Boosting China’s Capacity for Basic Research and Original Innovation

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012, the Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core has prioritized the enhancement of our basic research capacity within the governance agenda. In a series of important statements on the theoretical and practical considerations for strengthening basic research, President Xi has shed light on the laws underlying the development of basic research and made clear the approaches and pathways needed to effectively advance this critical task. 

On June 24, 2024, at the joint convening of the national science and technology conference, the national science and technology award ceremony, and the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, President Xi further emphasized, “The sci-tech powerhouse we aspire to build should demonstrate world-leading sci-tech capabilities and innovative capacity.” It should “possess a powerful capacity for basic research and original innovation and continuously generate major original and disruptive sci-tech advances.”

Researchers adjust high-performance lasers to be used in the Advanced Attosecond Laser Facility at a laboratory in the Center for Attosecond Science in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, January 10, 2025. Construction on the Advanced Attosecond Laser Facility began on the same day. PHOTO BY XINHUA REPORTER JIN LIWANG

I. Strength in basic research: the defining quality of a sci-tech powerhouse

The world has entered the age of big science. In order to respond to international competition, achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, promote the creation of a new development dynamic, and drive high-quality development, it is urgent that we ramp up basic research and address key issues in science and technology at the source and at a fundamental level.

The fountainhead of the scientific system and the bedrock of sci-tech innovation

The scientific system is a rich and logically rigorous organic whole, encompassing fields such as theoretical science, technological science, and applied science. Basic research refers to scientific explorations and theoretical investigations conducted with the aim of enhancing our understanding of the underlying laws of both nature and society. It is the pioneering work that takes us from the unknown to the known and from uncertainty to certainty. As the ground level of the innovation system and the starting point of the research chain, basic research is both a wellspring and precursor for sci-tech innovation; it is where foundations are laid and the road forward is mapped out. Breakthroughs in basic research can vastly expand human understanding of the world and catapult science and technology forward. Indeed, the basic logic underpinning every advancement in science and technology can be traced back to basic research. 

An engine for generating new quality productive forces and powering high-quality development

New quality productive forces are a type of advanced productivity where innovation takes the leading role, with sci-tech innovation serving as the core element. Through explorations of natural laws and breakthroughs in scientific principles, basic research provides the fundamental theoretical support and source materials needed to make sci-tech innovations and advance industrial upgrading, thus making it the wellspring of new quality productive forces. As the source of all scientific exploration, basic research is not only the bedrock of technological advancement but the force underpinning industrial transformation. Not only does it provide theoretical support for technological breakthroughs, but it also provides a continuous source of momentum for upgrading industry. Through the chain that links theoretical breakthroughs to technological transformations and industrial upgrades, advances in basic research provide fresh impetus and new arenas for cultivating new quality productive forces and promoting high-quality development.

A pressing requirement for achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology and a path China must follow to become a sci-tech powerhouse

Throughout history, all great scientific and technological powers have risen to prominence on the back of their strength in basic research. Advances in basic research have often sparked technological revolutions that have propelled civilization forward. For China, the bottlenecks it currently faces in some key fields are attributable to inadequacies in basic research. Only with basic research breakthroughs and original and disruptive sci-tech advances will China be able to seize the strategic initiative in international technological competition and provide a sufficient supply of original advances to advance the great endeavor of building a powerhouse in science and technology.

II. Understanding the challenges China faces in basic research

Since the start of the new era in 2012, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee led by Xi Jinping, China has forged a path of high-quality development in basic research, leading it to new heights across this field. 

To enhance the top-level design, a series of timely policy documents have been issued. These have enabled us to eliminate barriers, establish frameworks, and uphold fundamental principles and break new ground. As a result, continuous improvements have been made to the institutional system for basic research. To deliver research outcomes, we have successfully organized a raft of major basic research initiatives. These efforts have yielded significant original achievements in fundamental frontier fields, such as quantum technology, materials science, physical science, biological science, space science, and artificial intelligence. China has become a world leader in terms of international academic paper publications, academic citations, and international patent applications, and it has climbed to the 11th place on the Global Innovation Index. To improve research infrastructure, we have constructed a number of major sci-tech facilities, while also steadily upgrading various national-level research platforms and key laboratories. In the area of talent development, we have continued to expand the pool of basic research personnel, especially at the high-end. Many high-caliber personnel have returned from overseas to work in China, and a large number of outstanding young scientists trained in China have emerged as leaders in their respective fields. 

China’s growing capacity for basic research and original innovation has allowed it to progress from making standalone breakthroughs to systemwide improvements. In some areas, we have made the historic leap from trailing the pack to keeping pace and even taking the lead. Thanks to breakthroughs in some core technologies in key fields, we have been able to steadily reinforce the foundation for sci-tech innovation and shore up weak areas. 

At the same time, we must also clearly recognize that when building a sci-tech powerhouse, China still falls short in several aspects of basic research. First, investment remains insufficient. Second, there is a relative lack of key original breakthroughs. Third, the research environment needs to be improved to further encourage original research. And fourth, stronger support is needed to train sci-tech talent, especially top-tier researchers.

At present, a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is advancing at pace, and a period of intense activity is dawning for global sci-tech innovation. Scientific research continues to push the boundaries of human knowledge, advancing toward the macroscopic and microscopic extremes, toward extreme conditions, and toward cross-disciplinary integration. As international technological competition intensifies and shifts toward fundamental research and cutting-edge fields, the foundational role of basic research in sci-tech innovation has become increasingly evident. Places like the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom all attach great importance to basic research, carrying out institutional reforms and rolling out a host of comprehensive development strategies and action plans in a bid to seize opportunities in frontier areas. For its part, China has entered a period of accelerated progress toward high-quality development in basic research. This has given rise to an urgent need for new strategic approaches and organizational models in the area of scientific research, with a focus on making original advances, cutting-edge developments, and disruptive breakthroughs.

III. Boosting China’s overall capacity for basic research and original innovation

As President Xi Jinping has highlighted, we need to adopt a more organized approach to basic research, refine investment mechanisms to ensure both competition-based support and stable funding, and step up coordination to address major scientific questions. President Xi also stressed the need to encourage free exploration, work on developing original fundamental theories, and master underlying principles to lay a solid foundation for sci-tech innovation. Boosting China’s overall capacity for basic research and original innovation will require well-coordinated efforts to strengthen organizational leadership, systematic planning, talent cultivation, support systems, and international cooperation.

Ensuring the CPC’s leadership over work related to basic research and leveraging the strengths of the new system for mobilizing resources nationwide 

We will uphold the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee and harness our socialist system’s strength of mobilizing resources to accomplish major endeavors. This will enable us to pool the resources of all sectors, leverage the strengths of all sides, and channel the energies of all into well-organized basic research initiatives. With firm confidence and determination, we will continue to pursue basic research based on our own capabilities to firmly retain the initiative in sci-tech innovation.

Investment in basic research must be stepped up, with a greater level of sci-tech funding tilted toward this area. To scale up and diversify investment, we will reinforce the principal role of enterprises in sci-tech innovation and encourage capable non-government entities to invest in basic research initiatives by establishing science funds, making donations, and other means. We will work to develop a platform that will allow national laboratories, universities, research institutes, enterprises, and new types of R&D institutions to actively participate in collaborative basic research initiatives.

Combining goal-oriented approaches with free explorations to enhance the basic research system

We will establish a sci-tech innovation system that is geared toward original advances and put in place a highly efficient and well-coordinated organizational research model. On this basis, we will coordinate planning across three areas of basic research: systematic research oriented toward strategic objectives, exploratory research focused on frontier fields, and applied research targeting market needs. 

To encourage free exploration with an emphasis on original breakthroughs, we will implement plans for pursuing original discoveries. We will also establish a mechanism for adopting non-consensus projects based on real-name recommendations by experts. This will ensure that innovative, controversial, and high-risk disruptive initiatives can be identified and allocated funding, so that they deliver high-quality original outcomes.

With a focus on major strategic national needs, we will develop highly refined research questions and optimize top-level design and systematic planning. We will also address shortcomings in foundational and underlying key technologies by pursuing institutional reforms and integrating resources.

Building a platform for systematically cultivating basic research talent and accelerating the development of the basic research talent pool 

Greater emphasis must be placed on talent cultivation in the field of basic research. We need to leverage various talent programs and platforms, optimize the talent funding system, and mount a major push to cultivate basic research talent based on rigorous standards, fair selection processes, and effective management practices. Our goal should be to nurture a pool of talent with exceptional creativity. 

It will be our top priority to rapidly develop a contingent of personnel with expertise of strategic importance. Our focus in this regard will be on cultivating scientists specializing in strategic fields, top-notch scientists, and innovation teams. We will also pay particular attention to training young talent. We will ensure they have the support to take on major responsibilities and play a central role in research. Research funding must be made available at an earlier stage, so that support is provided to young researchers early in their careers. We also need to provide them with opportunities to gain experience in conducting rigorous research so they can develop overall research competence. These steps will ensure we develop a fresh contingent of up-and-coming talent in the field of basic research. 

We will carry out graded evaluations upon the completion of Category A projects under the Young Scientists Fund to select the best projects and identify which ones should continue to receive funding. We will also address the misuse of honorary titles and work to return research projects to their academic foundations. We will adopt more proactive and open talent policies to attract top-tier personnel to China and develop centers of excellence for basic research talent.

Deepening structural reforms and optimizing the support system in the field of basic research

Basic research is typically characterized by long timelines, a high level of difficulty, and significant uncertainty. These factors make it virtually impossible to achieve instant success. Thus, we will further refine our differentiated evaluation mechanisms. We will develop an assessment system that is tailored to the development patterns of basic research and based on innovation-related capability, performance, outcomes, and contributions. This will help encourage researchers of all types to devote themselves to research, lay solid foundations, and strive for excellence. 

We will further reform the mechanisms for allocating and using government research funds. We will continue to enhance the management of projects and funding to ensure that valuable resources are directed to frontline researchers with the greatest drive for innovation and see that funds are used as efficiently as possible. We will apply the positive experiences gained in implementing the contract system for government-funded research projects more broadly, so as to give leading innovative personnel a greater say in spending funds and defining technology roadmaps, and help enhance the performance of sci-tech innovation investments. 

Steps will be taken to improve the incentive systems concerning scientific awards, income distribution, and the granting of rights to researchers over their research outcomes. We must ensure that outstanding basic research personnel are fairly compensated for their efforts and fully motivated to pursue innovation. We will keep working to foster a culture of innovation and carry forward the innovative spirit of traditional Chinese culture. Efforts will also be made to create an environment that encourages exploration and tolerates failure. We will champion dedication to science, encouraging researchers to pursue meaningful research over superficial results and persevere through challenging work that may not yield immediate recognition or rewards. 

Actively integrating into global innovation networks and promoting international cooperation in basic research

We will leverage the unique advantages of internationally recognized science funds to establish and carry out global research projects and talent programs, actively expand the channels for international cooperation, and make major strides in advancing basic research cooperation. We will develop forward-looking plans for and fully participate in global sci-tech governance, advance the Sustainable Development International Cooperation Program for Science, and move ahead with technology transfer projects under the Belt and Road Initiative as well as efforts on South-South cooperation. 

We will expand and enhance joint research programs between China and other countries on global issues, such as climate change, energy security, biosecurity, and the use of outer space. We will develop new international platforms for basic research cooperation and work to create an open innovation ecosystem that attracts global talent and encourages high-level scientists to pursue innovations and start businesses here in China. We will continue to promote openness and sharing of scientific data and develop scientific exchange platforms that will help enhance China’s level of openness and international influence.

Dou Xiankang is Director and Secretary of the CPC Leadership Group, National Natural Science Foundation of China.

(Originally appeared in Qiushi Journal, Chinese edition, No. 7, 2025)