Transforming achievements to zero?, Universities have spent 131 million yuan on research projects | research funding | achievements
Recently, attention has been paid to the fact that a university in Guangxi has achieved a zero conversion rate of 131 million yuan in research funding. One detail is worth noting: the university has received 131 million yuan in research funding and implemented 862 research projects in the past three years. 131 million yuan of funding was evenly distributed among 862 projects, with only 150000 yuan per project. Someone roast: these costs are far from enough for scientific research, and they still want to realize the transformation of achievements?
In fact, the problem of "sprinkling pepper noodles" on research funding has long existed, and institutions at all levels are constantly deepening relevant reforms. So, how can research funding be used more effectively?
To be classified. Scientific research is a big concept, and there are significant differences between projects, which cannot be generalized. Some projects have strong applicability and clear goals, which are suitable for goal orientation, key investment, and centralized resource research and development; Some projects require free exploration, and I don't know which clouds will rain. If resources are concentrated, the risk of gambling is too high, making it suitable for widespread mobilization. Explore several highly likely routes first. The amount of money spent on a project is also related to the characteristics of the discipline. Some disciplines spend less money, while others burn money faster. Whether to provide decentralized or centralized funding depends on a specific analysis of the situation, and a well-designed mechanism for classifying, assessing, and evaluating financial funds.
We need to delegate power and use it. In the past, China's scientific research funding management mechanism had a lengthy process, numerous links, and trivial details. Firstly, a research plan needs to be formulated, followed by application, review, and project approval. Subsequently, it undergoes multiple fund disbursements, reimbursements, and evaluations, ultimately leading to project closure and settlement of the remaining balance. Researchers and project units often spend a lot of time and effort on financial procedures compliance and form filling, and even exhibit strange phenomena of neglecting scientific research output and neglecting the essence. In recent years, China has successively issued a series of reform measures, such as the "Several Opinions on Reforming and Improving the Management of Central Financial Research Funds" and the "Notice on Continuously Carrying out Special Actions to Reduce the Burden of Scientific Researchers and Stimulate Innovation Vitality", to promote the decentralization of scientific research fund management and reduce the burden on scientific researchers. Some governments and research institutions have implemented new methods of scientific research projects such as "unveiling and leading" and "horse racing", and have experimented with a lump sum system for scientific research funding, achieving many results and experiences.
Open source usage is required. Financial funds are limited, and the majority of research and development funds still depend on social capital. In 2021, the proportion of R&D expenses of Chinese enterprises to the total R&D expenses of society has reached 76.9%. Looking back at the case at the beginning of this article, a project with a budget of 150000 yuan is not much, but it is only a financial subsidy. If the project is well selected and the enterprise is interested, and can leverage social capital to invest, will it still be criticized for the lack of project funding and the inability to achieve results transformation benefits? Only by leveraging the "small investment" of fiscal funds and the "large investment" of social capital can we effectively open up resources, improve the efficiency of government resource allocation, and activate new drivers of economic development.
It needs to be used for throttling. In recent years, China's research and development funding has been continuously increasing. In 2022, the total R&D funding in China reached 3.09 trillion yuan, maintaining double-digit growth for seven consecutive years. But having more money does not mean it can be wasted, and improving the efficiency of fund utilization also requires designing a cost saving mechanism. Taking scientific research instruments as an example, product development and innovative experiments cannot be separated from high-end instruments and equipment, and the cost of purchasing instruments and equipment is expensive. On the one hand, many large enterprises and research institutions have not fully utilized their research instruments and equipment. On the other hand, many small and medium-sized enterprises and innovation and entrepreneurship teams cannot afford high-end instruments and equipment. A few years ago, the State Council issued the "Opinions on Opening up National Major Scientific Research Infrastructure and Large Scientific Research Instruments to the Society", which deployed deepening reform and institutional innovation, accelerating the opening up of scientific research facilities and instruments to the society, and further improving the efficiency of scientific and technological resource utilization. Based on the evaluation and assessment results of major scientific research infrastructure and large-scale scientific research instruments in central level universities and research institutes in 2022, the opening rate of instruments in universities and research institutes has increased from less than 50% in 2014 to over 90%. As of 2022, over the past seven years, the number of duplicate purchases has decreased by more than 4900, saving 13.9 billion yuan in funds.
Scientific research work keeps pace with the times, and scientific research management also needs to keep up with the times. Whether it is classification, decentralization, open source, or cost saving, the management and use of scientific research funds require long-term exploration and continuous summarization and improvement in practice.