Outline of the National Medium- and Long-Term Plan for Science and Technology Development (2006–2020)

I. Preface

Since the founding of New China and especially after the launch of reform and opening-up, China has achieved remarkable progress in its socialist modernization. At the same time, it is essential to recognize that China remains in and will remain for a long time in the primary stage of socialism. Building a moderately prosperous society in all respects presents both unique historical opportunities and serious challenges. The economy currently relies too heavily on energy and resource consumption, leading to severe environmental pollution. Economic structures are unbalanced, the agricultural base remains weak, and high-tech industries and modern service sectors lag behind. Innovation capacity is limited, corporate core competitiveness is insufficient, and economic efficiency needs improvement. Significant difficulties must be addressed in expanding employment, optimizing income distribution, ensuring public health, and safeguarding national security. Internationally, China will continue to face substantial pressure from developed countries that maintain advantages in economics and technology. To seize these opportunities and meet these challenges, we must make comprehensive efforts: coordinate overall development, deepen institutional reforms, strengthen democracy and the rule of law, and enhance social governance. At the same time, we need more than ever before to rely on scientific and technological progress and innovation to drive qualitative leaps in productivity and promote comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable economic and social development.
Science and technology are the primary productive forces, representing the concentrated embodiment and main hallmark of advanced productive forces. Entering the 21th century, the new scientific and technological revolution is advancing rapidly,孕育ing significant new breakthroughs that will profoundly transform the economic and social landscape. Information science and technology continue to flourish as the dominant force driving sustained economic growth; life sciences and biotechnology are developing at a rapid pace and will play a pivotal role in improving and enhancing human quality of life; energy science and technology are gaining renewed momentum, opening new pathways to address global energy and environmental challenges; nanoscience and technology are witnessing successive breakthroughs that will trigger profound technological revolutions. Major advances in basic research have unveiled new prospects for technological and economic development. The speed of translating scientific and technological achievements into applications continues to accelerate, creating new opportunities for catching up and leapfrogging. Therefore, we must stand at the forefront of the times with a global perspective to embrace the opportunities and challenges brought by the new scientific and technological revolution. Globally, many countries have made strengthening technological innovation a national strategy, treating investment in science and technology as strategic investment. They have significantly increased funding for science and technology, proactively deployed and developed frontier technologies and strategic industries, implemented major scientific and technological programs, and focused on enhancing national innovation capabilities and international competitiveness. Facing the new international situation, we must strengthen our sense of responsibility and urgency, more consciously and firmly advance scientific and technological progress as the primary driver of economic and social development, make enhancing independent innovation capability the central link in adjusting economic structures, transforming growth models, and boosting national competitiveness, and establish building an innovative country as a major strategic choice for the future.
For over 50 years since the founding of New China, through the relentless efforts of multiple generations, our country's science and technology sector has achieved remarkable milestones. Landmark accomplishments such as the "Two Bombs, One Satellite," manned spaceflight, hybrid rice, continental oil formation theory and its applications, and high-performance computing have significantly strengthened our national comprehensive power, elevated our international standing, and inspired our national spirit. At the same time, we must recognize that compared to developed countries, China's overall level of science and technology still lags considerably. Key issues include: low self-sufficiency in critical technologies, few patent inventions; relatively backward technical levels in certain regions, especially rural areas in central and western China; insufficient quality in scientific research and a shortage of top-tier talent; inadequate investment in science and technology; and systemic inefficiencies within existing mechanisms. Although China is now an economic powerhouse, it is not yet an economic superpower—a fundamental reason being weak innovation capacity.
Entering the 21 century, as a large developing country, China still needs to make sustained and arduous efforts to accelerate scientific and technological development and narrow the gap with developed nations. At the same time, there are many favorable conditions. First, China's sustained and rapid economic growth and social progress have created huge demand for technological development and laid a solid foundation for it. Second, China has established a relatively complete disciplinary system, possesses abundant talent resources, and its research and development capabilities in some key areas have reached world-leading levels, providing a strong basis and capacity for major scientific and technological advancement. Third, by adhering to opening up to the outside world and engaging in increasingly active international science and technology exchanges and cooperation, China can share the fruits of the new technological revolution. Fourth, by upholding the socialist system, China can combine the political advantage of concentrating resources to accomplish major tasks with the fundamental role of market mechanisms in effectively allocating resources, providing crucial institutional guarantees for the prosperity and development of the scientific and technological cause. Fifth, the Chinese nation boasts a civilization spanning 5000 years; its profound and inclusive culture is conducive to fostering a unique innovation culture. As long as we strengthen national confidence, implement the Scientific Outlook on Development, and deeply advance the strategies of rejuvenating the nation through science and education and strengthening the country through talents, striving to catch up and surpass others, we will, after 15 years or even longer of unyielding hard work, certainly achieve glorious scientific and technological accomplishments worthy of our times.

II. Guidelines, Development Goals, and Overall Deployment

1. Guidelines
The first 20 years of this century represent a critical period of strategic opportunity for China's economic and social development, as well as for the advancement of science and technology. Guided by Deng Xiaoping Theory, the "Three Represents" important thought, and the Scientific Outlook on Development, we must fully implement the strategies of rejuvenating the nation through science and education and strengthening the country via talent development. Anchored in our national conditions, we shall prioritize people, deepen reforms, expand openness, and propel the vigorous growth of China's scientific and technological endeavors. This will provide robust technological support for achieving the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and constructing a socialist harmonious society.
For the next 15 years, the guiding principles for technological work are: independent innovation, key leaps forward, support for development, and leadership of the future. Independent innovation means strengthening original innovation, integrated innovation, and re-innovation through introduction, absorption, and digestion, starting from enhancing national innovation capacity. Key leaps forward mean focusing on what must be done and what should not be done by selecting critical areas with a solid foundation and strategic advantage that affect people's livelihoods and national security, concentrating resources to achieve breakthroughs and leapfrog development. Supporting development means addressing urgent practical needs by breaking through major key and common technologies to sustain economic and social growth. Leading the future means taking a long-term view, deploying frontier technologies and basic research ahead of schedule, creating new market demands, nurturing emerging industries, and guiding future economic and social development. This policy is a summary of China's more than half-century of experience in technological advancement and represents a decisive choice for shaping the future and achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Elevating independent innovation must be placed at the forefront of all scientific and technological work. The Party and government have always attached great importance to and advocated for independent innovation. To advance socialist modernization under conditions of opening up, we must earnestly learn from and fully draw upon all outstanding achievements of human civilization. Over the past 20 years of reform and opening-up, China has introduced a large volume of technologies and equipment, which played a significant role in raising industrial technology levels and promoting economic development. However, it is essential to recognize that relying solely on imports without focusing on absorption, digestion, and re-innovation will inevitably undermine our capacity for independent research and development, widening the gap with world-leading standards. Experience shows that in key areas vital to national economy and security, core technologies cannot simply be purchased. To gain the initiative in intense international competition, China must enhance its capacity for independent innovation, master a set of core technologies in several important fields, secure a portfolio of proprietary intellectual property rights, and cultivate enterprises with global competitiveness. In short, enhancing independent innovation must be treated as a national strategy, implemented across all aspects of modernization, throughout every industry, sector, and region, thereby substantially boosting national competitiveness.
Talent in science and technology is the cornerstone of enhancing independent innovation. Prioritizing the creation of a supportive environment, cultivating and retaining diverse scientific talent—especially top-tier experts—and fully mobilizing the enthusiasm and creativity of all researchers must be our primary mission. We aim to foster a thriving ecosystem where talent flourishes, capabilities are maximized, and skills are optimally utilized. Our goal is to build a large-scale, well-structured, high-caliber workforce aligned with economic and social development and national defense needs, providing robust talent support and intellectual assurance for China's scientific advancement.
2. Development Goals
By 2020, China's overall goals for scientific and technological development are: significantly enhance independent innovation capabilities; significantly strengthen the ability of science and technology to promote economic and social development and safeguard national security, providing robust support for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects; significantly boost comprehensive strength in basic sciences and frontier technology research; achieve a series of scientific and technological breakthroughs with major global impact; enter the ranks of innovative nations; and lay the foundation for becoming a world-leading scientific and technological power by the mid-21st century.
After 15 years of effort, the following goals will be achieved in several key areas of China's science and technology: First, master a set of core technologies for equipment manufacturing and information industries that are critical to national competitiveness, bringing the technical level of these sectors to the forefront globally. Second, elevate the overall strength of agricultural technology to world-leading levels, enhance comprehensive agricultural production capacity, and effectively ensure national food security. Third, achieve breakthroughs in energy development, energy-saving technologies, and clean energy technologies, optimize the energy structure, and bring unit energy consumption indicators for major industrial products to or near world-class advanced levels. Fourth, establish circular economy technological development models in key industries and cities, providing scientific and technological support for building a resource-efficient and environmentally friendly society. Fifth, significantly improve disease prevention and control capabilities; contain major diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis; achieve breakthroughs in new drug development and key medical device research; and build the technical capacity for industry growth. Sixth, meet the basic needs of modern weapons and equipment independent development and information construction through defense science and technology, ensuring national security. Seventh, cultivate a group of world-class scientists and research teams; achieve a series of influential innovative breakthroughs in mainstream directions of scientific development; and advance frontier technologies in fields such as information, biotechnology, materials, and aerospace to world-class levels. Eighth, establish several world-renowned research institutes and universities, along with enterprise R&D institutions with international competitiveness, forming a relatively complete national innovation system with Chinese characteristics.
By 2020, the share of total R&D investment in GDP will rise above 2.5%, the contribution rate of scientific and technological progress will reach over 60%, external technological dependency will drop below 30%, and the number of domestic invention patents granted annually and international scientific paper citations will both rank among the top 5 globally.
3. Overall Deployment
Over the next 15 years, China's overall strategy for science and technology development includes: First, aligning with China's national conditions and needs, we will identify key priority areas, breakthrough critical technologies, and comprehensively enhance our technological support capabilities. This outline designates 11 priority fields for national economic and social development, selecting 68 high-priority themes with clear objectives that have strong potential for near-term technological breakthroughs. Second, to achieve leapfrog development and fill critical gaps, we will launch several major special projects targeting national goals. This outline schedules 16 such major special projects. Third, to address future challenges, we will proactively deploy frontier technologies and basic research to boost sustained innovation capacity and lead economic and social progress. This outline focuses on 27 frontier technologies across 8 technology areas, 18 fundamental scientific questions, and proposes implementing 4 major scientific research programs. Fourth, we will deepen institutional reforms, refine policy measures, increase investment in science and technology, strengthen talent development, and advance the national innovation system to ensure China's entry into the ranks of innovative nations.
Driven by the urgent need to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects, global technological trends, and China's national strength, we must prioritize strategic focus areas for technological development: 1. Prioritize energy, water resources, and environmental protection technologies to decisively resolve major bottlenecks hindering economic and social progress. 2. Capitalize on the critical opportunities presented by the next wave of information technology upgrades and rapid advancements in new materials, securing proprietary core technologies for equipment manufacturing and the information industry to boost our industrial competitiveness. 3. Focus biotechnology as a key driver for catching up in high-tech industries, expanding its applications in agriculture, industry, population health, and related fields. 4. Accelerate development in aerospace and ocean technologies. 5. Strengthen foundational and frontier scientific research, with particular emphasis on interdisciplinary studies.

III. Key Areas and Priority Themes

China's scientific and technological development must be guided by coordinated planning and holistic advancement. We will prioritize key areas and strategic themes to comprehensively support the resolution of urgent challenges in economic and social development.
Priority Areas refer to industries and sectors that are key drivers of the national economy, social development, and national defense security, requiring strong technological support. Priority Themes denote technology clusters within these priority areas that are urgently needed, have clear objectives, possess a solid technical foundation, and can achieve breakthroughs in the near term. The principles for selecting Priority Themes are: (1) They should help overcome bottlenecks and enhance sustainable economic growth; (2) They should enable mastery of critical and common technologies to boost core industrial competitiveness; (3) They should address major public-interest scientific challenges and improve public service capabilities; (4) They should promote dual-use technologies to strengthen national security assurance.
1. Energy
Energy plays a strategically vital role in the national economy. China currently faces acute supply-demand imbalances, an unbalanced energy structure, and low utilization efficiency. Primary energy consumption is coal-dominated, and heavy reliance on fossil fuels has caused severe environmental pollution. Over the next 15 years, meeting rapidly growing energy demand while ensuring clean and efficient use will pose major challenges for energy science and technology development.
Development Strategy: (1) Prioritize energy conservation and reduce consumption. Tackle key energy-saving technologies in major consuming sectors, actively develop building energy-efficiency solutions, and significantly improve primary energy utilization and end-use efficiency. (2) Diversify the energy mix and expand supply. While advancing oil, gas, and hydropower technologies, vigorously develop nuclear energy to achieve independent capability in nuclear power system technology. Achieve breakthroughs and scaled deployment of renewable energy technologies, including wind, solar, and biomass. (3) Promote clean and efficient coal utilization while reducing environmental pollution. Advance technologies for clean, efficient, and safe coal development and use, aiming for international leading standards. (4) Strengthen the assimilation, absorption, and re-innovation of imported energy equipment technologies. Overcome core technical challenges in advanced thermal power, nuclear power, and other major equipment manufacturing. (5) Enhance regional energy optimization capabilities. Focus on developing secure and reliable advanced power transmission and distribution technologies to enable high-capacity, long-distance, and high-efficiency electricity delivery.
Priority Theme:
(1) Industrial Energy Efficiency
Focus on developing energy-saving technologies and equipment for high-energy-consuming sectors such as metallurgy, chemical processing, and transportation; energy-efficient technologies for electromechanical products; long-life, high-efficiency semiconductor lighting products; and technologies for cascaded energy utilization.
Clean and efficient development, liquefaction, and polygeneration of coal (2)
Focus on R&D of high-efficiency coal mining technologies and supporting equipment, heavy-duty gas turbines, integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC), ultra-supercritical units with high parameters, large-scale supercritical circulating fluidized bed systems, and other efficient power generation technologies and equipment. Aggressively develop coal liquefaction, coal gasification, and coal chemical conversion technologies, multi-product systems based on coal gasification, and technologies and equipment for comprehensive control and utilization of coal-fired pollutants.
(3) Exploration, Development, and Utilization of Oil and Gas Resources in Complex Geological Settings
Focus on developing exploration technologies for oil and gas resources in complex environments and lithological strata, efficient development technologies for large-scale low-grade oil and gas resources, technologies to significantly enhance recovery rates in mature fields, and deep oil and gas exploration and production technologies.
(4) Low-cost, large-scale development and utilization of renewable energy
Focus on developing large-scale wind power equipment, construction technologies and equipment for coastal and onshore wind farms in western regions with dense wind resources, cost-effective solar photovoltaic cells and utilization technologies, solar thermal power generation technologies, building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) technologies, and biomass and geothermal energy development and utilization technologies.
(5) Ultra-large-scale power transmission and distribution, and grid security assurance
Focus on the research and development of large-capacity long-distance DC transmission technologies and ultra-high voltage (UHV) AC transmission technologies and equipment, grid integration and transmission/distribution technologies for intermittent power sources, power quality monitoring and control technologies, security assurance technologies for large-scale interconnected grids, key critical technologies in the West-to-East Power Transmission Project, grid dispatch automation technologies, and efficient distribution and supply management information technologies and systems.
2. Water and Mineral Resources
Water, minerals, and other natural resources are critical foundations for sustainable economic and social development. China faces severe shortages in these resources. Resource utilization rates remain low; the comprehensive utilization rate of mineral resources and agricultural irrigation water efficiency fall far behind global best practices. Geological conditions for resource exploration are complex and increasingly challenging. There is an urgent need to strengthen research on resource exploration, development, and utilization to improve overall resource efficiency.
Development Strategy: (1) Prioritize resource conservation. Focus on research into high-efficiency agricultural water saving and urban water recycling technologies, and develop water resource development technologies such as inter-basin water transfer, rainwater-flood utilization, and seawater desalination. (2) Overcome limitations imposed by complex geological conditions to expand existing resource reserves. Key efforts include studying mineralization laws, advancing deep and marginal mine evaluation and efficient exploration technologies, and developing rapid exploration technologies for minerals in complex regions like the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The goal is to discover a number of large-scale backup resource bases, increase resource supply, and develop efficient mining and comprehensive utilization technologies for mineral resources to improve overall water and mineral resource efficiency. (3) Actively develop and utilize non-traditional resources. Tackle key technologies for the development and utilization of new resources such as coalbed methane and marine minerals, enhancing R&D capabilities for new resource utilization technologies. (4) Strengthen innovation in resource exploration and development equipment. Actively develop high-precision exploration and drilling equipment, large-scale mining machinery, and offshore development platforms to bring major resource exploration and development equipment to an internationally advanced level.
Priority Theme:
(Water Resource Optimization and Comprehensive Development 6)
Focus on developing key technologies for the conversion mechanisms and optimized allocation of atmospheric water, surface water, soil water, and groundwater; wastewater and floodwater resource utilization; artificial rain enhancement; comprehensive governance of major rivers such as the Yangtze and Yellow River; and critical engineering technologies for large-scale inter-basin projects like the South-to-North Water Diversion.
Integrated Water Saving (7)
Focus on developing industrial water recycling technologies and water-saving production processes. Develop integrated irrigation, dryland farming, and biological water-saving technologies, with key breakthroughs in precision irrigation and intelligent agricultural water management systems and equipment. Strengthen the development of domestic water-saving technologies and fixtures.
(8) Seawater Desalination
Focus on R&D of seawater pretreatment technologies, low-cost thermal and membrane desalination techniques with nuclear energy coupling and co-generation of electricity and water, key materials, and comprehensive utilization of concentrated brine. Develop scalable seawater desalination thermal equipment, desalination systems, and critical multi-unit coupling equipment.
(9) Resource Exploration and Reserve Addition
Focus on studying metallogenic laws and prediction techniques for mineral resources. Advance airborne geophysical exploration technologies and develop rapid, integrated, deep-penetrating solutions including 3D high-resolution seismic, high-precision magnetic, and geochemical surveys.
High-Efficiency Development and Utilization of Mineral Resources (10)
Focus on mining technologies for deep and complex ore bodies and integrated waste-free mining. Develop new high-efficiency automated processing and metallurgical processes and large-scale equipment. Advance technologies for efficient utilization of low-grade, complex, and difficult-to-process resources, as well as comprehensive mineral resource utilization.
Efficient Development and Utilization of Marine Resources (11)
Focus on developing exploration technologies for shallow-water concealed oil and gas reservoirs and integrated enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technologies for heavy oil fields. Develop technologies for marine biological resource conservation and efficient utilization, advance direct seawater use technologies, and promote comprehensive utilization of chemical resources from seawater.
Comprehensive Resource Zoning (12)
Focus on integrated optimization technologies for water and soil resources in agricultural production, ecological conservation, and environmental protection. Conduct multivariate, large-scale resource allocation optimization analyses tailored to the regional spatial distribution of China's water and soil resources. Establish predictive decision-making models for optimized development of water and soil resources across different regions.
3. Environment
Improving the ecosystem and environment is critical for sustainable economic development and enhancing people's quality of life. China faces severe environmental pollution, accelerating ecosystem degradation, and limited capacity for harmless pollutant treatment. Global environmental issues have become a focal point for the international community, highlighting an urgent need to strengthen China's participation in global environmental cooperation. Achieving sustained rapid economic growth while improving overall environmental conditions creates major strategic demands for environmental technology innovation.
Development Strategy: (1) Guide and support the development of a circular economy. Aggressively develop integrated clean production technologies for heavily polluting industries, strengthen waste reduction, resource recovery, and safe disposal, and advance research on common technologies for the circular economy. (2) Implement comprehensive regional environmental governance. Conduct integrated management of river basin water environments and regional air pollution, integrate and demonstrate technologies for comprehensive remediation of typical ecologically degraded areas, develop drinking water security technologies, and enhance ecological and environmental monitoring and early warning systems to significantly improve technological support for environmental quality improvement. (3) Promote the growth of the environmental protection industry. Focus on developing major environmental equipment and instruments suited to China's national conditions, increase market share for domestic environmental products, and elevate the technical level of environmental equipment. (4) Actively participate in international environmental cooperation. Strengthen research on compliance strategies for global environmental conventions and the scientific uncertainties and impacts of climate change, develop technologies for global environmental change monitoring and greenhouse gas emission reduction, and enhance capabilities to address environmental changes and fulfill international obligations.

Priority Theme:
(13) Integrated Pollution Control and Waste Recycling
Focus on developing early warning technologies for environmental quality in key development zones. Breakthroughs in critical technologies such as urban agglomeration air pollution control, unconventional pollutant control, waste resource utilization, and clean production integration for heavily polluting industries. Establish demonstration models for the circular economy.
Restoration and reconstruction of ecosystem functions in fragile ecosystems (14)
Focus on developing dynamic monitoring technologies for ecosystems in typical ecologically fragile areas, including karst regions, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, the Loess Plateau, arid and desertified zones, agro-pastoral transition areas, and mining regions. Advance technologies for grassland degradation control and rodent pest management, as well as restoration and reconstruction of degraded ecosystems. Develop ecological protection and restoration technologies along major infrastructure projects such as the Three Gorges Dam and the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, and in complex mining areas. Establish technical support models for functional recovery and sustained improvement across diverse ecosystem types, and construct a comprehensive evaluation system for ecosystem functions and associated technologies.
(15) Marine Ecology and Environmental Protection
Focus on developing technologies and equipment for marine ecological and environmental monitoring, strengthen research on marine ecological protection and conservation, advance technologies for near-shore ecosystem protection, restoration, and emergency response to maritime incidents, and develop high-precision numerical forecasting systems for dynamic marine environments.
(16) Global Environmental Change Monitoring and Response
Focus on developing technologies for accurate monitoring of large-scale environmental changes, emission control and disposal/utilization technologies for greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane across key industries, biological carbon sequestration technologies, engineering-based carbon sequestration solutions, and policy research on climate change, biodiversity conservation, ozone layer protection, and control of persistent organic pollutants.
4. Agriculture
Agriculture is the foundation of the national economy. China faces increasingly hard constraints on natural resources: per capita arable land and water availability are well below global averages. Demand for key agricultural products like grain and cotton continues to grow rigidly, creating long-term pressure to increase yields, boost farmers' incomes, and enhance competitiveness. Structural imbalances in agriculture, low levels of industrialization, and limited value-added output remain significant challenges. Environmental and ecological conditions are still severe, constraining sustainable development. Food security and ecological safety issues are particularly urgent. Given these fundamental realities and pressing challenges, technological advancement must be adopted as a core strategy to address rural, agricultural, and farmer issues. We must significantly elevate agricultural technology, accelerate the dissemination of advanced and practical innovations, overcome resource limitations, sustainably improve overall agricultural productivity, and speed up the transition to modern agriculture.
Development Strategy: (1) Leverage high-tech to upgrade conventional agricultural practices and continuously enhance comprehensive agricultural production capacity. Prioritize research on biotechnology applications, strengthen the integration and coordination of agricultural technologies, and break through key challenges in breeding and efficient production of major crops, livestock and aquatic animal breeding, healthy farming, and disease control. Promote diversified and integrated agricultural operations to increase yields while improving product quality. (2) Extend the agricultural value chain to elevate industrialization levels and overall agricultural efficiency. Focus on advanced processing, post-harvest loss reduction, and green supply chain technologies; develop cutting-edge processing equipment and safety monitoring systems; advance the health-food-driven agro-processing sector and modern distribution networks to expand income opportunities for farmers. (3) Integrate forestry and agriculture ecological technologies to ensure ecosystem security. Prioritize eco-friendly fertilizer and pesticide innovation, precision operation equipment, resource utilization of agricultural residues, and comprehensive environmental remediation technologies to foster emerging industries and improve the quality of forest and agricultural ecosystems. (4) Accelerate factory-based agriculture to boost labor productivity. Key efforts include researching environmental control and ultra-high-yield cultivation technologies for facility agriculture, developing modern multi-functional machinery, and advancing the integration and application of agricultural information technologies.
Priority Theme:
(17) Germplasm resource discovery, conservation, innovation, and directed breeding of new varieties
Focus on R&D for key technologies including the discovery and construction of superior germplasm resources for major crops, forestry, grassland, livestock, poultry, and aquaculture; molecular evaluation of germplasm resources; molecular breeding of plants and animals; directed hybrid breeding; large-scale seed production and propagation; and comprehensive seed processing.
(18) Healthy Breeding and Disease Prevention for Livestock, Poultry, and Aquatic Products
Focus on developing safe, high-quality, and efficient animal feeds, along with large-scale healthy farming technologies and facilities. Create highly effective, specific vaccines, safe veterinary drugs, and equipment. Develop technologies for epidemiological early warning and monitoring, quarantine diagnostics, immunoprophylaxis, regional purification, and eradication of animal diseases and zoonoses. Break through technical barriers in coastal intertidal zone aquaculture, shallow seawater farming, and freshwater aquaculture. Advance offshore fisheries and at-sea storage and processing technologies and equipment.
(19) Deep Processing of Agricultural Products and Modern Storage & Transportation
Focus on developing advanced and clean eco-friendly processing technologies and equipment for major agricultural products and forestry specialties, post-harvest loss reduction and green storage and transportation technologies and facilities for oil and grain, and preservation, logistics distribution, and corresponding cold chain transportation system technologies for fresh agricultural products.
(20) Comprehensive Development and Utilization of Agricultural and Forestry Biomass
Focus on developing key technologies for efficient, low-cost, large-scale cultivation, collection, and conversion of agricultural and forestry biomass. Prioritize core production technologies for biogas, solidified and liquefied biofuels, as well as bio-based new materials and chemical products. Advance technologies for resource recovery from rural waste and wastewater. Develop proprietary equipment for biogas power plants and bio-based material processing systems.
(21) Agricultural and Ecological Security and Modern Forestry
Focus on developing technologies for constructing agroforestry ecosystems, comprehensive regulation of forest-grassland ecosystems, monitoring and prevention of ecological disasters (such as forest and grassland fires, crop and forestry pests, especially invasive alien species) and meteorological disasters, sustainable management of eco-friendly forest-based economies, efficient establishment of artificial pastures, production of high-quality forage, and development of environmentally friendly bamboo-wood composite materials.
(22) Eco-friendly fertilizer and pesticide development, and ecological agriculture
Focus on R&D of key technologies for developing eco-friendly fertilizers and pesticides, including specialized controlled-release and slow-release compound/mixed fertilizers with application techniques and related equipment; integrated pest management (IPM) technologies that are comprehensive, efficient, long-lasting, and safe; and establish a system for pest detection, early warning, and prevention of invasive alien species. Advance ecological agricultural technologies aimed at improving soil fertility, reducing soil pollution and water loss, restoring degraded grasslands, and preventing land degradation.
(23) Multifunctional Agricultural Equipment and Facilities
Focus on developing key multi-functional equipment, cost-effective agricultural and forestry power machinery, intelligent positioning and variable-rate operation machinery, healthy livestock farming facility technologies and equipment, conservation tillage machinery and technologies, and greenhouse facilities with supporting technologies and equipment suited to China's agricultural characteristics.
(24) Precision Agriculture and Information Systems
Focus on developing technologies for digital data collection of plant and animal growth and ecological environment information, real-time soil water, nutrient, light, and heat sensing, precision operation and management systems, rural remote digital and visual information services and equipment, as well as agricultural and forestry ecosystem monitoring and virtual agriculture technologies.
(25) Modern Dairy Industry
Focus on developing high-quality bull breeding and rapid embryo propagation technology for dairy cattle, specialized feed, pasture cultivation and efficient utilization, disease prevention, and large-scale herd management technologies. Also develop advanced processing technologies and equipment for dairy products.
5. Manufacturing
Manufacturing is a cornerstone of the national economy. China is a major manufacturing nation, but not yet a manufacturing powerhouse: its technological foundation is weak, innovation capacity is limited, products are predominantly low-end, and the production process consumes excessive resources and energy while causing severe pollution.
Development Strategy: (1) Enhance equipment design, manufacturing, and integration capabilities. By leveraging enterprise technological innovation as the breakthrough point and addressing key technical challenges, achieve independent design and manufacturing of high-end machine tools, parent machines, major成套 technology equipment, critical materials, and key components. (2) Actively advance green manufacturing. Accelerate the application of relevant technologies across all stages of the product lifecycle—from material development and design to processing, sales services, and recycling—to establish efficient, energy-saving, environmentally friendly, and circular new manufacturing processes. Resource consumption and environmental impact in manufacturing will reach internationally advanced levels. (3) Upgrade and transform manufacturing using cutting-edge technologies. Promote industrial informatization, actively develop foundational raw materials, significantly elevate product quality, technical content, and value-added potential, and comprehensively improve the overall technological level of the manufacturing sector.
   

Priority Theme:
(26) Basic and General Components
Focus on developing key technologies for the design, manufacturing, and mass production of critical basic components and general-purpose parts required for major equipment. Develop forming and machining technologies for large-scale and special components, design and manufacturing technologies for general-purpose parts, and high-precision testing instruments.
(27) Digital and Intelligent Design & Manufacturing
Focus on integrated digital design and manufacturing technologies to establish industry-specific digital and intelligent design-manufacturing platforms. Develop network-based, digital, and intelligent innovation design methods and technologies covering the entire product lifecycle, computer-aided engineering analysis, process design, and integrated design-managing technologies.
(28) Green, Automated Processes & Equipment for Process Industries
Focus on developing green process manufacturing technologies, including efficient and clean processes and equipment that maximize resource utilization. Key areas include process scale-up technologies, system integration and automation based on eco-industrial concepts, and sensors, intelligent detection and control systems, equipment, and regulation systems required for process industries. Develop large-scale cracking furnace technologies, complete sets of technology and equipment for large-scale steam cracking ethylene production, and energy-saving process flows and equipment for large-scale fertilizer production.
(29) Recyclable Steel Process and Equipment
Focus on developing a new-generation circular steelmaking process that integrates product manufacturing, energy conversion, and social waste recycling based on molten reduction and resource optimization. This initiative will serve as a model for the circular economy. Key technologies to develop include: secondary resource recycling, power generation from metallurgical off-gas, cascaded utilization of low-grade steam, high-efficiency and low-cost clean steel production, non-caking coal coking, and integrated design, manufacturing, and system coupling of large-scale slab continuous casters and rolling mills.
(30) Large-Scale Marine Engineering Technology and Equipment
(31) Basic Raw Materials
Focus on the research and development of high-performance composite materials and manufacturing technologies for large-scale and ultra-large composite structural components to meet the needs of foundational industries in the national economy. Key areas include high-performance engineering plastics, lightweight and high-strength metal and non-metallic structural materials, high-purity materials, rare earth materials, petrochemical and fine chemical materials along with catalytic and separation materials, light industry and textile materials and application technologies, and green materials with environmental protection and health functions.
(32) Next-Generation Information Functional Materials and Devices
(33) Key Materials for Military Support and Engineering
6. Transportation Industry
Transportation is the lifeline of the national economy. Currently, China's major transport equipment and core technologies lag significantly behind global leaders; supply capacity is insufficient; integrated transport system development is delayed, with poor coordination among modes; and energy consumption and environmental pollution are severe challenges. Building a moderately prosperous society in all respects demands higher standards from transportation, creating urgent strategic needs for transport technology.
Development Strategy: (1) Enhance independent innovation capabilities for aircraft, automobiles, ships, and rail transit equipment. (2) Focus on delivering smooth, convenient, and user-friendly transportation services. Strengthen overall planning by advancing information and intelligence technologies in transportation systems, ensuring safe and high-speed operations. Improve network capacity and transport efficiency to enable seamless data sharing and effective integration across all modes of transport, while elevating the technical standards of traffic management and promoting integrated transportation development. (3) Drive the transition toward energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and safer transportation. Achieve major breakthroughs in key technologies related to safety assurance, resource conservation, and environmental protection, and ensure their widespread application. (4) Center efforts on national major transportation infrastructure projects. Break through critical technologies for construction and maintenance, improve construction quality, and reduce lifecycle costs.
Priority Theme:
Transportation Infrastructure Construction and Maintenance Technology & Equipment (34)
Focus on developing key technologies and equipment for the construction and maintenance of high-difficulty transportation infrastructure, including rail transit, cross-bay crossings, offshore deep-water ports, large-scale airports, major bridges and tunnels, integrated multimodal transport hubs, and deep-sea oil and gas pipelines.
(35) High-Speed Rail Transit System
Focus on developing key technologies for high-speed rail control and speed regulation systems, vehicle manufacturing, track construction, and system integration to establish comprehensive system solutions. Conduct engineering-scale operational trials to master technologies in operation control, track construction, and system integration.
(36) Low-Energy and New Energy Vehicles
Focus on R&D of full-vehicle design, integration, and manufacturing for hybrid, alternative fuel, and fuel cell vehicles; power system integration and control technologies; automotive computing platforms; key component technologies including high-efficiency low-emission internal combustion engines, fuel cell engines, power batteries, and drive motors; and new energy vehicle testing and infrastructure technologies.
High-Efficiency Transportation Technology and Equipment (37)
Focus on developing heavy-haul trains, high-power locomotives, special-purpose heavy vehicles, urban rail transit systems, large-scale high-tech ships, deep-sea fishing vessels, and oceanographic research ships. Also develop low-altitude multi-role general aviation aircraft and pipeline transport systems for highly viscous crude oil and multiphase flows.
(38) Intelligent Traffic Management System
Focus on developing integrated transportation information platforms and information resource sharing technologies, modern logistics technologies, urban traffic management systems, intelligent automotive technologies, and next-generation air traffic management systems.
(39) Transportation Safety and Emergency Support
Prioritize the development of technologies for traffic accident prevention and early warning, emergency response, active and passive safety systems for transport vehicles, accident reconstruction, traffic emergency response systems, and rapid search and rescue operations.
7. Information Industry and Modern Service Sector
Developing the information industry and modern service sectors is key to advancing new industrialization. The rapid growth of national economy and society informatization, along with modern services, demands higher standards for IT development.
Development Strategy: (1) Break through core technologies that constrain the information industry, master key technologies in integrated circuits and critical components, large-scale software, high-performance computing, broadband wireless mobile communications, and next-generation networks; enhance independent development capabilities and overall technical levels. (2) Strengthen integrative innovation of IT products to improve design and manufacturing standards, addressing scalability, usability, and cost-effectiveness; foster new technologies and business models to boost the competitiveness of the information sector. (3) Focus on application-driven needs, prioritize integrative innovation, and develop technologies and key products that support and drive the growth of modern service industries, facilitating transformation and technological upgrades in traditional sectors. (4) Prioritize the development of high-reliability networks by creating network cybersecurity technologies and related products; establish a comprehensive cybersecurity assurance system with capabilities to prevent and respond to various security incidents.
Priority Theme:
Modern Service Industry Information Support Technologies and Large-scale Application Software (40)
Focus on developing high-trust network software platforms and large-scale application support software, middleware, embedded software, grid computing platforms and infrastructure, as well as software system integration technologies required for the advancement of modern service industries such as finance, logistics, online education, media, healthcare, tourism, e-government, and e-commerce. Deliver comprehensive solutions.
(41) Next-Generation Network Key Technologies and Services
Focus on developing high-performance core network, transmission, and access equipment. Advance key technologies in scalability, security, mobility, quality of service (QoS), and operations management to establish a trusted network management system. Develop intelligent terminals and home networking devices and systems to support diverse new services and applications including multimedia and network computing over broadband, secure, and ubiquitous networks.
(42) High-Performance Trusted Computer
Focus on developing advanced computational methods and theories. Build supercomputer systems with exascale floating-point performance (over 10^15 FLOPS) that are efficient, trustworthy, and based on new concepts, alongside next-generation server systems. Develop key technologies including new architectures, massive storage, and system fault tolerance.
(43) Sensor Networks and Intelligent Information Processing
Focus on developing various new sensors, advanced automatic barcode recognition, RFID tags, and intelligent information processing technologies based on multi-sensor data. Advance low-cost sensor networks and real-time information processing systems to provide a more convenient, feature-rich information service platform and environment.
(44) Digital Media Content Platform
Focus on developing core technologies for digital media content processing, centered on audio-visual information services, to serve the cultural and entertainment consumption market as well as radio and television broadcasting. Build a modern multimedia information platform that is easy to interact with and exchange, includes copyright protection features, and supports efficient management.
(45) High-Definition Large-Screen Flat Panel Display
Prioritize the development of high-definition large-screen display products. Advance organic light-emitting, field emission, and laser display technologies for flat-panel and projection displays. Establish a supply chain for flat-panel display materials and devices.

(46) Information Security for Core Applications
Focus on developing security technologies for national foundational information networks and critical information systems, including network survivability under complex large-scale systems, active real-time protection, secure storage, virus prevention, malicious attack mitigation, trust frameworks, and advanced cryptography.
8. Population and Health
Maintaining a stable low fertility rate, improving the quality of newborns, and effectively preventing and treating major diseases are essential requirements for building a harmonious society. Controlling population size, enhancing population quality, and raising overall public health levels urgently require strong technological support.
Development Strategy: (1) Control the number of births and improve birth quality. Prioritize key technologies in fertility monitoring and reproductive health, develop a series of reproductive pharmaceuticals, devices, and wellness products to provide effective technological support for keeping the population under 15 billion and reducing congenital defect rates below 3%. (2) Shift disease prevention efforts upstream by adhering to a prevention-first approach that integrates health promotion with disease treatment. Research key technologies for prevention and early diagnosis to significantly enhance capabilities for diagnosing and treating major diseases. (3) Strengthen the inheritance and innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), advancing its modernization and internationalization. Building on TCM theoretical heritage and development, leverage technological innovation and multidisciplinary integration to enrich TCM theory, establish technical methodologies and standard systems suited to TCM characteristics, improve clinical efficacy, and foster healthy growth of the TCM industry. (4) Develop new drugs and advanced medical equipment. Overcome key challenges in creating new drugs, large-scale medical devices, medical materials, and drug delivery systems; accelerate the establishment and refinement of national platforms for pharmaceutical creation; and promote independent innovation in new drugs and medical devices.
Priority Theme:
(47) Safe Contraception and Birth Defect Prevention
Prioritize the development of new, safe, and effective contraceptive technologies and products that also help prevent sexually transmitted infections; high-efficiency, non-invasive early screening, testing, and diagnostic technologies for birth defects; and biological therapies for genetic disorders.
Prevention and control of major non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, cancer (48)
Focus on developing key technologies for early warning and diagnosis of major diseases such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders and cancer, as well as early intervention for disease risk factors. Research standardized, personalized, and comprehensive treatment strategies.
Common Preventable Diseases in Urban and Rural Communities (49)
Focus on the research and development of technologies for monitoring, preventing, diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating common and prevalent diseases; compact medical diagnostic equipment and mobile medical service units; and remote diagnosis and technical service systems.
    Traditional Chinese Medicine: Inheritance and Innovative Development (50)
Focus on innovating traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) basic theories and preserving and uncovering TCM expertise; research TCM diagnosis, treatment, evaluation technologies, and standards; advance modern TCM drug R&D, production, and manufacturing technologies; effectively protect and rationally utilize TCM resources; strengthen intellectual property protection research for TCM; and build platforms for international cooperation.
(51) Advanced Medical Equipment and Biomaterials
Focus on developing novel therapies and routine diagnostic equipment, digital medical technologies, personalized medical engineering technologies and devices. Research nano-bio drug delivery systems and tissue engineering, and develop new biomedical materials for human tissue and organ replacement.
9. Urbanization and Urban Development
The country has entered a period of rapid urbanization. Achieving coordinated development between urbanization and cities creates an urgent need for technology.
Development Strategy: (1) Focus on scientific planning of urban areas to promote rational layout and scientific development of urban-rural regions. Advance key technologies for modern urban regional planning and dynamic monitoring, enabling integrated urban development plans with regional economic planning and coordinated alignment with regional resource and environmental carrying capacity. (2) Prioritize energy and water conservation to develop resource-efficient cities. Overcome challenges in comprehensive urban energy saving and rational utilization of new energy sources; develop resource-saving, high-durability green building materials; and improve efficiency in urban resource and energy utilization. (3) Strengthen application of information technology to enhance comprehensive urban management capabilities. Develop digital integrated urban management technologies and establish an efficient, multi-functional, integrated urban management system. (4) Promote urban ecological living environments and green buildings. Advance technologies for harmless treatment and resource recovery of urban waste such as sewage and garbage; develop technologies for improving residential districts and indoor environments; significantly enhance the quality of urban living environments.
Priority Theme:
(52) Urban Area Planning and Dynamic Monitoring
Focus on developing technologies for regional urban spatial layout planning and system design, planning and design of urban infrastructure and public service facilities, integrated allocation and sharing technologies, as well as interactive simulation, prediction, and dynamic monitoring of the relationship between urban planning and population, resources, environment, and economic development.
City Function Enhancement and Space Optimization (53)
Focus on developing comprehensive technologies to enhance urban integrated transportation, intelligent management of priority public transit, municipal infrastructure, and disaster prevention and mitigation; investigate the formation mechanisms and artificial regulation techniques for the urban heat island effect; advance land surveying and resource conservation and utilization technologies; develop simulation and prediction methods for urban development and spatial morphological changes; and promote technologies for the exploration and development of underground urban spaces.
(54) Building Energy Efficiency and Green Buildings
Focus on the research and development of green building design technologies, building energy-saving technologies and equipment, integration applications of renewable energy systems with buildings, precise construction and green building construction technologies and equipment, energy-efficient and green building materials, and building energy efficiency technical standards.
Ensuring Urban Ecological Livability Quality in (55)
Focus on developing indoor air pollutant monitoring and purification technologies, urban environmental ecological regulation systems, urban waste resource utilization methods, water recycling technologies and equipment for cities, pollution prevention and control strategies for urban agglomerations, minimum emission integrated solutions for residential areas, and intelligent management systems for eco-residential zones.
(56) City Information Platform
Focus on developing key technologies for: urban networked basic information sharing, acquisition and updating of urban basic data, integration and mining of diverse urban data, multi-dimensional modeling and simulation, dynamic monitoring and application, standardization of urban networked information sharing, and emergency response and integrated service technologies.
10. Public Safety
Public safety is the cornerstone of national security and social stability. China faces severe public safety challenges, creating a critical strategic need for technological innovation.
Development Strategy: (1) Strengthen technical support for rapid response and emergency disposal of public incidents. Lead with information and intelligent technology applications to develop national public safety multi-functional, integrated emergency support technologies, forming a scientific public safety system capable of accurate prediction, effective prevention and control, and efficient emergency response. (2) Enhance early detection and prevention capabilities. Focus on research into monitoring, warning, and prevention technologies for production accidents (e.g., in coal mines), sudden social security incidents, natural disasters, nuclear safety, and biosafety. (3) Improve comprehensive emergency rescue capabilities. Prioritize research on emergency rescue technologies for coal mine disasters, major fires, sudden catastrophic natural disasters, hazardous chemical leaks, and mass poisoning incidents. (4) Accelerate the modernization of public safety equipment. Develop critical public safety equipment and series of protective products to ensure production safety, food safety, biosafety, and social security, fostering rapid growth in related industries.
Priority Theme:
National Public Security Emergency Information Platform (57)
Focus on comprehensive hazard detection and monitoring with full accessibility, precise localization and information acquisition technologies, multi-scale dynamic information analysis and processing, optimized decision-making techniques, and integration of the national unified public safety emergency command platform. Build an integrated early warning, rapid alerting, and efficient response emergency command platform for national public safety.
(58) Major Production Accident Alert & Rescue
Focus on developing early warning and prevention technologies for mine gas, water inrush, and dynamic disasters, as well as equipment and technologies for preventing and rescuing major industrial accidents such as combustion, explosions, and toxic substance leaks.
(59) Food Safety and Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine
Focus on key technologies for food safety and import/export quarantine risk assessment, pollutant tracing, safety standard development, and effective monitoring and testing. Develop intelligent food contamination prevention and control technologies and high-throughput quarantine inspection and security monitoring technologies.
(60) Emergency Prevention and Rapid Response to Public Incidents
Focus on R&D of individual biometric recognition, evidence tracing, rapid screening and verification technologies, simulation and prediction technologies; remote positioning and tracking, real-time monitoring, object identification through barriers, and rapid response technologies and equipment; fire safety technologies and equipment for high-rise and underground buildings; remote detection technologies and equipment for contraband such as explosives and drugs, and nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological terrorist threats; and on-site response and protection technologies and equipment.

(61) Biosecurity
Focus on rapid, sensitive, and specific monitoring and detection technologies; detection of chemical warfare agent metabolites in vivo; development of novel, high-efficiency disinfectants and rapid disinfection methods; gas mask and filtration protection technologies; identification and control of dangerous transmission vectors; prevention and control of biological invasions; vaccines, immune adjuvants, antitoxins, and therapeutics for emergency biological events.
(62) Major Natural Disaster Monitoring and Defense
Focus on developing key technologies for monitoring, early warning, and emergency response to earthquakes, typhoons, torrential rains, floods, and geological hazards. Also advance technologies for monitoring and early warning of major disasters such as forest fires, dam breaches, and levee failures, along with comprehensive risk analysis and assessment methods for natural catastrophes.
11. National Defense

IV. Major Special Projects

Historically, China's implementation of major initiatives such as the "Two Bombs, One Satellite," manned spaceflight, and hybrid rice has played a pivotal role in comprehensively strengthening national power. The United States, Europe, Japan, and South Korea have all adopted large-scale special projects organized around national goals as key measures to enhance their national competitiveness.
This outline identifies priority themes in key areas and, aligned with national objectives, highlights critical strategic products, essential common technologies, or major projects as special initiatives. These initiatives leverage the strengths of China's socialist system to concentrate resources on large-scale endeavors while harnessing market mechanisms to achieve breakthroughs. The goal is to drive transformative productivity growth through localized leaps in technological advancement and fill gaps in national strategy. The guiding principles for selecting these special initiatives are: 1. Closely address urgent economic and social development needs by cultivating strategic industries that foster core independent intellectual property rights and significantly enhance enterprises' capacity for innovation. 2. Prioritize essential common technologies with broad, systemic impacts that elevate overall industrial competitiveness. 3. Tackle major bottlenecks constraining economic and social progress. 4. Integrate military-civilian applications to ensure national security and strengthen comprehensive national power. 5. Align with China's specific conditions and fiscal capacity. Based on these principles, a series of special initiatives have been established focusing on advancing high-tech industries, upgrading traditional sectors, resolving developmental bottlenecks, improving public health, and safeguarding national security. Each initiative will be launched only after thorough evaluation based on national priorities and implementation readiness. Additionally, these initiatives will undergo dynamic adjustments in response to evolving strategic needs and global trends, implemented in phased stages. For initiatives targeting strategic products, enterprises will play the central role in research, development, and investment. Major equipment R&D will serve as the entry point for corporate technological innovation, optimizing resource allocation through market mechanisms. National funding will primarily support攻关 (breakthroughs) in core critical technologies.
Major Special Projects are critical strategic products, key common technologies, and major engineering initiatives completed within a specific timeframe through breakthroughs in core technologies and resource integration to achieve national goals. They represent the top priority of China's technological development. The "Outline Plan" established 16 major special projects, including: - Core electronic devices, high-end general-purpose chips, and foundational software - Ultra-large-scale integrated circuit manufacturing technologies and complete process suites - Next-generation broadband wireless mobile communications - High-end numerical control machine tools and advanced basic manufacturing technologies - Development of large oil and gas fields and coalbed methane - Large-scale advanced pressurized water reactors and high-temperature gas-cooled reactor nuclear power plants - Water pollution control and remediation - Cultivation of new genetically modified biological varieties - Creation of major new drugs - Prevention and control of serious infectious diseases such as AIDS and viral hepatitis - Large aircraft - High-resolution Earth observation systems - Manned spaceflight and lunar exploration programs These projects span strategic industrial sectors like information technology and biotechnology, address urgent challenges in energy, resources, environment, and public health, and cover dual-use civil-military technologies and defense applications.

5. Cutting-Edge Technologies

Cutting-edge technologies are major high-tech innovations that are forward-looking, pioneering, and exploratory. They form the foundation for future technological upgrades and emerging industries, reflecting a nation's overall capacity for high-tech innovation. The key principles for selecting cutting-edge technologies are: (1) representing the global direction of high-tech advancement; (2) leading the formation and growth of future emerging industries; (3) enabling industrial technology upgrades and breakthrough development; and (4) having strong talent pools and R&D foundations. Based on these principles, we should proactively deploy a set of cutting-edge technologies to leverage science and technology as a catalyst for future development, enhance China's R&D capabilities in high-tech fields, and strengthen the international competitiveness of its industries.
1. Biotechnology
Biotechnology and life sciences will be key drivers of the new technological revolution in the 21th century. Genomics and proteomics research are guiding biotechnology toward a more systematic approach. DNA sequencing and gene structure analysis have shifted to functional genomics, focusing on discovering and applying functional genes. Molecular design and construction of drugs and plant/animal varieties have become critical directions for germplasm and drug research. Cutting-edge technologies such as biochips, stem cells, and tissue engineering hold great promise for major breakthroughs in diagnosis, treatment, and regenerative medicine. Critical advances must be achieved in functional genomics, proteomics, stem cells and therapeutic cloning, tissue engineering, and biocatalysis and transformation technologies.
Cutting-edge Technology:
(1) Target Discovery Technology
Identifying targets is crucial for developing innovative drugs, biological diagnostics, and therapeutic technologies. Key research focuses on the large-scale identification of key gene functions and their regulatory networks in physiological and pathological processes. This includes breaking through technologies for functional characterization of disease-related genes, expression regulation, target screening, and validation, as well as establishing "gene-to-drug" new drug development platforms.
Plant and Animal Varieties and Drug Molecule Design Technology (2)
Plant and animal breeding and drug molecule design rely on molecular docking, molecular simulation, and molecular design technologies based on the three-dimensional structures of biological macromolecules. Key research areas include bioinformatics analysis, integration, and simulation of protein and cellular dynamic processes; virtual design technologies for plant and animal varieties and drugs; simulation of plant and animal growth and drug metabolism engineering; and computer-aided design, synthesis, and screening of combinatorial compound libraries.
(3) Gene Manipulation and Protein Engineering
Gene manipulation technologies are critical for leveraging genetic resources. Protein engineering is a key pathway to efficiently utilize gene products. Key research areas include: high-efficiency gene expression and its regulation, chromosome structure and targeted integration, artificial design and modification of coding protein genes, peptide chain modification and restructuring, protein structure elucidation, and large-scale protein separation and purification.
(4) Human Tissue Engineering Based on Stem Cells
Stem cell technology enables the in vitro culture of stem cells and their directed differentiation into various tissue cells for clinical use, as well as the construction of human organs for replacement and regenerative therapies. Key research areas include therapeutic cloning, in vitro stem cell line establishment and directed induction techniques, large-scale production of engineered human tissues, construction and repair of complex multi-cellular structures, and biomanufacturing technologies.
(5) Next-Gen Industrial Biotechnology
Biocatalysis and biotransformation are the core of next-generation industrial biotechnology. Key research focuses on large-scale screening of functional strains, directed engineering of biocatalysts, scalable biocatalytic systems for industrial production, development of clean conversion media, and integrated industrial conversion technologies.
2. Information Technology
Information technology will continue to evolve toward high performance, low cost, ubiquitous computing, and intelligence. Finding new computational approaches and physical implementations remains a major challenge for the field. The convergence of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and cognitive science will drive human-centric information technologies based on biological traits, image understanding, and natural language processing, fostering innovation across multiple domains. Key research priorities include low-cost self-organizing networks, personalized intelligent robots and human-machine interaction systems, highly flexible attack-resistant data networks, and advanced cybersecurity systems.
Cutting-edge Technology:
(6) Smart Sensing Technology
Focus on human-centric intelligent information processing and control technologies based on biometrics, natural language understanding, and dynamic image analysis, with an emphasis on Chinese information processing. Also research system technologies for fields such as biometric recognition and intelligent transportation.
(7) Self-Organizing Network Technology
Focus on self-organizing mobile, computing, storage, and sensor networks; low-cost real-time information processing systems; multi-sensor data fusion; personalized human-machine interfaces; highly flexible, attack-resistant data networks; advanced cybersecurity systems; and self-organizing and personal intelligent systems.
(8) Virtual Reality
Focus on interdisciplinary technologies integrating electronics, psychology, control theory, computer graphics, database design, real-time distributed systems, and multimedia. Research virtual reality technologies and systems across medical, entertainment, arts and education, military, and industrial manufacturing management domains.

3. New Materials Technology
New material technologies will evolve toward structural-functional integration, intelligent functional materials, material-device integration, and green manufacturing and usage processes. We will breakthrough modern material design, evaluation, characterization, and advanced processing techniques. Building on nanoscience research, we will develop nanomaterials and devices, superconducting materials, smart materials, energy materials, and other specialized functional materials, as well as next-generation super-structural materials and optoelectronic information materials.
Cutting-edge Technology:
(9) Smart Materials and Structures Technology
Smart materials and smart structures are integrated systems that combine sensing, control, and actuation capabilities. Key research areas include the fabrication of smart materials, design and manufacturing of smart structures, and monitoring and failure control of critical equipment.
(10) High-temperature superconductivity technology
Focus on developing novel high-temperature superconducting materials and fabrication technologies, including superconducting cables, motors, and high-efficiency power devices. Explore superconducting biomedical devices, high-temperature superconducting filters, non-destructive testing systems, and sensitive detection instruments such as scanning magnetic microscopes.
(11) High-Efficiency Energy Materials Technology
Focus on research into key technologies and materials for solar cells, critical materials for fuel cells, high-capacity hydrogen storage materials, advanced materials and core technologies for high-energy secondary batteries, and key materials and preparation techniques for supercapacitors to develop efficient energy conversion and storage material systems.
4. Advanced Manufacturing Technology
Advanced manufacturing will evolve toward informatization, extreme-scale production, and sustainability, forming the foundation for future manufacturing's survival and a key driver of sustainable development. Priority areas include breakthroughs in extreme manufacturing, system integration and collaborative technologies, intelligent manufacturing and application technologies, design and validation technologies for complete equipment and systems, and system design technologies for large-scale complex systems and equipment based on high reliability.
Cutting-edge Technology:
(12) Extreme Manufacturing Technology
Extreme manufacturing refers to the production of devices and functional systems with extreme scales (either exceptionally large or small) or ultra-high performance under extreme conditions or environments. It focuses on the design, fabrication processes, and inspection technologies for micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), micro/nano manufacturing, ultra-precision manufacturing, mega-system manufacturing, and high-field manufacturing.
Smart Service Robot (13)
Intelligent service robots are advanced, high-tech systems that deliver essential services to humans in unstructured environments. Focusing on applications for service robots and hazardous-operation robots, this research develops common foundational technologies including design methodologies, manufacturing processes, intelligent control, and application system integration.
Life Prediction Technology for Major Products and Critical Facilities (14)
Predictive technologies for the service life of critical products and major facilities are key to enhancing operational reliability, safety, and maintainability. Research focuses on: predictive control and optimization of material composition design and forming processes; knowledge-based modeling and simulation of manufacturing processes; online inspection and assessment during manufacturing; component life prediction; and reliability, safety, and life prediction for critical products, complex systems, and major facilities.
5. Advanced Energy Technologies
The primary directions for future energy technology development are economic, efficient, clean utilization, and the development of new energy sources. Fourth-generation nuclear systems, advanced nuclear fuel cycles, and fusion energy technologies are gaining increasing attention. Hydrogen, an ideal energy carrier that can be produced through multiple pathways, will drive a new transformation in clean energy use. Fuel cell-powered and distributed energy systems, characterized by their cleanliness and flexibility, will provide important new forms of end-use energy. Key research areas include large-scale hydrogen utilization and distributed energy systems, advanced nuclear energy and nuclear fuel cycle technologies, fossil energy extraction and utilization technologies that are efficient, clean, and achieve near-zero carbon dioxide emissions, and low-cost, high-efficiency renewable energy technologies.
Cutting-edge Technology:
(15) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology
Focus on developing efficient, low-cost technologies for hydrogen production from fossil and renewable energy sources; economical and efficient hydrogen storage and distribution systems; core component manufacturing and stack integration for fuel cells; and power generation and vehicle powertrain system integration for fuel cells. Establish technical specifications and standards for hydrogen energy and fuel cell applications.
(16) Distributed Energy Supply Technology
Distributed energy systems are a key pathway to providing flexible, energy-efficient integrated energy services for end users. Key breakthroughs will focus on terminal energy conversion technologies such as fossil fuel-based micro gas turbines and novel thermal cycles, energy storage technologies, and integrated power-heat-cooling systems. This will establish distributed terminal energy supply systems that leverage complementary renewable and fossil fuel sources, as well as hybrid configurations of micro gas turbines and fuel cells.
(17) Fast Neutron Reactor Technology
A fast neutron reactor is a nuclear reactor that uses fast neutrons to sustain a fission chain reaction and can breed nuclear fuel, enabling full utilization of uranium resources while processing long-lived radioactive waste generated by thermal reactors. Research and master fast reactor design and core technologies, including relevant nuclear fuel and structural material technologies, and break through key technologies such as the sodium cycle. Build a 6 5 MW experimental fast reactor to achieve criticality and grid-connected power generation.
(18) Magnetic Confinement Fusion
Leveraging participation in the construction and research of ITER, focus on key technologies including large-scale superconducting magnets, microwave heating and drive systems, neutral beam injection heating, blanket technology, real-time tritium separation and purification at scale, divertor technology, numerical simulation, plasma control and diagnostics, critical materials for DEMO reactors, advanced high-temperature plasma physics research, and exploratory studies of non-tokamak fusion approaches aimed at energy production.
6. Marine Technology
Prioritize the development of multifunctional, multi-parameter, and long-duration marine comprehensive exploitation technologies to enhance deep-sea operational capabilities. Focus on researching and developing technologies for natural gas hydrate exploration and production, seabed collection and transport of polymetallic resources in the open ocean, efficient on-site extraction, and large-scale marine engineering.
Cutting-edge Technology:
(19) 3D Marine Environmental Monitoring Technology
3D marine environmental monitoring technology synchronously monitors ocean elements across the air, coastal stations, water surface, and underwater. It focuses on advancing remote sensing, acoustic detection, buoy, and shore-based radar technologies, while developing marine information processing and application solutions.
Rapid Multi-parameter Deep-sea Exploration Technology (20)
Deep-sea multi-parameter rapid detection technology enables synchronous sensing of geophysical, geochemical, and biochemical characteristics on the seafloor with real-time data transmission. Key research areas include sensor technology for extreme environments, automatic sensor calibration, and underwater data transmission systems.
Natural Gas Hydrate Development Technology (21)
Natural gas hydrates are carbon-hydrogen compounds stored in deep marine sediments and underground formations. Focus on research into exploration theories and development technologies for natural gas hydrates, including geophysical and geochemical exploration and evaluation techniques, while advancing breakthroughs in drilling and safe extraction technologies.
(22) Deep-sea Operation Technology
Deep-sea operation technologies are underwater systems that support deep-sea engineering and mineral extraction. Key research areas include: high-depth underwater transportation, life support systems, high-energy-density power units, high-fidelity sampling and remote data transmission, deep-sea equipment manufacturing, and deep-sea station technologies.
7. Laser Technology
8. Aerospace Technology

VI. Basic Research

Basic research aims to deepen understanding of natural phenomena, uncover natural laws, generate new knowledge, principles, and methods, and cultivate high-caliber innovative talent. It serves as a vital source for the advancement of high-technology, a breeding ground for innovation, a foundation for building advanced culture, and an intrinsic driver of future scientific and technological progress. Advancing basic research requires aligning national objectives with free exploration, adhering to the laws of scientific development, fostering scientists' spirit of inquiry, emphasizing long-term scientific value, providing stable support, enabling forward-looking deployment, and making dynamic adjustments in response to emerging trends in science. This outline is structured around four areas: disciplinary development, frontier scientific issues, basic research addressing major national strategic needs, and key scientific research programs.

1. Discipline Development
Leveraging the long-term accumulation, high exploratory nature, and unpredictable progress of basic research, we will establish a comprehensive layout for basic disciplines. Emphasis will be placed on interdisciplinary integration, convergence, and cross-pollination to cultivate new growth points. Through sustained and deep academic research, we aim to enhance original innovation capabilities and foster coordinated development across multiple disciplines.
(1) Basic Disciplines
Prioritize foundational theories and discipline development, promoting the comprehensive and coordinated growth of basic sciences including mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, earth science, and biology.
(2) Interdisciplinary and Emerging Disciplines
Cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary research—spanning basic and applied fields, science and technology, and natural sciences with humanities and social sciences—often drives major scientific discoveries and the emergence of new disciplines. This is one of the most dynamic areas in scientific research and warrants high priority and strategic focus.
2. Cutting-edge Scientific Issues
The unification of micro and macro scales, the integration of reductionism and holism, interdisciplinary convergence, the penetration of foundational sciences like mathematics into diverse fields, and the application of advanced technologies characterize the forefront of contemporary scientific development. These trends hold the promise of major scientific breakthroughs, continually pushing human understanding of the objective world beyond previous limits and deepening it further. Criteria for selecting frontier scientific issues include: driving progress in foundational science, possessing a strong research foundation, fully leveraging China's unique strengths and characteristics, and significantly enhancing the international standing of China's foundational science.
Quantitative Research and Systematic Integration of the Life Process (1)
Primary research areas: gene language and regulation, functional genomics, model organism biology, epigenetics and non-coding RNA, structure-function relationships and regulatory networks in living systems, biological reprogramming, bioinformatics, computational biology, systems biology, life characteristics in extreme environments, origins and evolution of life, phylogenetics, and evolutionary biology.
Condensed Matter and New Effects (2)
Main research areas: strongly correlated systems, soft condensed matter, new quantum properties in condensed matter and novel effects, self-similar cooperative growth, giant open systems and complex system problems, Bose-Einstein condensation, superfluidity and superconductivity mechanisms, structural phase transitions, electronic structure, and various elementary excitation processes in condensed matter under extreme conditions.
Deep structure of matter (3) and laws of physics at cosmic scales
Primary research areas include the structure of matter and physical laws at microscopic and macroscopic scales under extreme conditions such as high energy, high density, ultra-high pressure, and ultra-strong magnetic fields; efforts to develop a unified theory of all physical laws; fundamental frontiers in particle physics; the nature of dark matter and dark energy; the origin and evolution of the universe; the formation and evolution of black holes and various celestial bodies and structures; and the impact of solar activity on Earth's environment and disasters, including forecasting.
(4) Core Mathematics and Its Applications in Interdisciplinary Fields
Primary research areas: Major open problems in core mathematics, interdisciplinary intersections between mathematics and other fields, and emerging mathematical challenges arising from scientific research and practical applications—such as discrete problems, stochastic problems, quantum problems, and the mathematical theories and methods underlying large-scale nonlinear systems.
(5) Earth System Processes and Their Effects on Resources, Environment, and Disasters
Primary research areas: interactions among Earth system spheres (atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, crust, mantle, core); deep-Earth drilling; physical, chemical, and biological processes within the Earth system and their resource, environmental, and hazard impacts; onshore-offshore accumulation theory; ground-, sea-, air-, and space-based Earth observation, detection, and simulation systems; and Earth system science theory.
Chemical processes of new substance creation and transformation (6)
Primary research areas: design, controllable synthesis, preparation, and transformation of new functional molecules with specific structures; development of condensed-phase and aggregated-state molecular functional systems; establishment of environmentally friendly new chemical systems; investigation of material formation and transformation processes across different spatiotemporal scales; and elucidation of the relationships between chemical essence, properties, and structure, as well as transformation mechanisms within complex systems such as biological processes and ecological environments.
(7) Brain Science and Cognitive Science
Primary research areas include: cellular and molecular mechanisms of brain function; pathogenesis of major brain disorders; relationships between brain development, plasticity, and human intelligence; processes and neural bases of higher cognitive functions such as learning, memory, and thinking; brain information representation and brain-inspired information processing systems; and human-computer interaction.
(Innovation in 8 Scientific Experimentation and Observation Methods, Technologies, and Equipment)
Primary research areas include: life science detection, imaging, analysis, and manipulation methods featuring dynamic, real-time, lossless, sensitive, and high-resolution capabilities; novel analytical and characterization technologies for acquiring information on material composition, function, and structure; and new observational techniques and information acquisition methods for earth sciences and space science research.
3. Basic research addressing major national strategic needs
A knowledge-based society demands rapid scientific advancement, with competition for comprehensive national strength shifting to and intensifying in basic research. As a rapidly developing nation, China must emphasize that basic research serves national objectives by addressing critical bottlenecks shaping our future. Selection criteria for research directions include: (1) strategic, holistic, and long-term significance to national economic/social development and security; (2) currently underdeveloped yet pivotal to progress; and (3) capacity to effectively integrate basic and applied sciences while leading next-generation high-tech innovation.
(Biological Basis of Human Health and Disease (1))
Focus on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the onset and progression of major diseases, as well as their interventions. Investigate the roles of the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems in health and disease development. Study pathogen transmission, mutation patterns, and pathogenic mechanisms. Explore drug action across molecular, cellular, and systemic regulatory levels. Examine environmental disruptions to physiological processes and the theoretical framework of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Scientific issues in agricultural biological genetic improvement and sustainable development (2)
Focus on key agricultural biological genes and functional genomics, related "omics" studies, the genetic basis of biodiversity and new variety breeding, mechanisms of stress resistance in plants, and efficient utilization of water, nutrients, and light energy. Also study interactions between agricultural organisms and their ecological environments, as well as principles of agricultural biosecurity and control of major pests and diseases.
Mechanisms of Human Activity Impact on the Earth System (3)
Key research areas include disaster risk prediction during resource exploration and development, ecological impacts of large-scale human activities in major river basins, adaptability and regional ecological security, energy and material cycling patterns and regulation in critical ecosystems, biodiversity conservation models, land use and land cover change, water demand patterns and ecological balance in watersheds and regions, mechanisms and control principles of environmental pollution, and sustainable utilization of marine resources with protection of marine ecological environments.
(4) Global Change and Regional Response
Focus on studying the impacts of global climate change on China, the response of large-scale hydrological cycles to global change, and the effects of global change on regional water resources. Investigate the interactions between human activities and monsoon systems, air-sea-land interactions and their influence on Asian monsoon variability and predictability, carbon cycle processes in coastal and terrestrial ecosystems near China, the responses of the Tibetan Plateau and polar regions to global change along with their climatic and environmental effects, the development of climate system models for simulation and prediction, mechanisms of the greenhouse effect, aerosol formation and evolution mechanisms, their impacts on climate change, and control strategies.
(5) Complex Systems, Catastrophe Formation, and Predictive Control
Focus on studying the relationship between micro-mechanisms and macro-phenomena in complex engineering, natural, and socio-economic systems; investigate the mechanisms and evolutionary patterns of structure formation, the link between structure and system behavior, laws of motion in complex systems, system bifurcations and their control, correlations across different scales of system behavior, and advance theories and methodologies for complex systems.
Key Scientific Challenges in Sustainable Energy Development for (6)
Focus on the physicochemical foundations of efficient and clean utilization and conversion of fossil fuels, key scientific challenges in high-performance thermo-mechanical conversion and energy-efficient storage, principles and new pathways for large-scale renewable energy utilization, theories for grid safety, stability, and economic operation, as well as the scientific basis for large-scale nuclear power technologies and hydrogen energy systems.
New Principles and Methods for Design and Preparation of (7) Materials
Focus on the physicochemical foundations of base material modification and optimization, phase transformation and microstructure control mechanisms, and composite strengthening and toughening principles. Investigate new physical mechanisms, effects, and materials design approaches for novel materials' physicochemical properties, artificial structuring, miniaturization, and multifunctional integration. Explore new principles and processes for material fabrication, as well as advanced characterization methods for structure and performance. Examine material-environment interactions during service, performance evolution, failure mechanisms, and lifespan prediction models.
Scientific basis for manufacturing under extreme environmental conditions (8)
Focus on the fundamental laws governing deep-level interactions between matter and energy, micro-scale transport of high-density energy and matter, precise characterization and metrology of microstructural morphology, scale effects and interfacial science in forming, property development, and system integration of manufactured components, as well as the principles ensuring deterministic stable motion in complex manufacturing systems and the uniqueness of manufactured bodies.
(9) Major Mechanics Problems in Aerospace
Focus on hypersonic propulsion systems and ultra-high-speed impact mechanics, multi-dimensional power systems and complex motion control theory, compressible turbulence theory, high-temperature gas thermodynamics, magnetohydrodynamics and plasma dynamics, microfluidics and microsystem dynamics, and structural mechanics of new materials.

Scientific foundation for the development of information technology (10)
Focus on new algorithms and software foundational theories, the mechanisms of virtual computing environments, theories and methods for massive information processing and knowledge mining, human-computer interaction theory, and cybersecurity and trustworthy, controllable information security theory.
4. Major Scientific Research Program
Aligned with global scientific trends and China's major strategic needs, we have selected four key research directions that will lead future development, strongly drive scientific and technological advancement, rapidly enhance the nation's innovation capacity, and are supported by outstanding research teams. These initiatives will significantly boost China's international competitiveness, accelerate sustainable development, and achieve breakthrough progress in priority areas.
(1) Protein Research
Proteins are the primary carriers of life activities and the executors of biological functions. Deeply studying their complex, diverse structures, functions, interactions, and dynamic changes will comprehensively reveal the essence of life phenomena across molecular, cellular, and organismal levels—making this a central mission in the post-genomic era. Furthermore, advances in protein science will drive a wave of new biotechnologies, catalyzing growth in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and green industries, and shaping the future bioeconomy. Consequently, protein science is now a critical strategic high ground fiercely contested by developed nations in the life sciences.
Focus on transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, structural biology, and protein biological functions and interactions within key biological systems. Also study computational and systems biology related to proteins, methodologies for protein research, and foundational applied research in these areas.
(2) Quantum Control Research
Information technology based on microelectronics is approaching physical limits, posing a severe challenge to the development of IT. Humanity must seek new pathways. Emerging information technologies grounded in quantum effects are beginning to take shape and have become a focal point of intense competition among developed nations. Quantum control involves exploring novel quantum phenomena and advancing quantum information science, correlated electron systems, quantum communication, confined small-scale quantum systems, and artificial bandgap systems. It aims to establish the theoretical foundation for future information technology. With its strong forward-looking potential, it could exert an immeasurable impact on human society and economic development within 20 to 30 years.
Focus on key research areas including carriers and control principles/methods for quantum communication, quantum computing, correlation laws among charge-spin-phase-orbital degrees of freedom, emerging quantum control techniques, novel quantum effects in confined small-scale systems, macroscopic quantum phenomena in artificial bandgap materials, and foundational new principles and technologies for quantum characterization and measurement.
(3) Nanotechnology Research
Phenomena and laws unique to materials at the nanoscale will reshape existing theoretical frameworks, ushering in a new era of understanding the material world. This promises a new technological revolution and vast opportunities for advancement in materials science, information technology, green manufacturing, biotechnology, and medicine. Nanotechnology has become a strategic priority for many nations seeking to enhance their core competitiveness and represents one of China's key areas for achieving leapfrog development.
Focus on the controlled synthesis, self-assembly, and functionalization of nanomaterials; their structures, superior properties, and regulation mechanisms; nanofabrication and integration principles; conceptual and fundamental nano-devices; nanoelectronics; nanobiology and nanomedicine; optical, electrical, and magnetic properties of molecular aggregates and biomolecules, as well as information transfer; single-molecule behavior and manipulation; design, assembly, and control of molecular machines; characterization and metrology at the nanoscale; and applications of nanomaterials and nanotechnology in energy, environment, information, healthcare, and other fields.
(4) Development and Reproduction Research
Groundbreaking achievements in animal cloning, stem cells, and related fields have opened major opportunities for the future of life sciences and medicine. However, most of these results cannot yet directly benefit humanity because we lack a systematic and deep understanding of reproductive and developmental processes and their underlying mechanisms. China faces rapid population growth, a high burden of birth defects, severe organ transplant shortages, and an impending aging peak. There is an urgent need for breakthroughs in reproductive and developmental science theories and technological innovation.
Focus on research into stem cell proliferation, differentiation, and regulation; gametogenesis, maturation, and fertilization; mechanisms controlling embryonic development; somatic cell dedifferentiation and animal cloning; the mechanisms underlying reproductive aging and degenerative diseases; and the safety and ethics of assisted reproduction and stem cell technologies.

VII. Reform of the Science and Technology System and Building a National Innovation System

Since the reform and opening-up, China's science and technology (S&T) system reform has focused on integrating S&T with economic development. With goals to strengthen innovation, accelerate technology transfer, and drive industrialization, the reform prioritized structural adjustments and mechanism transformation, implementing major measures that achieved significant breakthroughs and substantive progress. However, it is clear that China's current S&T system still has many mismatches with the requirements of a socialist market economy and the rapid development of both the economy and S&T: 1. Enterprises have not yet truly become the main drivers of technological innovation, and their independent innovation capabilities remain weak. 2. S&T resources across various sectors operate in isolated systems with duplication, resulting in low overall efficiency; innovation capacity in public welfare areas is particularly weak. 3. Macro-management of S&T remains fragmented, and mechanisms for resource allocation and evaluation do not align with new developments in S&T or the evolving role of government. 4. Mechanisms to attract top talent and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation are still incomplete. These issues severely constrain improvements in the nation's overall innovation capacity.
The guiding principles for deepening the reform of the science and technology system are: start with serving national objectives and mobilizing the enthusiasm and creativity of the broad scientific community; focus on efficient allocation and integration of science and technology resources across society; break through by establishing an enterprise-led, industry-university-research integrated innovation system; comprehensively advance the construction of a national innovation system with Chinese characteristics; and significantly enhance the nation's independent innovation capabilities.
The key tasks for reforming the science and technology system in the current and future period are:
1. Encourage enterprises to become the main force in technological innovation
Market competition drives technological innovation, which is the fundamental path for enterprises to enhance their competitiveness. As China's reform and opening-up deepens, Chinese enterprises are playing an increasingly vital role in technological innovation. To further boost enterprise innovation, we must create better conditions, optimize the environment, and deepen reforms to strengthen the motivation and vitality of enterprise-driven innovation. First, leverage economic and science-technology policies to guide enterprises as the primary investors in research and development (R&D). Accelerate the development of a unified, open, competitive, and orderly market economy. Through fiscal, tax, and financial policies, encourage enterprises—especially large ones—to increase R&D investment and establish dedicated R&D institutions. Build national engineering laboratories and industry-specific engineering centers by integrating reformed research institutes or large enterprises with strong R&D capabilities and radiation effects, alongside universities and academic research institutions. Encourage collaborations between enterprises, universities, and research institutes to form joint innovation organizations that enhance overall innovation capacity. Second, reform the support mechanisms for science and technology plans to enable enterprises to undertake national R&D tasks. National science and technology plans should better reflect major enterprise needs and actively involve enterprises in implementation. In areas with clear market application prospects, establish effective mechanisms led by enterprises with participation from universities and research institutes. Third, improve technology transfer mechanisms to promote technology integration and application within enterprises. Establish robust incentive systems for intellectual property rights (IPR) and IPR trading frameworks. Develop diverse science and technology intermediary service providers to facilitate knowledge flow and technology transfer between enterprises, and between enterprises and universities/research institutes. Expand access to national key laboratories and engineering (technology research) centers for enterprises. Fourth, accelerate the establishment of modern enterprise systems to strengthen internal motivation for technological innovation. Include innovation capability as a key performance indicator for state-owned enterprises. Incorporate technology factors into profit-sharing schemes as part of equity system reforms for high-tech enterprises. Continue promoting the corporate transformation of applied R&D institutions, deepening reforms in ownership structures and management systems to create effective incentives. This will enable these institutions to serve as backbone forces in high-tech industrialization and industry-wide technological innovation. Fifth, foster a supportive innovation environment for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially technology-based SMEs. These groups possess strong innovation potential but have limited capacity to bear innovation risks. Create more favorable policy environments for SMEs by drafting and implementing laws and policies that support their development in areas such as market access and anti-unfair competition. Actively develop financing systems and venture capital mechanisms tailored to support SMEs. Accelerate the construction of intermediary service platforms to provide essential support for SME innovation activities.
2. Deepen reforms in scientific research institutions and establish a modern institute system.
Research institutions engaged in basic research, cutting-edge technology development, and public welfare research are a vital force driving China's technological innovation. Building a high-caliber research team that is stable, committed to national goals, and dedicated to advancing science and technology represents the future of China's scientific and technological progress. After years of structural adjustments and talent redistribution reforms, China has established a set of lean and efficient research institutions that require sustained national support. To fully leverage their critical role, we must aim to enhance innovation capabilities, focus on improving mechanisms, deepen management system reforms, and accelerate the construction of a modern research institute system characterized by "clear responsibilities, scientific evaluation, open order, and standardized management." 1. Strengthen research institution development based on nationally assigned roles and functions. Effectively address current issues such as unclear responsibilities, fragmented resources, and weak innovation capabilities in some institutions. Optimize resource allocation to concentrate efforts in developing leading disciplines and research bases. Public welfare research institutions should leverage their industry-specific technical advantages to enhance innovation and service capabilities, addressing major societal challenges. Basic science and cutting-edge technology institutions should capitalize on disciplinary strengths to improve research quality, achieve theoretical innovations and technical breakthroughs, and solve significant scientific and technological problems. 2. Establish a stable funding mechanism for supporting research institutions' innovation activities. Discipline development, team building, and major innovative achievements result from long-term, continuous efforts. For institutions conducting basic research, cutting-edge technology development, and public welfare research, provide stable fiscal support from the national budget. Based on each institution's specific circumstances, increase per-capita operational funding standards to support discipline development requiring long-term accumulation, foundational work, and team building. 3. Create an operational mechanism conducive to original innovation within research institutions. Autonomous topic selection is crucial for enhancing original innovation capabilities and cultivating talent. Strengthen support for autonomous research projects within these institutions. Improve the director responsibility system for research institutes, further expand their decision-making autonomy in areas such as research funding and personnel systems, and enhance internal coordination and integration of innovation activities. 4. Establish a comprehensive evaluation system for overall innovation capabilities of research institutions. Develop a scientifically sound and reasonable evaluation framework to comprehensively assess institutions' innovation capabilities across dimensions including research output quality, talent team development, and management operational mechanisms. This will promote improvements in institutional management and innovation performance. 5. Build effective mechanisms for open collaboration among research institutions. Implement a hybrid employment system combining permanent and flexible staffing. Fully adopt contract-based hiring and position management, recruiting research and management talent through open nationwide recruitment. Through effective mechanisms, foster various forms of collaboration between research institutes, enterprises, and universities, promoting knowledge flow, talent development, and shared access to scientific and technological resources.

Universities are vital hubs in China for cultivating high-level innovative talent, key drivers of fundamental research and original innovation in high-tech fields, and a dynamic force for addressing major national scientific and technological challenges, facilitating technology transfer, and accelerating the commercialization of research outcomes. Accelerating the development of a group of high-caliber universities—particularly world-renowned research-intensive institutions—is essential to boost national technological innovation and build a robust national innovation system. China has already established a cohort of appropriately sized, multidisciplinary universities that have attracted top-tier talent; these institutions must fully leverage their critical role in driving scientific innovation. We should actively support universities in fostering original innovation across fundamental research, frontier technology development, and public welfare research. Encourage and promote comprehensive collaborations between universities, enterprises, and research institutes, while strengthening efforts to serve national, regional, and industrial development needs. Expedite the construction of key disciplines and innovation platforms within universities. Cultivate and assemble a group of discipline leaders with international leading-edge expertise, and build a faculty team characterized by excellent academic integrity, strong innovative spirit, and global competitiveness. Further accelerate reforms in internal university management systems. Optimize educational and scientific organizational structures within universities, innovate operational mechanisms and management policies, establish a scientific and reasonable comprehensive evaluation system, and create an operational framework that enhances the quality of innovative talent cultivation and strengthens innovation capabilities, ensuring that every individual can excel and that new talents continue to emerge. Actively explore the establishment of a modern university system with Chinese characteristics.
3. Advance reform of the science and technology management system
To address critical issues in China's current macro-level science and technology management, we must advance the reform of the S&T management system. The focus is on strengthening the national S&T decision-making mechanism, eliminating institutional barriers, enhancing coordination among departments, regions, between central and local authorities, and across military-civil sectors, and significantly improving the capacity to integrate S&T resources and organize major S&T activities. First, establish and improve the national S&T decision-making mechanism. Refine procedures for major S&T policy deliberation and create standardized advisory and decision-making processes. Strengthen the state's overall planning and macro-management of S&T development, with a focus on coordinating major S&T policies, implementing key S&T programs, and building S&T infrastructure. Second, establish and improve the national S&T macro-coordination mechanism. Position S&T policy as a foundational element of public policy. Develop a policy framework that aligns S&T and economic policies to promote technological innovation and enhance independent innovation capabilities. Create mechanisms for coordinated allocation of S&T resources across departments. Accelerate the transformation of functions within national S&T administrative agencies, advance rule-based administration, and improve macro-management capabilities and service quality. Reform project management approaches to fully leverage the roles of departments and local governments in program implementation. Third, reform the S&T review and evaluation system. Project reviews must uphold principles of fairness, transparency, openness, and encouragement of innovation, creating opportunities for talent—especially young researchers—to emerge. Major project reviews should reflect national strategic objectives. Improve peer-review mechanisms by establishing an expert credit system and introducing international peer reviewers. Strengthen oversight of the review process, increase transparency, and expand the information rights of applicants. Provide special attention and support for highly innovative small projects, non-consensus projects, and interdisciplinary initiatives. Emphasize evaluation of researchers' and teams' quality, capabilities, and research levels, and encourage original innovation. Establish independent evaluation systems for major national S&T programs, knowledge innovation projects, and natural science fund grants. Fourth, reform the evaluation and reward system for S&T achievements. Based on the distinct characteristics of different types of S&T activities, refine evaluation criteria and indicators according to the principles of openness, fairness, scientific rigor, and efficiency. Reduce excessive and cumbersome evaluations to avoid short-termism and utilitarianism. For market-oriented applied research and experimental development, prioritize achievement of independent intellectual property rights and contributions to industrial competitiveness. For public welfare research, emphasize meeting public needs and generating social benefits. For basic research and frontier scientific exploration, prioritize scientific significance and academic value. Establish talent evaluation systems tailored to different types of S&T work. Reform the national S&T award system by reducing the number and tiers of awards, highlighting government priorities, and shifting focus from project-based rewards to talent recognition alongside project incentives. Encourage and regulate private entities in establishing awards.
4. Comprehensively advance the construction of a national innovation system with Chinese characteristics
The goal of deepening the reform of the science and technology system is to advance and improve the national innovation system. The national innovation system is a social system led by the government, fully leveraging the market's foundational role in resource allocation, with close connections and effective interactions among all types of technological innovation entities. At this stage, key priorities for building a national innovation system with Chinese characteristics include: 1. **Establishing an enterprise-led technological innovation system that integrates industry, academia, and research**, serving as a breakthrough point for comprehensively advancing the national innovation system. Only with enterprises at the core can we maintain market orientation in technological innovation, effectively integrate resources from industry, academia, and research, and significantly enhance national competitiveness. Only through integration of industry, academia, and research can we allocate scientific and technological resources more efficiently, stimulate innovation vitality in research institutions, and enable enterprises to sustain continuous innovation capabilities. While substantially improving enterprises' own technological innovation capabilities, we must also establish new mechanisms where research institutes and universities actively serve enterprise innovation needs through diverse forms of industry-academia-research collaboration. 2. **Building a knowledge innovation system that seamlessly integrates scientific research with higher education**. Centered on establishing open, dynamic, competitive, and collaborative operational mechanisms, promote integration and resource consolidation between research institutes and between research institutes and universities. Strengthen the construction of public welfare research systems. Develop research-oriented universities. Strive to create a batch of high-level basic science and frontier technology research bases with shared resources. 3. **Constructing a defense technology innovation system that combines military and civilian applications**. Promote tight integration of military and civilian technologies across macro-management, development strategies and planning, research and development activities, and technology industrialization. Enhance development of dual-use technologies, fostering a favorable pattern where top national scientific and technological resources serve defense innovation and defense achievements rapidly convert to civilian applications. 4. **Developing regional innovation systems with distinct characteristics and advantages**. Fully leverage regional economic and social development features and strengths to plan regional innovation systems and capability building cohesively. Deepen local science and technology system reforms. Promote organic integration of central and local scientific and technological forces. Leverage the important roles of universities, research institutes, and national high-tech industrial development zones in regional innovation systems, enhancing the support of technological innovation for regional economic and social development. Strengthen technological development capacity in central and western regions. Solidly build grassroots science and technology systems at county (city) levels. 5. **Creating a socialized, networked technology intermediary service system**. Addressing prominent issues such as small scale, single functionality, and weak service capabilities in the technology intermediary services sector, vigorously cultivate and develop various types of technology intermediary service organizations. Fully utilize the important roles played by universities, research institutes, and various associations in technology intermediary services. Guide technology intermediary service organizations toward specialization, scaling, and standardization.

VIII. Key Policies and Measures

To ensure implementation of this outline's tasks, we must address institutional and mechanism issues while formulating and refining more effective policies and measures. All policies and measures shall: enhance independent innovation capabilities; motivate scientists and engineers; leverage domestic and international scientific resources; and support and guide socioeconomic development. The science and technology policies and measures outlined here address current key challenges and will be continuously updated as circumstances evolve and the outline is implemented.
1. Implement fiscal and tax policies to incentivize corporate technological innovation
Encourage enterprises to increase R&D investment and enhance technological innovation capabilities. Accelerate the implementation of consumption-based VAT by allowing input tax on purchased equipment to be deducted from VAT liabilities. Building on existing national policies that promote technological innovation, accelerate technology commercialization, and support equipment upgrades, actively encourage and support enterprises in developing new products, processes, and technologies. Strengthen incentives such as enhanced pre-tax deductions for R&D expenditures and implement preferential tax policies tailored to high-tech enterprises. Align with corporate income tax and financial system reforms to encourage the establishment of dedicated R&D funding mechanisms within enterprises. Permit accelerated depreciation of R&D instruments and equipment. Provide necessary tax support for purchasing advanced scientific research instruments and equipment. Increase foreign exchange and financing support for enterprises establishing overseas R&D institutions, while offering convenient and high-quality services for outbound investments.
Fully implement the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Promoting the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises," support the establishment of SMEs of all types, and unleash their innovation potential. Encourage and support SMEs to collaborate through joint funding and co-commissioned R&D, and provide policy support to accelerate the commercialization of innovation outcomes. Implement tax incentive policies to foster SME technological innovation.
2. Strengthen the digestion, absorption, and re-innovation of introduced technologies.
Refine and adjust national industrial technology policies to strengthen the assimilation, absorption, and re-innovation of imported technologies. Enact policies that encourage independent innovation while curbing blind, repetitive imports.
Adjust government investment structure and priorities to establish special funds supporting the assimilation, absorption, and re-innovation of imported technologies, as well as the development of major technical equipment and key common technologies for critical industries. Implement proactive policies to increase funding through multiple channels, encouraging enterprises—led by industry-academia-research collaborations—to drive the assimilation, absorption, and re-innovation of imported technologies.
Leverage major national construction projects as key platforms for enhancing independent innovation. Through the implementation of these projects, absorb and digest advanced technologies, overcome critical technologies vital to China's strategic interests, and develop major equipment and key products with independent intellectual property rights.
3. Implement government procurement policies that foster independent innovation
Establish implementation rules for the Government Procurement Law of the People's Republic of China to encourage and protect independent innovation. Establish a coordination mechanism for government procurement of innovative products. Implement first-purchase policies for major high-tech equipment and products developed by domestic enterprises with independent intellectual property rights. Provide policy support for enterprises purchasing domestic high-tech equipment. Leverage government procurement to promote the formation of technical standards.
4. Implement intellectual property and technical standards strategies
Protecting intellectual property rights and safeguarding the interests of right holders is essential not only for China's efforts to perfect its market economy system and foster independent innovation, but also for establishing international credibility and advancing global cooperation. We must further improve the national intellectual property (IP) framework, cultivate a legal environment that respects and protects IP, enhance societal awareness of IP and strengthen national IP management capabilities, intensify enforcement efforts, and rigorously combat all forms of IP infringement in accordance with the law. At the same time, we will establish special review mechanisms for major economic activities such as corporate mergers and acquisitions and technology transactions to prevent the loss of proprietary IP. We must also prevent the abuse of IP rights from imposing undue restrictions on normal market competition, which could hinder technological innovation and the adoption of scientific achievements. IP management should be integrated into the entire process of science and technology management, fully leveraging the IP system to elevate China's level of technological innovation. We will strengthen IP awareness among researchers and science and technology managers, encouraging enterprises, research institutions, and universities to prioritize and enhance their IP management practices. Industry associations will play a vital role in protecting IP. We will develop and refine qualification standards and social credit systems that support effective IP protection.
Aligned with national strategic needs and industry development requirements, we aim to generate a portfolio of groundbreaking inventions that deliver significant economic, social, and technological impact. We facilitate enterprise-led collaboration among industry, academia, and research institutions, providing support in patent applications, standard setting, international trade, and cooperation.
Establishing technical standards as a key objective of national science and technology programs. Government agencies, industry associations, and other relevant bodies shall strengthen guidance and coordination for the development of critical technical standards and prioritize their adoption. Promote the construction of technical regulations and standards systems, integrating standard-setting with research, development, design, and manufacturing to ensure the advancement and effectiveness of standards. Guide collaboration among industry, academia, and research institutions to advance the research, formulation, and priority adoption of national critical technical standards. Actively participate in international standard-setting efforts and promote Chinese technical standards becoming international standards. Strengthen the construction of a technical measures system for trade.
   

5. Implement financial policies to foster innovation and entrepreneurship
Establish and improve the venture capital mechanism for startups, and draft laws, regulations, and policies to promote the healthy development of venture capital. Actively advance the construction of the Growth Enterprise Market (GEM) and establish a multi-layered capital market system to accelerate the commercialization of technology. Encourage qualified high-tech enterprises to list on domestic main boards and the SME Board. Strive to create favorable conditions for high-tech small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to list overseas. Create a more relaxed financial and foreign exchange policy environment for cross-border capital operations by high-tech venture capital firms. Launch pilot programs within national high-tech industrial development zones to facilitate equity circulation for unlisted high-tech enterprises. Gradually establish a technology property rights trading market. Explore methods that leverage government fiscal funds as a guide, with primary funding from policy-based and commercial finance, to take active measures and attract more capital into the venture capital market. Establish a national industry self-regulatory organization for tech venture capital. Encourage financial institutions to provide preferential credit support for major national technology commercialization projects and technology transformation projects. Build a sound intellectual property credit guarantee system and other credit guarantee systems to encourage technological innovation in SMEs, creating favorable conditions for their financing. Build various forms of collaboration platforms for science and technology finance, with government guidance to encourage financial institutions and private capital to participate in technology development. Encourage financial institutions to improve and strengthen financial services for high-tech enterprises, particularly technology-focused SMEs. Encourage insurance companies to intensify product and service innovation to provide comprehensive risk protection for technological innovation.
6. Accelerate the industrialization of high-tech and the promotion of advanced, applicable technologies
Prioritize advancing the industrialization of high-tech innovation as a key strategy for adjusting economic structure and transforming the growth model. Actively develop high-tech industries that have breakthrough, major driving effects on economic growth.
Optimize the environment for high-tech industrialization. Continue strengthening industrialization base construction in national high-tech industrial development zones. Formulate policies that promote the development of these zones and stimulate growth in surrounding areas. Build information platforms for technology exchange and trading, and provide policy support for technology development and service activities conducted by scientific and technological intermediary agencies, including university science parks, enterprise incubators, productivity promotion centers, and technology transfer centers.
Strengthen support for agricultural technology extension. Establish new mechanisms to promote advanced and applicable technologies in rural areas. Recognize achievements in agricultural technology extension as a key component of science and technology awards, implement a professional qualification certification system for agricultural technology extension personnel, and incentivize scientists and engineers to engage in technology promotion activities at the frontline of agricultural production through various forms. Establish special funds for the transformation and promotion of agricultural scientific and technological results to facilitate the adoption of advanced and applicable technologies in rural areas, and support technical innovation and invention by diverse talent groups in rural communities. The state will provide classified guidance and support for agricultural technology extension, encouraging and supporting the development of socialized agricultural technology extension organizations with multiple models, and building a diversified agricultural technology extension system.
Promote the adoption of key and common technologies across industries. Establish effective policies to support the R&D, deployment, and application of pre-competitive industrial technologies, with a focus on accelerating adoption in electronics and information, biotechnology, manufacturing informatization, new materials, environmental protection, and energy efficiency to drive the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries. Strengthen infrastructure for technology engineering platforms, industrial demonstration bases, and pilot testing facilities.
7. Strengthen the mechanism for integrating civil and military development.
Strengthen the coordination and integration of military-civil fusion. Reform the fragmented science and technology management system by establishing a new integrated framework. Encourage military research institutions to undertake civilian technological tasks; open defense R&D work to civilian research institutions and enterprises; expand the scope of military procurement to include civilian research institutions and enterprises. Reform relevant management systems and regulations to ensure non-military research entities and enterprises have equal opportunities to compete in military equipment R&D and production. Establish an integrated, shared platform for military-civil scientific and technological infrastructure.
Establish new mechanisms tailored to the characteristics of national defense research and dual-use civilian-military activities. Coordinate the deployment and integration of basic research across military and civilian sectors, consolidate high-tech R&D capabilities, and create effective collaboration frameworks for mutual interaction between the two domains. Ensure coordinated development and production of military and civilian products, fostering seamless integration across all stages of military-civilian technology.
8. Expand international and regional scientific and technological cooperation and exchanges
To strengthen national independent innovation, we must fully leverage the advantages of opening up and expand international and regional scientific and technological cooperation and exchanges in various forms.
Encourage research institutes and universities to establish joint laboratories or R&D centers with overseas research and development organizations. Support the implementation of international cooperation projects under bilateral and multilateral science and technology agreement frameworks. Establish a science and technology cooperation mechanism between mainland China and Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan to enhance communication and exchange.
Support Chinese enterprises in going global. Expand exports of high-tech products and encourage firms to establish R&D centers or industrialization bases overseas.
Actively participate in major international scientific projects and academic organizations. Support Chinese scientists and research institutions in leading or joining international and regional major scientific initiatives. Establish training programs to enhance the capacity of Chinese scientists for international academic exchange, and support their leadership roles in key international academic organizations. Encourage multinational corporations to establish R&D centers in China. Offer preferential conditions to attract important international academic organizations or offices to set up operations in China.
9. Enhance the scientific and cultural literacy of the entire population and foster a social environment conducive to technological innovation.
Implement a national action plan for scientific literacy. Aimed at promoting comprehensive human development, this initiative seeks to elevate the scientific and cultural literacy of all citizens. Vigorously promote scientific spirit across society, disseminate scientific ideas, advance scientific methods, and popularize scientific knowledge. Strengthen science outreach in rural areas by gradually establishing a training system to enhance farmers' technical and vocational skills. Organize diverse and systematic scientific exploration and experiential activities both inside and outside schools, reinforce innovation education, and cultivate creativity and capabilities among youth. Provide advanced technology training for cadres and civil servants at all levels.
Strengthen national science popularization capabilities. Strategically plan and robustly develop science venues, improving their operational quality. Establish a system for research institutes and universities to regularly open to the public. Enhance public engagement during the implementation of science and technology projects. Foster science creation and build outstanding science brands. Encourage renowned scientists and experts to participate in science communication. Develop strategic planning for major science topics and support original works. Establish science communication programs at universities, strengthen foundational research in science communication, and cultivate professional talent in this field.
Establish a sustainable operational mechanism for science popularization. Leverage the strengths of government agencies, social organizations, and large enterprises to foster collaboration among the scientific community, educational institutions, and mass media. Encourage the growth of commercial science culture industries by relaxing entry restrictions for private and overseas capital, implementing preferential policies, and creating a diversified funding model for science popularization. Advance reforms in the system and mechanisms of public welfare science initiatives to boost vitality, enhance service orientation, and strengthen long-term sustainability.
9. Technology Investment and Infrastructure Platforms
Investment in science and technology and platforms for scientific infrastructure form the material foundation of innovation and are essential prerequisites and guarantees for sustained progress. Today's investment in science and technology is an investment in a nation's future competitiveness. Since the start of reform and opening-up, China's science and technology investment has grown steadily. However, compared with the major needs of rapid development in China's science and technology sector and the comprehensive construction of a moderately prosperous society, and against the backdrop of developed and newly industrialized countries, both the total amount and intensity of China's science and technology investment remain insufficient. The structure of investment is also unbalanced, and the scientific infrastructure is still weak. Developed and newly industrialized countries worldwide have made increasing science and technology investment a strategic measure to enhance national competitiveness. China must seize the moment, boost its independent innovation capacity and core competitiveness, significantly increase science and technology investment, strengthen the construction of scientific infrastructure platforms, and provide necessary support to accomplish all major tasks outlined in this Outline.
1. Establish a diversified, multi-channel technology investment system
Strengthen the government's guiding role in investment by utilizing fiscal direct funding, tax incentives, and other fiscal measures to enhance its capacity to mobilize scientific and technological resources across society. National fiscal investments should primarily support public science and technology activities that market mechanisms cannot effectively address, such as basic research, frontier technology research, social welfare research, and major common key technology research, while also guiding enterprise and societal R&D spending. Central and local governments must comply with the "Science and Technology Progress Law of the People's Republic of China" by ensuring statutory growth requirements are reflected in both initial budget planning and the allocation of surplus revenue during execution. This will guarantee that the growth rate of science and technology funding significantly exceeds that of regular fiscal income, progressively increasing the share of national fiscal science and technology expenditure relative to GDP. Aligning with national fiscal capacity, funds for plan implementation should be comprehensively coordinated to ensure the smooth execution of major special projects. The state will continue to prioritize investment in major scientific infrastructure facilities within central and local construction budgets. Concurrently, as government science and technology investment increases, the leading role of enterprises in R&D spending must be reinforced. Through these concerted efforts, the proportion of total societal R&D expenditure to GDP in China will rise annually, reaching 2% by 2010 years and exceeding 2.5% by 2020 years.
2. Optimize and adjust the investment structure to improve the efficiency of R&D funding.
Strengthen support for basic research, frontier technology research, public interest research, and scientific infrastructure and science popularization. Optimize the allocation of funding among normal operations of research institutions (bases), research projects, and scientific infrastructure. Increase stable investment in basic research and public interest research institutions, include science popularization funding in local government budgets, and progressively raise investment levels in science popularization. Establish and improve a funding management system that aligns with the laws of scientific research and the characteristics of technological work. In accordance with national budget management regulations, enhance the standardization, security, and effectiveness of fiscal fund usage. Improve transparency, openness, and fairness in national science and technology program management. Gradually establish a performance evaluation system for fiscal science and technology funding and strengthen corresponding assessment and supervision mechanisms.
3. Strengthen the construction of science and technology infrastructure platforms
The Science and Technology Infrastructure Platform is a support system that leverages technologies such as information and networking. It comprises research experimental bases, major scientific facilities and instrumentation, scientific data and information, and natural science resources. By ensuring effective allocation and sharing, it serves the innovation needs of society as a whole. Key priorities for building this platform include:
National Research Experiment Base. Aligned with national strategic priorities, this initiative establishes several high-caliber, interdisciplinary national laboratories and scientific research experiment bases in emerging frontier fields and areas where China holds distinctive strengths. These facilities are primarily anchored by national research institutes and research universities. Efforts will be intensified to upgrade the construction of key state laboratories, continuously enhancing their overall operational and management standards. A national network for field-based scientific observation and research stations will also be developed.
Large-scale scientific engineering and infrastructure. Emphasize the role of scientific instruments and equipment in research, and strengthen independent R&D of such instruments, equipment, and testing technologies. Build a number of large-scale scientific engineering projects and infrastructures, including major initiatives in high-performance computing, large-scale aerodynamic research and testing, and scientific experiments under extreme conditions. Promote the shared construction and utilization of large-scale scientific instruments, equipment, and facilities, gradually forming a national sharing network.