People's Daily Commentator: Comprehensively Deepen the Reform of Science and Technology System and Mechanism - On Learning and Implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping's Important Speech at the National Science and Technology Conference, the National Science and Technology Awards Conference, and the Conference of Academicians of the Two Academies Shortcomings | Science and Technology System | Xi Jinping
Innovation determines the future, and reform is related to the fate of the country. At the National Science and Technology Conference, the National Science and Technology Awards Conference, and the Conference of Academicians of the Two Academies, General Secretary Xi Jinping systematically explained the basic connotation and main tasks of accelerating the construction of a strong country in science and technology under the new situation, and emphasized "comprehensively deepening the reform of the science and technology system and mechanism, and fully stimulating the vitality of innovation and creation."
If scientific and technological innovation is compared to a new engine for my country's development, then reform is the indispensable ignition system to ignite this new engine. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core has insisted on stimulating innovation vitality by deepening reform. The reform of the science and technology system has been comprehensively exerted, breakthroughs have been made in multiple areas, and development has been in-depth. The scope of the reform has been unprecedentedly wide, the number of plans has been issued, the interests have been deeply touched, and the promotion has been strong. From implementing the "unveiling the list and appointing the leader" and "horse racing" system for major scientific research tasks, to implementing the distribution policy oriented to the value of knowledge, from establishing a management system for scientific and technological projects and funds based on trust, to establishing an evaluation orientation centered on quality, performance, and contribution... my country's science and technology system reform has opened up a new situation. The 143 tasks deployed in the "Implementation Plan for Deepening the Reform of the Science and Technology System" have been fully completed, the science and technology management system has been reshaped, the layout of national strategic scientific and technological forces has been accelerated, and the vitality of innovation subjects and talents has been further released, laying a solid foundation for building a strong country in science and technology.
The field of science and technology is the field that needs constant reform the most. General Secretary Xi Jinping has profoundly summarized the important experience of the development of science and technology in the new era, and "persisting in stimulating innovation vitality through deepening reform" is one of the important ones. At present, there are still shortcomings in my country's scientific and technological innovation system and mechanism, some reform measures have not been fully implemented, and the overall innovation efficiency needs to be improved. To further release the potential of scientific and technological innovation and stimulate innovation vitality, it is necessary to comprehensively deepen the reform of the scientific and technological system and mechanism, improve the national science and technology governance system, and accelerate the formation of practical carriers, institutional arrangements and a good environment that meet the needs of scientific and technological innovation and development in the new era. We must dare to tackle tough problems, dare to wade through dangerous shoals and overcome difficulties, resolutely break the ideological concepts and institutional and mechanism obstacles that restrict scientific and technological innovation, and effectively transform institutional advantages into scientific and technological competitive advantages, and use the strong "kinetic energy" released by the reform of the scientific and technological system and mechanism to enhance the "potential energy" of my country's scientific and technological innovation capabilities and levels.
"We must adhere to the combination of goal orientation and problem orientation", this clear requirement put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping provides scientific method guidance for comprehensively deepening the reform of science and technology systems and mechanisms. We must anchor the reform goals, rush to the problems and focus on the problems. In view of the low degree of organization and coordination of scientific and technological innovation in my country, the dispersion and duplication of scientific and technological resources, we must deepen the reform of the science and technology management system, coordinate the construction of various innovation platforms, and strengthen the coordination of innovation resources and the organization of forces. Improve the regional scientific and technological innovation layout, strengthen the coordination and linkage between the central and local governments, and create an innovation highland with global influence. We must improve the management of science and technology plans, deepen the reform of the allocation and management and use mechanisms of science and technology funds, give scientific research units and researchers greater autonomy, and improve the efficiency of scientific and technological innovation investment. Focusing on the goals, we must work hard on overall planning and top-level design; focusing on the problems, we must continue to work hard on making up for shortcomings and strengthening weaknesses, and we will be able to continuously improve the quality and efficiency of reform, further optimize the allocation of innovation resources, and enhance the overall efficiency of the national innovation system.
Reform involves both breaking and establishing, and getting the right rules will achieve twice the result with half the effort. Comprehensively deepening the reform of the science and technology system and mechanism, we must adhere to the methodology of breaking and establishing at the same time. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "We must adhere to the combination of 'breaking the four criteria' and 'establishing new standards', and accelerate the establishment of a classification evaluation system and assessment mechanism that conforms to the laws of scientific research activities. We must improve incentive systems such as scientific and technological awards, income distribution, and empowerment of achievements, so that more outstanding talents can get reasonable returns and release innovative vitality. We must continue to rectify the trend of indiscriminate issuance of 'hats' and 'brands', so that scientific researchers can concentrate on their research without distractions, and effectively reduce the distractions and worries of reporting projects, publishing papers, evaluating awards, and competing for resources." In accordance with the deployment and requirements of General Secretary Xi Jinping, we must deepen the promotion of "breaking the four criteria" and "establishing new standards", establish a guarantee mechanism for scientific researchers to focus their main energy on scientific research, and further loosen the constraints and reduce the burden on scientific researchers, so as to fully stimulate their enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity, and let the source of innovation flow fully.
Only reformers can make progress, only innovators can become strong, and only reformers and innovators can win. We will comprehensively deepen the reform of the science and technology system and mechanism, accelerate the formation of a basic system to support comprehensive innovation, and maximize the huge potential of science and technology as the primary productive force and innovation as the primary driving force. We will surely seize the commanding heights of science and technology competition and future development, continuously expand new development space, create new development advantages, and write a new glorious chapter in the new journey of promoting Chinese-style modernization.
