To build a world science and technology powerhouse, we must adhere to international exchanges and cooperation

Published by China International Science and Technology Exchange Center on December 19, 2023 at 06:55 in Beijing

At the first "the Belt and Road" Science and Technology Exchange Conference held recently, China put forward the Initiative for International Science and Technology Cooperation for the first time, advocating and practicing the concept of open, fair, just and non discriminatory international science and technology cooperation, adhering to the principle that "science has no borders and benefits all mankind", and working together to build a global science and technology community.

Currently, the global community is facing significant challenges such as climate change, public health, ecological environment, and technological breakthroughs. Technological innovation is becoming increasingly important in addressing major global challenges. Looking towards the future, we must fully utilize global technological innovation resources, deepen international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation, further enhance the flexibility and inclusiveness of scientific and technological policies, and accelerate the construction of a world science and technology powerhouse.

China has a solid foundation for international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation

Adhering to international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation, extensively funding scientific research projects for international cooperation, and building a global scientific and technological innovation network are important paths for many developed countries to enhance their international discourse power in science and technology, technological innovation level, and even national prosperity and strength. Looking back at the evolution of the international landscape since modern times, the United States has been catching up with Britain and France since the late 19th century, Germany and Japan have been catching up with the United States, Britain and the Soviet Union since World War II, and emerging economies in the Asia Pacific region have been catching up with traditional developed economies since the latter half of the 20th century, all vividly reflecting this.

In fact, China has a solid foundation in conducting international scientific and technological cooperation. In recent years, China's ability to support high-level international scientific and technological cooperation and build a global scientific and technological innovation community has continuously improved, and its research infrastructure conditions are on par with the world's top level. According to the Statistical Bulletin on National Science and Technology Investment in 2022, a total of 3078.29 billion yuan was invested in R&D, an increase of 282.66 billion yuan or 10.1% compared to the previous year; The intensity of R&D funding investment is 2.54%, an increase of 0.11 percentage points from the previous year; Among them, the national basic research funding is 202.35 billion yuan, an increase of 11.4% compared to the previous year. The investment in science and technology funding continues to increase, and the intensity of R&D funding has been increasing year by year.

At present, China has become the second largest R&D expenditure country in the world after the United States, accounting for about 20% of the total R&D expenditure of countries around the world. It has the foundation to support high-level international scientific research cooperation. In terms of international big science cooperation, China actively participates in a number of iconic international big science programs such as the International Thermonuclear Fusion Experimental Reactor (ITER) program and the Human Genome Project (HGP), and takes the lead in implementing a series of international big science programs such as Deep Time Digital Earth (DDE) and Human Proteome Navigation (π - HuB). In terms of major technological infrastructure, China has planned to build China's Tianyan (FAST), National Supercomputing Shenzhen Center, Fourth Generation Synchrotron Radiation Light Source, Ground Space Station, Heavy Ion Accelerator Cooling Storage Ring, and is currently constructing and planning facilities such as Shanghai Hard X-ray Free Electron Laser (SHINE) and Shenzhen Zhongneng High Repetitive Frequency X-ray Free Electron Laser (S3FEL) Future high-energy circular electron positron collider (CEPC), etc.

Relying on major scientific and technological infrastructure, many landmark new achievements are emerging. For example, the nuclear mass measurement team of the Institute of Modern Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences accurately measured the mass of a number of key atomic nuclei based on the cooling storage ring of the heavy ion accelerator, revealing the properties of some neutron stars. In terms of paper output, in the past five years, the number of highly cited papers in some basic disciplines such as mathematics and chemistry has surpassed the United States, becoming the world's first, while many other disciplines have remained in second place, only behind the United States. In summary, it can be seen that China has the ability and foundation to support high-level international scientific and technological cooperation and build a global scientific and technological innovation community.

At the same time, we should also see that on the journey towards becoming a world technology powerhouse, China still faces some problems, and there is still a gap in the high-quality supply of technology for industrial transformation and upgrading. Therefore, China should adhere to an open attitude, engage in in-depth international exchanges with countries around the world, jointly build infrastructure, share investment risks, and share innovative achievements.

Make efforts in three aspects to deepen international exchanges and cooperation

Accelerating the construction of a world science and technology powerhouse requires further deepening international exchanges and cooperation. Therefore, it is necessary to fully leverage the role of policies in driving and guiding international exchanges and cooperation, and design policies from three aspects: financial support, platform openness, and property rights protection.

One is to establish special funding funds in key areas to support high-level international cooperative research. Implement the "Key Field Research Community Plan" and establish an annual special funding fund of 30-50 billion yuan for key field research communities. At the same time, relevant technology leading enterprises are introduced to jointly invest, and local science and technology plans are leveraged to provide supporting investment, thereby achieving the cultivation and continuous follow-up of academic teams in key areas, strengthening technological accumulation and forward-looking layout.

The second is to build and improve a global technology cooperation network, accelerate collaborative openness and innovation spillover. In addition to involving national defense and strategic core interests, relying on national key laboratories, major scientific research infrastructure, etc., actively launching international big science plans and big science projects, attracting top overseas universities, research and development institutions, and even high-tech enterprises to participate in construction and use, and encouraging open innovation. Encourage domestic enterprises to engage in cross-border scientific and technological innovation cooperation, build overseas innovation enclaves, and activate the market-oriented operation vitality of cooperative research and development institutions by relaxing fiscal and tax regulations.

Thirdly, we should strengthen intellectual property protection and create an institutional and open cooperation environment. Intellectual property protection is the foundation for comprehensively deepening international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation. It is necessary to comprehensively improve the legal system for intellectual property protection and promote the establishment of a healthy and sustainable international scientific and technological cooperation and exchange mechanism. Building an international platform for scientific and technological innovation cooperation and exchange, actively promoting China's policies and regulations on the ownership and distribution of scientific and technological achievements through top scientists forums and other activities, authoritative interpretation of detailed implementation methods of relevant policies, and solving the worries of international scientific research platform cooperation research. Establish a standardized management service mechanism, especially improve the international financial research funding management system, facilitate the entire process of research funding application, approval, use, and settlement, and ensure the safe and orderly flow of funds.

We should stand at the historical height of win-win development and collective intelligence, follow the historical logic of synchronous realization of technological progress, opening up to the outside world, and the rise of major powers, and gather high-level innovative resources from around the world with a more open mindset. At the same time, we must also provide comprehensive technological solutions to address major global challenges and further develop human society, and build a global community of shared future for scientific and technological innovation.

Wei Jiang, the author is the Deputy Secretary and Vice President of the Party Committee of Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, and the Vice President of the China Institute of Science and Education Strategy at Zhejiang University

建设世界科技强国要坚持国际交流与合作

中国国际科技交流中心 2023-12-19发表于北京

在前不久召开的首届“一带一路”科技交流大会上，我国首次提出《国际科技合作倡议》，倡导并践行开放、公平、公正、非歧视的国际科技合作理念，坚持“科学无国界、惠及全人类”，携手构建全球科技共同体。

当前，全球社会共同面临气候变化、公共卫生、生态环境、技术突破等重大挑战，科技创新在应对全球重大挑战方面愈发重要。面向未来，我们要充分利用全球科技创新资源，深度开展国际科技交流与合作，进一步增强科技政策的弹性和包容性，加快建设世界科技强国。

我国具备开展国际科技交流与合作的坚实基础

坚持国际科技交流与合作、广泛资助国际协作的科研项目、搭建全球科技创新网络，是不少发达国家提升科技国际话语权、科技创新水平乃至国富民强的重要路径。回顾近代以来国际格局的演变，从19世纪后期开始美国追赶英法、“二战”后德国和日本追赶美英苏，以及20世纪后半期开始亚太地区新兴经济体追赶传统发达经济体，都生动地体现了这一点。

事实上，我国在开展国际科技合作方面具备坚实基础。近年来，我国支持高水平国际科技合作与搭建全球科技创新共同体的能力不断提升，科研基础设施条件比肩全球顶尖水平。《2022年全国科技经费投入统计公报》显示，2022年全国共投入R&D经费30782.9亿元，比上年增加2826.6亿元，增长10.1%；R&D经费投入强度为2.54%，比上年提高0.11个百分点；其中，全国基础研究经费2023.5亿元，比上年增长11.4%，科技经费投入力度持续加大，R&D经费投入强度逐年提高。

目前，我国已成为仅次于美国的全球第二大研发支出国，研发支出占世界各国研发总支出的20%左右，已具有资助高水平国际科研合作的基础。在国际大科学合作方面，我国积极参与国际热核聚变实验反应堆（ITER）计划、人类基因组计划（HGP）等一批标志性国际大科学计划，并牵头实施深时数字地球（DDE）、人体蛋白质组导航（π-HuB）等一系列国际大科学计划。在重大科技基础设施方面，我国已规划建成了中国天眼（FAST）、国家超级计算深圳中心、第四代同步辐射光源、地面空间站、重离子加速器冷却储存环等，正在建设及规划如上海硬X射线自由电子激光装置（SHINE）、深圳中能高重复频率X射线自由电子激光装置（S3FEL）、未来高能环形正负电子对撞机（CEPC）等。

依托重大科技基础设施，许多标志性新成果不断涌现，如中国科学院近代物理研究所原子核质量测量团队基于重离子加速器冷却储存环精确测量了一批关键原子核的质量，揭示了部分中子星的性质。在论文产出方面，近5年部分基础学科如数学、化学ESI高被引论文数量已经超越美国，成为世界第一，其他不少学科稳居第二，仅次于美国。综上可以看出，我国已具备支持高水平国际科技合作与搭建全球科技创新共同体的能力和基础。

与此同时，我们也应该看到，在迈向世界科技强国的征途上，我国仍面临一些问题，面对产业转型升级的科技高质量供给仍有缺口。为此，我国应坚持以开放心态，与全球各国开展深度国际交流，共建基础设施、共担投入风险、共享创新成果。

三方面发力深化国际交流与合作

加快建设世界科技强国需要进一步深化国际交流与合作。为此，要充分发挥政策在驱动、引导国际交流与合作方面的作用，从财政资助、平台开放、产权保护三个方面进行政策设计。

一是应在重点领域设立专项资助基金，资助高水平国际合作研究。实施“重点领域研究共同体计划”，设立年度300亿—500亿元的“重点领域研究共同体专项资助资金”。同时引入相关科技领军型企业共同投入，并撬动地方科技计划给予配套投入，继而实现重点领域的学术团队培育与持续跟进，加强技术积累与前瞻布局。

二是应构建并完善全球科技合作网络，加速协同开放与创新溢出。除涉及国防及战略核心利益领域外，依托全国重点实验室、重大科研基础设施等，积极发起国际大科学计划和大科学工程，吸引海外一流大学、研发机构甚至高科技企业参与建设和使用，鼓励开放式创新。以放宽财政税收管制等方式鼓励国内企业跨国开展科技创新合作，建设海外创新飞地，激活合作研发机构市场化运营活力。

三是应加强知识产权保护，营造制度型开放合作环境。知识产权保护是全面深化国际科技交流合作的基础，要全面完善知识产权保护法律体系，推动建立健康、可持续的国际科技合作交流机制。打造国际科技创新合作交流平台，通过顶尖科学家论坛等活动，积极宣传我国关于科技成果归属分配等方面的政策法规，权威解读相关政策详细落地实施办法，解决国际科研平台合作研究的后顾之忧。构建规范的管理服务机制，尤其是完善国际化财政科研经费管理制度，畅通科研经费申请、审批、使用、结算全过程，保证资金安全有序流动。

我们应站在发展共赢、汇智聚力的历史高度，遵循科技进步、对外开放与大国崛起同步实现的历史逻辑，以更加开放的心态，汇聚全球高水平创新资源。同时，我们也要为应对全球重大挑战及人类社会进一步发展提供科技综合解决方案，构建全球科技创新命运共同体。

魏江，作者系浙江财经大学党委副书记、副校长，浙江大学中国科教战略研究院副院长