China improves S&T award system to spur innovation

BEIJING — China has improved its award system for scientific and technological achievements to spur innovation and foster high-quality development, according to the National Office for Science and Technology Awards.

China has enriched its national science and technology award system by setting up the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award, the State Natural Science Award, the State Technological Invention Award, the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award and the China International Science and Technology Cooperation Award.

The State Scientific and Technological Progress Award, for instance, which has been set up with the purpose of serving the country's national strategy, started to include popular science works in 2005 and corporate technological innovation projects in 2008.

The overall quality of the winning projects has improved and the prizes awarded have been increased. China has also improved its reviewing mechanism of the awards to ensure fairness and integrity, said an official with the office.

A total of 31 Chinese scientists have won the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award, China's top science award, since 1999.

Over the past 40 years, more than 100,000 people have been bestowed the State Natural Science Award, the State Technological Invention Award and the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award. A total of 118 foreign experts from 20 countries, two international organizations and a foreign organization have won the China International Science and Technology Cooperation Award.

From 2000 to 2018, China awarded 636 projects the State Natural Science Award, 946 projects the State Technological Invention Award and 4,246 projects the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award. The awarded projects included high-temperature superconducting materials, manned space program, Qinghai-Tibet Railway, supercomputers, hybrid rice.

China has also emphasized the reward for innovative enterprises and talent on the frontline, encouraging enterprises to become the main body of innovation.

Around 70 percent of the projects that won the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award had the participation of enterprises, with 25 percent led by enterprises. Awarded enterprises included both State-owned ones including China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation and private enterprises including Huawei.