Scientists vow quicker path to applications

Leading scientists pledged to accelerate the translation of research into productive forces, voicing strong support for President Xi Jinping's call to deepen the integration of sci-tech innovation with industrial innovation and build a financial system suited to technological advancement.

Speaking at a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday, Xi said that sci-tech innovation should be application-oriented, and he called for universities and research institutes to work closely with enterprises on scientific research and talent development.

The meeting brought together the national science and technology award conference, the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the 11th national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology.

Shi Jianlin, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a researcher at the CAS Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, said scientific and technological innovation aims to drive the development of high-tech industries, while industrial innovation both relies on technological breakthroughs and is directly oriented toward high-tech sectors, carrying the mission of translating scientific advances into emerging industries and new quality productive forces.

Shi said that Xi's call for capital to "invest early, invest small, invest for the long term and invest in hard technology" had struck at the heart of a persistent bottleneck in scientific and technological innovation.

"Translating original research from zero to one is already difficult. Applying those results in clinical settings is even harder and carries enormous risk," said Shi, whose interdisciplinary research applies nanotechnology and catalysis to medicine.

"This requires not only the dedication of researchers, but also the support of government, medical institutions, regulators and, especially, State and private capital. The rewards of success cannot be reaped without also sharing the risks of failure. Only by sharing risk and working together can we succeed," he added.

Zhao Gang, a CAS member and a researcher at the CAS National Astronomical Observatories, said that Xi's emphasis on strengthening systematic research capabilities and improving the efficiency of science and technology investment was "highly strategic and forward-looking".

"All technological breakthroughs and industrial innovations are ultimately rooted in the accumulation and advancement of basic research," Zhao said. "We will pursue long-term exploration guided by national strategic priorities, laying the groundwork for systematic breakthroughs and industrial application."

Liu Zhongmin, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and director of the CAS Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, said that China has long grappled with a disconnect between science and industry.

"Only by integrating scientific and technological development with industrial application and promoting collaborative innovation among industry, academia and research institutions can we translate breakthroughs into real productive forces," Liu said.

"We will intensify efforts to integrate with industry, particularly in the fields of energy and chemicals. This will support the development of a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system in China, providing robust scientific and technological backing to ensure the stability and security of the national petrochemical industrial chain," he added.

Lu Chunfang, a CAE member who led the development of China's Fuxing high-speed trains, said that Xi's directive to deepen the integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation and to strengthen enterprises as drivers of innovation was "both visionary and precisely targeted".

Lu said the success of the Fuxing trains was the result of a five-year joint effort, led by China State Railway Group, that brought together universities, research institutes and numerous enterprises.

He said that he had submitted policy recommendations to central authorities calling for enterprises to be integrated into science and technology and industrial planning, implementation and evaluation as a unified process.

Sun Cong, a CAE member specializing in equipment manufacturing, said the conference's emphasis on artificial intelligence pointed to a pivotal upgrade path for traditional engineering disciplines.

"I will embrace the AI-driven scientific and technological revolution, dedicate myself to practical breakthroughs that support high-level scientific and technological self-reliance, and contribute to building China into both a leading country in science and technology and a leading manufacturing country," Sun said.

limenghan@chinadaily.com.cn