China streamlines evaluation of scientific research

BEIJING - China will streamline the mechanisms of evaluating research programs and academic performance of researchers and research institutes, said a new guideline made public Tuesday.

The country aims to reduce the number of assessments and improve the methods and efficiency of Chinese research by 2020 so that resources will be better allocated and researchers will be more motivated with enhanced innovation ability, according to the guideline issued jointly by the General Offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council.

The administration will carefully design goals, criteria and methods to appraise academic progress of research programs and performance of researchers and research institutes and simplify procedures, the document said.

Efforts will be made to expose weaknesses of current appraisal systems and remove institutional barriers.

Research programs of different disciplines, such as sciences, social sciences and military sciences, will have different assessment standards and procedures.

Peer review, including those from international peers, will be introduced to enhance transparency and openness and ensure independence and impartiality of such assessments, the document said.