Staff members perform an upgrade to the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST) at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on April 13, 2021. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

By Staff Reporters

During the past decade, China has witnessed the leapfrog development of science and technology, the rapid improvement of sci-tech innovation ability, and the prominent role that science and technology plays in production, said Wang Zhigang, the minister of science and technology, at a press conference held before the year's Two Sessions, China's annual parliamentary meetings.

China ranks 11th among the 132 economies featured in the 2022 Global Innovation Index, jumping from 34th in 2012. This progress reflects the improvement of the country's innovation inputs and outputs, with contributions from government, enterprises and international cooperation.

Growth of sci-tech strength

At the press conference held on Feb. 24, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) gave an update on China's sci-tech progress and the effort behind the scenes.

From 2012 to 2022, China's total R&D expenditure increased from one trillion RMB to 3.09 trillion RMB (about 448.2 billion USD), accounting for 2.55 percent of the country's GDP that year.

Through systematic reform, the overall effectiveness of the national innovation system has improved significantly. Universities and research institutes play key roles in carrying out major national sci-tech tasks. Twenty-three national innovation demonstration zones and 177 national high-tech zones are leading the high-quality development of the country.

High-tech enterprises have made greater contributions to China's innovation-driven development over the past decade. Their number grew from 39,000 to 400,000, contributing 68 percent of the enterprise R&D input nationwide, while 762 of them were among the world's top 2,500 enterprises in terms of R&D input.

The law, regulations and policies conducive to sci-tech innovation have been further improved, with society more committed to supporting, investing in, participating in and promoting innovation than ever before.

Fruitful basic research

In 2022, China yielded fruitful results in scientific and technological innovation. China's space station was completed, along with several major projects, including Kuafu solar exploration, Qinghai-Xizang scientific expedition, micro/nano satellite, quantum transmission and proton therapy. 

All those are impossible without the progress of basic research, which advances fundamental knowledge about the universe and fuels technological innovations.

MOST has formulated a ten-year plan for basic research and diversified the source of input. Apart from financial support, enterprises, local authorities and all walks of life are encouraged to invest in basic research.

Funding for basic research rose from 49.9 billion RMB in 2012 to 195.1 billion RMB in 2022, an average annual increase of nearly 15 percent.

China has made many breakthroughs in basic research, including the establishment of major instruments such as the well-known FAST telescope, China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) and the Steady High Magnetic Field Facility (SHMFF), which smashed the world record for the strongest steady magnetic field ever produced on Earth.

Key projects have also been deployed in fields such as quantum computing, stem cells, brain science and synthetic biology. One example is artificial synthesis of starch from carbon dioxide providing a new solution to carbon emissions and food security.

In the future, China will strengthen cutting-edge and exploratory basic research, carry out systematic research to support national strategies, and improve application-oriented research to help solve industrial challenges, said Wang during an interview after the opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress on March 5, 2023.

Further international cooperation

China is not only an important participant in international frontier innovation, but also an important contributor to solving global problems, said Wang.

According to MOST, China has to date established sci-tech cooperation relations with more than 160 countries and regions, and signed 116 inter-governmental agreements on sci-tech cooperation.

In 2022, 48 inter-governmental science and technology cooperation meetings were held, 25 new and renewed science and technology cooperation documents were signed, and pragmatic cooperation was carried out with many countries in such fields as pandemic control, biodiversity, climate change and clean energy.

With sci-tech support, more countries and their people benefitted from poverty alleviation, business startups, technology transfer and spatial information services. China has taken an active part in the global governance and made its own proposals and contributions to the common challenges of humankind, including the launch of a BRICS vaccine R&D center, as well as leading the Green Powered Future Mission.

Meanwhile, Chinese scientists have participated in international scientific programs and projects such as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) radio telescope, making great achievements in the progress.

China will continue to strengthen governmental and non-governmental exchanges to expand international sci-tech cooperation, according to MOST.