Amendments aim to improve scientific research

New focus on basic research, regional innovation and international cooperation

National lawmakers are deliberating on amendments to the law on scientific and technological progress, as the country seeks to advance the quality and efficiency of its innovation.

They were presented to this week's session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for first reading. The session runs from Tuesday to Friday.

The amendments would add three chapters to the existing law－on basic research, regional scientific and technological innovation, and international scientific and technological cooperation.

The draft of the amendments proposes establishing an investment mechanism to provide stable support for basic research, and increasing the proportion of funds for basic research in research and development.

It also calls for a focus on scientific and technological frontiers, economic and social development, and national security.

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 innovation, the draft stresses the importance of creating a favorable environment for scientific and technological personnel.

It also proposes banning research, developments and applications that endanger national security or human health, harm public interests, or violate the integrity or ethics of research.

While addressing the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering in late May, President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called for accelerated efforts in building China into a leader in science and technology and achieving more self-reliance in science and technology.

In March, the newly adopted 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) put scientific and technological self-reliance on center stage, highlighting key fields including quantum physics, artificial intelligence and biomedicine, and stressing devotion to basic research and innovation, with the share of basic research in overall R&D expenditure expected to rise from 6 percent to 8 percent.

Hefty investments are already pouring in to power innovation and growth. In the first half of this year, China's economy expanded 12.7 percent year-on-year, while investment in high-tech industries surged 23.5 percent.

Li Xueyong, director of the NPC's Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee, said revising the law is an urgent requirement to implement the innovative development strategy and achieve scientific self-reliance.

The country's innovation capacity still has room for improvement, including resource allocation and entrepreneurship, he said.

Globally, a new round of technological revolution and industrial change is advancing rapidly, making the scientific competition even more intense, he said.

The Progress of Science and Technology Law was enacted in 1993 and revised in 2007. Li said it has played an important role in creating a healthy environment for science and technology development but it needs to be amended to improve the quality and efficiency of innovation and science and technology governance.

Xinhua contributed to this story.