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China’s ‘two sessions’ 2023: will science shake-up strengthen innovation or ‘shock’ scientists?
- Researchers hope reforms to science ministry will mean more efficiency and innovation
- But changes also raise concerns about potential unfairness in funding decisions
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Zhang Tongin Beijing
A major overhaul planned for the government agency that oversees fundamental research and applied science in China is meant to make the ministry more efficient and stimulate innovation, experts said.
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But some also warned the restructuring of the Ministry of Science and Technology could create new problems.
The plan – part of a sweeping regulatory shake-up by the State Council, China’s cabinet – was announced on Tuesday during an annual gathering of lawmakers in Beijing to help counter US efforts to maintain its dominance over leading-edge technology.
The changes would see many of the ministry’s management and subordinate agencies, which are responsible for rural development, social development and hi-tech development, handed over to other ministries with specific expertise in those areas, according to state media reports.
Until now, the science ministry has also been responsible for funding decisions and assessment for such projects – assessments that were closely related to research publication and awards.
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Those funding decisions will now be made by other agencies and the science ministry will have more of a broader monitoring role.
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