and established new mechanisms, including in-time acceptance of applications, pre-applications, and trans-disciplinary reviews. Moreover, we have supported innovative ideas in a timely manner. Over the past two years, we have funded a total of 204 applications of this kind.

Second, we have carried out the plan to upgrade the talent subsidy system, improving the funding system for talents who are engaged in fundamental research. The widely concerned National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars has expanded the number of funding projects from 200 to 315 per year. The number of funding projects of the National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars has increased from 400 to 630. Over the past four years, a total of 75,000 projects undertaken by young scientists have been funded, enabling a great number of young people to enter the field of fundamental research. The number of funding projects has increased year by year.

Third, we have reformed funds management of cross-disciplinary research. The Department of Interdisciplinary Science established last year has started funding talent-related programs in interdisciplinary fields and organized approval of significant projects.

Fourth, we have improved the mechanism for multiple investments in basic research. We have reformed the joint fund and specified the ratio of investments with different partners. According to the partners' public welfare nature, the ratio with enterprises is 1:4; the ratio with local governments is 1:3; the ratio with departments is 1:2. We have guided all sectors to increase investment and enhanced the ability of basic research to support major social and economic needs. During the agreement term, the joint fund has attracted 12.3 billion yuan of external investment. This year, the external investment attracted by the joint fund is equivalent to nearly 8% of the central financial input, which is quite a large proportion.

Fifth, we have optimized the mechanism for fund and project management. Researchers are given enough autonomy in a project for distinguished young scholars to use funds based on an overall rationing system. Then the system has been applied to projects for youth and outstanding young scholars. We have conducted a paperless application system, simplified the project application process, and carried out an evaluation system on representative works.

In terms of funds management and layout reform, we have integrated the original nine departments into four sections: basic science, technical science, life and medicine, and interdisciplinary science, according to the principle of promoting knowledge-application and cross-disciplinary integrations based on the logical structure of knowledge systems. We have broken disciplinary barriers and realized interdisciplinary integration to use macro-control funds to guide researchers in various fields to work together on major and complex issues.

Next, we will work on transforming the research paradigm and enhancing the capacity to refine scientific issues, which some young scholars are not good at. Besides solving the current problems, we will more actively explore the future to provide solid support in grasping new development stages, implementing new development concepts, building new development patterns, and promoting high-quality development. 

I would like to thank my colleagues in the relevant departments and sci-tech sectors and friends from the media for their attention to NSFC. Thank you.