Xi calls for advancing sci-tech innovation
Acceleration of self-reliance, focus on frontier fields emphasized
Xi also said that China should strengthen its capacity to make systematic breakthroughs in sci-tech innovation and improve the overall efficiency of the national innovation system.
He called for a focus on frontier fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology and life sciences, key areas including integrated circuits and advanced manufacturing, and strategic fields such as the deep sea, deep space and deep Earth.
Major projects and programs should be deployed in an integrated manner, while original innovation and breakthroughs in key and core technologies should be advanced in a coordinated way, he said.
Xi emphasized the need to promote the deep integration of sci-tech innovation and industrial innovation, and to open up channels for accelerating the transformation of scientific and technological advances into real productive forces.
He noted that the relatively low rate of translating scientific and technological achievements into practical applications has long been a prominent problem.
Sci-tech innovation should be guided by application needs, while industrial innovation should generate scientific questions, Xi said, urging efforts to strengthen the national technology transfer system, create diversified application scenarios and high-level industrial clusters, and promote the application and iterative upgrading of independently developed technologies and products.
The future of science lies in the youth, Xi said, calling for improved mechanisms to integrate science and education in talent cultivation and for greater efforts to foster outstanding young sci-tech talent.
He said support for researchers should be increased, and more teenagers with scientific potential should be encouraged to pursue careers in science and technology.
He also said China should seize the window of opportunity created by global talent flows and actively attract outstanding young talent and teams from overseas.
