Accelerating the Realization of High-Level Self-Reliance in Science and Technology to Victoriously Advance the Great Cause of Building a Great Country and National Rejuvenation: An Analysis of Xi Jinping's Book Entitled Self-Reliance in Science and Technology

Self-reliance in science and technology is foundational for a great and secure nation. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee with General Secretary Xi Jinping at its core has profoundly reviewed the practical experience in developing China’s scientific and technological undertakings, observed major trends, planned holistically, deepened reforms, and made comprehensive efforts to promote historic changes and achievements in China’s scientific and technological endeavors. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on self-reliance in science and technology systematically elucidate the strategic goals, key tasks, major measures, and basic requirements for advancing China’s scientific and technological innovation. The recently published book by Xi Jinping, entitled Self-Reliance in Science and Technology, compiles 50 of Xi’s important writings on this topic. Carefully studying these important expositions is of great significance for accelerating the building of a pioneer in science and technology, realizing high-level self-reliance in science and technology, and comprehensively advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese modernization.

I. Upholding and Strengthening the Party’s Overall Leadership in Scientific and Technological Work

Scientific and technological work has always held an extremely important strategic position and played a pivotal strategic role in the Party and people’s endeavors. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee with General Secretary Xi Jinping at its core has upheld the Party’s overall leadership in scientific and technological work, improved the system of the Party’s leadership in this area, brought into play the political advantages of Party leadership, and deepened its understanding of the laws governing innovation, development, science and technology management, and talent growth, providing a strong political guarantee for the development of China’s scientific and technological undertakings. This anthology fully reflects General Secretary Xi Jinping’s profound elucidation of this major issue.

The leadership of the CPC is the fundamental political guarantee for the continued advancement of China’s scientific and technological innovation with Chinese characteristics. During the periods of revolution, development, and reform, our Party has always attached great importance to scientific and technological work. During the revolutionary period, it highly valued the work with intellectuals. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, it sounded the call to “march toward science.” After the reform and opening up policy was introduced in the late 1970s, it put forward the thesis that “science and technology constitute a primary productive force.” In the new century, it has implemented the Knowledge Innovation Program, Strategy of Rejuvenating the Country through Science and Education, and Strategy of Strengthening the Nation with Talent, constantly improving the national innovation system and building an innovative country. After the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee with General Secretary Xi Jinping at its core creatively proposed that innovation is the primary driving force, comprehensively implemented the strategy of innovation-driven development, built a pioneer in science and technology, and accelerated the push for self-reliance in science and technology, enabling China to a country of innovators.

This anthology systematically reflects Xi Jinping’s comprehensive analysis of the international landscape of scientific and technological innovation competition, in-depth study of domestic and international development situations, and targeted response to the prominent problems and challenges facing China’s scientific and technological undertakings. It upholds placing scientific and technological innovation at the core of the country’s overall development and comprehensively plans a series of new ideas, perspectives, judgments, and requirements for scientific and technological innovation. In 2014, at the joint session of academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, he emphasized the need to implement a strategy of innovation-driven development and accelerate the building of a country of innovators. In 2015, during annual sessions of the National People’s Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, he clearly proposed that innovation is the primary driving force for leading development, and systematically expounded on the new development philosophies, including the concept of innovation-driven development, at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th Party Central Committee. In 2016, at the National Science and Technology Innovation Conference, the joint session of academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the Ninth National Congress of the China Association for Science and Technology, he made a call for China to build a world pioneer in science and technology and become a global center for science and innovation. In 2018, at the joint session of academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, he set clear requirements for aiming at the forefront of world science and technology, leading the direction of technological development in on the new journey in the New Era. In 2020, at the Symposium of Scientists, he stressed the need to target global scientific and technological frontiers, serve the economy, meet major national needs, and strive to improve people’s lives and health, continuing to a explore the unknown in science and technology. At the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, he emphasized the need to accelerate scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement. In 2021, at the joint session of academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Tenth National Congress of the China Association for Science and Technology, he pointed out that it is essential to accelerate the building a pioneer in science and technology and achieve high-level self-reliance and self-improvement in science and technology. In 2022, at the 20th CPC National Congress, he emphasized that we must regard science and technology as our primary productive force, talent as our primary resource, and innovation as our primary driver of growth. We must speed up work to build a strong educational system, greater scientific and technological strength, and a quality workforce.

It is precisely under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with General Secretary Xi Jinping at its core, and through the joint efforts of the entire scientific community and all sectors of society, that China’s scientific and technological strength is progressing from quantitative accumulation to qualitative leap, from breakthroughs in specific areas to the enhancement of systemic capabilities, achieving new historic accomplishments in scientific and technological innovation.

Improving the leadership system of the Party over scientific and technological work

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee with General Secretary Xi Jinping at its core has constantly improved the leadership system of the Party over scientific and technological work. After the 20th CPC National Congress, to strengthen the centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee over scientific and technological work, the Central Science and Technology Commission was established as a decision-making, deliberative, and coordinating body of the Party Central Committee. This commission is responsible for coordinating the improvement of the national innovation system and reform of the management system for science and technology, researching and reviewing major national strategies, plans, and policies for scientific and technological development, addressing major strategic, directional, and overall issues in the science and technology field, determining national strategic science and technology tasks and major research projects, organizing the layout of strategic scientific and technological forces such as national laboratories, and coordinating the integration of military and civilian science and technology development. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that the Ministry of Science and Technology should coordinate the top-level design and implementation of tasks, mobilizing extensive participation from the scientific community, industry, and society; the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering should play their roles as national teams in academic leadership, tackling key core technologies, and cultivating innovative talents; the China Association for Science and Technology should assume the role of a bridge and link between the Party, the government, and scientists and engineers, uniting a wide range of scientists and engineers around the Party.

Concentrating efforts on major undertakings and focusing on significant, cutting-edge, and fundamental issues

China’s remarkable advancements in science and technology can be largely attributed to the advantages of its socialist system. This system enables the concentration of resources and concerted efforts on major strategic priorities. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized the need to leverage the significant advantage of China’s socialist system, which is its ability to concentrate efforts on major tasks, strengthen the leadership of the Party and the state in significant scientific and technological innovations, and fully utilize market mechanisms. By focusing on national strategic needs, optimizing the allocation of innovative resources, and reinforcing national strategic scientific and technological capabilities, China aims to significantly enhance its systemic capacity for scientific and technological breakthroughs, gain a competitive edge, and achieve strategic initiative in several key areas.

General Secretary Xi Jinping highlighted the importance of strategic initiative, top-level design, and strategic planning. Top-level design should have a global perspective, accurately identify global trends in scientific and technological development, understand China’s current state of technological development, and determine the appropriate paths to follow. It should consider development needs and actual capabilities, long-term goals and short-term tasks, prioritize accordingly, and propose practical development directions, objectives, and key areas of work. Strategic guidance and goal orientation must be reinforced, the capability of the scientific and technological innovation system must be strengthened, and efforts should be accelerated to build a first-mover advantage in high-end leadership. Research and planning on fundamental and overarching scientific issues should be enhanced.

We should take the people’s desire for a better life as the goal of scientific and technological innovation, and steer our innovations towards benefiting and enriching the people and improving their living standards. We should leverage the strengths of the socialist market economy to improve the system of concentrating national resources to accomplish major undertakings. As the organizer of major scientific and technological innovations, the state should support strategic science plans and programs that have good prospects even if they involve considerable risks and challenges, and take a long time to produce results. We should reinforce systematic planning, organization and cross-sector integration. The strength of the government, the market, and society should be pooled to give us an edge in future development. The market should play a decisive role in resource allocation, while the government should play a better role. We should better combine a well-functioning market with a competent government, and guide the allocation of innovation resources through market demand, so as to create a powerful synergy for sci-tech innovation.

Party committees and governments at all levels must attach great importance to the development of scientific and technological innovation. Under new historical conditions, Party committees and governments at all levels, as well as all departments and entities, must align their thinking and actions with the Party Central Committee’s scientific and technological work plan, effectively implement the work, shoulder the responsibility of leading and organizing innovation development, be good at mobilizing all kinds of innovative elements, and be adept at bringing the enthusiasm of all kinds of talents into full play, so as to jointly dedicate efforts to building a country of innovators and a global science and technology power.

General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized that Party committees and governments at all levels must prioritize the development of scientific and technological innovation. They should acquire new knowledge, understand emerging trends, and excel in planning major scientific and technological initiatives. It is essential to optimize the allocation of scientific and technological resources and implement effective measures to ensure the thorough execution of the Party Central Committee’s key decisions and strategies on scientific and technological advancement. Party committees and governments should play the role of macro-guidance, overall coordination, and service guarantee, fully mobilize the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of all parties, and powerfully promote the tackling of major scientific and technological tasks, so as to provide strong support for seizing the international competitive high ground of scientific and technological development and creating new development advantages.

General Secretary Xi Jinping has stressed that Party committees and leading Party members’ groups at all levels should improve the pattern of talent work where the Party committee exercises unified leadership, the organization department takes the lead, functional departments perform their respective duties and collaborate closely, and social forces participate extensively. Party committee organization departments at all levels should, under the leadership of the Party committees, coordinate and advance major measures for talent work. All regions and departments should act in line with their actual situations, highlighting key points, and solve the practical problems of major concern to skilled personnel. It is necessary to establish a diversified talent investment mechanism involving the government, society, and entities, increase investment in talent development, and improve the efficiency of talent investment. Party committee publicity departments at all levels, as well as education, science and technology, industry and information technology, security, human resources and social security, culture and tourism, state-owned assets, finance, and foreign affairs departments at all levels should fully perform their functions and work together to ensure the implementation of all tasks related to talent work.

II. Making Self-Reliance in Science and Technology a Strategic Underpinning for National Development

For China to grow strong and achieve rejuvenation, it must develop science and technology and strive to become a major world center for science and innovation. This anthology systematically reflects Xi Jinping’s important expositions on the major significance, core position, and strategic goals of self-reliance in science and technology.

When science and technology flourish, the nation prospers; when science and technology are robust, the country is powerful. Attaching importance to the historical role of science and technology is a basic viewpoint of Marxism. Throughout history, science and technology have propelled human society forward with an irresistible force. At the during annual sessions of the National People’s Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in 2013 and the joint session of academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and on other occasions, Xi Jinping particularly emphasized that the development of productive forces and the enhancement of the composite national strength ultimately depend on scientific and technological innovation. In a sense, scientific and technological strength determines changes in the balance of world political and economic power, as well as the destiny of countries and nations. Some countries have seized the rare opportunity of the scientific and technological revolution, rapidly strengthening their economic, technological, and national defense capabilities and comprehensively enhancing their national strength. In the course of human civilization, China’s science and technology once had historical glory, but we lagged behind in modern times.

Xi Jinping has pointed out that whether a country is strong or not cannot be judged solely by its economic size, and whether a nation is strong or not cannot be judged solely by its population size or land area. In modern history, one of the roots of China’s backwardness and suffering was the lag in science and technology. After unremitting efforts since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, especially since the implementation of the reform and opening up policy, China’s scientific and technological development has made remarkable great achievements admired worldwide, providing strong support for China’s economic and social development, making historic contributions to national defense and security, and laying an important foundation for China to become a country with global influence.

Staying committed to placing scientific and technological innovation at the core of the country’s overall development

In today’s world, scientific and technological innovation is having a more widespread impact on economic and social development and people’s lives, and a country’s level of scientific and technological development more profoundly reflects its composite national strength and core competitiveness. In his writings such as “Striving to Build a Global Scientific and Technological Power,” General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that science and technology are the bedrock upon which a country relies for its strength, enterprises for success, and people for a better life. Great scientific and technological capacity is a must if we are to make China strong and improve our lives. From initially proposing the Four Modernizations to now proposing to build a great modern socialist country in all respects, scientific and technological modernization has always been an important part of China’s modernization. The new period, new context, and new tasks require us to have new ideas, new plans, and new strategies in scientific and technological innovation. The world today faces profound changes of a kind unseen in a century, and the domestic and international environments facing China’s development are undergoing profound and complex changes. The more urgent requirements for accelerating scientific and technological innovation during China’s 14th Five-Year Plan period and beyond are driven by the need for high-quality development, the need to achieve a high-quality life for the people, the need to build a new development dynamic, and the need to smoothly embark on a new journey to build a modern socialist country in all respects.

General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized the necessity of prioritizing scientific and technological innovation at the heart of the country’s overall development strategy. He advocates for comprehensive planning in this sector to ensure that the lifeline of science and technology remains firmly in our own hands. We must strive for significant progress in achieving self-reliance in science and technology, continually enhancing the independence, autonomy, and security of China’s development.

Achieving the goal of building a modern socialist country on schedule depends critically on self-reliance and strength in science and technology. Since the implementation of the reform and opening up policy, China’s development in many areas has rapidly advanced, achieving in decades what took Western developed countries centuries. Science and technology have played a crucial role in this progress. To build a modern socialist country in all respects, we must prioritize science and technology and leverage the pivotal role of scientific and technological innovation.

At the joint session of academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 2018, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that strong scientific and technological capabilities are essential for achieving the grand goal of building a great modern socialist country and realizing the Chinese Dream of National Rejuvenation. This ambition underpins our proposal to become a global leader in science and technology. Without robust science and technology, it will be challenging to successfully realize the Chinese Dream and transition from being a large country to a strong one.

General Secretary Xi Jinping further stressed that accelerating the realization of greater strength and self-reliance in science and technology is fundamental to building a new development dynamic. This is the key for China to ensure a smoothly-functioning domestic economy and take further advantage of international markets. This is also the only way to promote high-quality development. Achieving the goal of building a great modern socialist power in all respects on schedule critically depends on self-reliance and strength in science and technology. We are closer to the goal of rejuvenating the Chinese nation than at any time in history, so the need to build China into a world leader in science and technology is more urgent than ever.

III. Unswervingly Following the Path of Innovation with Chinese Characteristics and Accelerating the Implementation of the strategy of innovation-driven development

Science and technology is the foundation for a powerful nation, and innovation is the soul of national progress. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed repeatedly that innovation is development; innovation is the future. Looking to the future, the most important thing in enhancing innovation capabilities is to unswervingly follow the path of innovation with Chinese characteristics and comprehensively implement the strategy of innovation-driven development. This special collection reflects General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions and strategic planning on this matter.

Innovation is the primary driving force leading development, and we must adhere to innovation’s core position in China’s overall modernization drive. Throughout human history, innovation has always been an important force for the development of a country and a nation. In today’s world, economic and social development increasingly relies on innovation in areas such as theory, systems, science and technology, and culture, and new competitive advantages in international competition are increasingly embodied in innovation capabilities. Whoever takes the lead in innovation will have the initiative in leading development.

In articles such as “Implementing the strategy of innovation-driven development,” General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that we should put innovation first because it is the primary driving force for development. The force of innovation determines the speed, effectiveness, and sustainability of development. In the case of such a large economy as China, without continued development impetus we will find it difficult to realize sound and sustained economic growth; we will struggle to double the 2010 GDP and per capita income for both urban and rural residents by 2020. Innovation is the key to driving overall social and economic development.

Globally, science and technology are increasingly becoming the main force driving economic and social development, and innovation-driven development is the general trend. Domestically, innovation-driven development is driven by circumstances. China’s total economic output comfortably ranks second in the world, but problems of imbalance, inconsistency, and unsustainability in development are still prominent, and the pressures of population, resources, and the environment are increasing. China’s modernization involves more than 1 billion people, and it is difficult to continue solely relying on the old path of factor-driven development. We need to accelerate the shift from factor-driven to innovation-driven development, bring into play the supporting and leading role of scientific and technological innovation, and promote quality, efficiency, and sustainable development.

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that innovation should be promoted in every field, from theory to institutions, and from science and technology to culture. It should permeate the entire work of the Party and government, and become an inherent part of our society.

Upholding the policy of targeting global scientific and technological frontiers, serving the economy, meeting major national needs, and striving to improve people’s lives and health, and accelerating the implementation of the strategy of innovation-driven development

Implementing the strategy of innovation-driven development determines the fate of the Chinese nation. Weak innovation capabilities are the “Achilles’ heel” of China’s large economy. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that in the intense international competition, if we want to open up new areas and tracks for development and shape new drivers and advantages for development, fundamentally we must rely on scientific and technological innovation. Implementing the strategy of innovation-driven development involves promoting comprehensive innovation with a focus on scientific and technological advancements. This strategy emphasizes a demand-oriented and industrialized approach, recognizing the central role of enterprises in driving innovation. It leverages the decisive role of the market in resource allocation and the strengths of the socialist system. By enhancing the contribution of scientific and technological progress to economic growth, this strategy aims to create new sources of growth drivers and promote sustained and healthy economic development. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that to accelerate the implementation of the strategy of innovation-driven development, we must target global scientific and technological frontiers, serve the economy, meet major national needs, and strive to improve people’s lives and health. We must accelerate the realization of high-level self-reliance and self-strengthening in science and technology. We must adhere to the principles of fostering innovation, achieving breakthroughs in key areas, supporting development, and leading the future. It is essential to find an innovative path tailored to China’s national conditions, with a particular emphasis on enhancing our original innovation capabilities and striving for more breakthroughs from “0 to 1.”

Resolutely winning the battle for key core technologies and firmly grasping the initiative in innovation and development

Innovation is a complex social systems engineering project, involving all sectors of the economy and society. Pursuing innovation-driven development requires both an overall systematic perspective and a focus on key areas for breakthroughs to drive the overall situation. Overall, China’s foundation in scientific and technological innovation is not solid. Innovation, especially original innovation capabilities, remains weak, and the situation of core technologies in key areas being controlled by others has not fundamentally changed. In articles such as “Striving to Develop Core Technologies,” General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that key core technologies are the treasures of a nation, and are of great significance for promoting high-quality economic development in China and safeguarding national security. Core technologies being controlled by others is our biggest hidden danger. Only by developing core technologies can we truly grasp the initiative in competition and development and fundamentally ensure China’s economic security, national defense security, and other security needs. We have no other choice but to take the path of innovation. We must greatly enhance our innovation capabilities and make breakthroughs in key core technologies as soon as possible. This is a major issue concerning China’s overall development.

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that key core technologies cannot be obtained by relying on others; we must rely on self-reliance and innovation. There is no time to waste in promoting self-reliance and self-strengthening in science and technology to resolve bottleneck problems. We must focus on national strategic needs, target key core technologies, especially bottleneck issues, and accelerate technological breakthroughs. We need to track global trends in scientific and technological development, strive to catch up with and surpass others, and work to narrow the gap in key areas to form comparative advantages.

Remaining problem-oriented, we must strive to tackle the most urgent and pressing issues. We should clarify the main directions and breakthroughs for China’s scientific and technological innovation, following the principles of proactive selection and strategic focus. Prioritizing key common technologies, leading-edge technologies, modern engineering technologies, and disruptive technological innovations as breakthrough points, we aim to win the battle for key core technologies. This will ensure that core technologies are self-developed and controllable, keeping the initiative for innovation and development securely in our own hands.

Remaining committed to strengthening basic research to solidify the foundation for self-reliance in science and technology

Basic research is the source of scientific and technological innovation. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that strengthening basic research is an urgent requirement for achieving self-reliance in advanced science and technology, and is the only way to build a world-leading science and technology power. Many of the bottleneck technologies China faces stem from falling behind in basic theoretical research and failing to understand the fundamentals and foundations. General Secretary Xi has emphasized at meetings like the Scientists’ Forum that in strengthening basic research, we must highlight originality and encourage free exploration. This approach should also be driven by practical applications and achieving breakthroughs, identifying scientific questions from the practical problems facing economic and social development and national security, and understanding the basic theories and technical principles behind bottleneck technologies. We must strengthen the forward-looking, strategic, and systematic layout of basic research. We must target global scientific and technological frontiers, serve the economy, meet major national needs, and strive to improve people’s lives and health. We must follow two approaches: goal orientation and free exploration. By grasping technology development trends and national strategic needs, we can strengthen national strategic scientific and technological capabilities, optimize the layout of basic disciplines, and build a high-quality, comprehensively balanced disciplinary system. Party committees and governments at all levels must strengthen overall coordination, increase policy support, and promote high-quality development of basic research.

IV. Deepening Reform of the Management System for Science and Technology to Enhance the Overall Efficacy of the National Innovation System

Innovation determines the future, and reform is critical to the prospects of a nation. General Secretary Xi has emphasized that science and technology are the fields where continuous reform is most needed. To reform science and technology, we should boldly address the most difficult problems, change our mindsets and remove all institutional barriers hindering scientific and technological innovation. We should unleash innovative vitality through reform and accelerating the establishment of a sound national innovation system to fully unleash the potential for innovation. This book thoroughly reflects General Secretary Xi’s important expositions on this topic.

Unleashing innovative vitality through reform

If we view scientific and technological innovation as the new engine for China’s development, then reform is the indispensable ignition system to spark this new engine. We must take more effective measures to improve the ignition system and get the innovation-driven new engine running at full speed. As General Secretary Xi has pointed out, the purpose of implementing rigorous reforms in the management system for science and technology is to enhance our capacity for scientific and technological innovation and emergency response at the institutional level. This involves staying goal- and problem-oriented, addressing key issues, filling gaps, and strengthening areas of weakness. By anchoring targets, making precise efforts, and achieving early results, we aim to accelerate the establishment of a system that ensures self-reliance in advanced science and technology and enhances the systemic capabilities of our scientific and technological innovation system.

How can we deepen reform of the management system for science and technology? General Secretary Xi has emphasized building sound systems and mechanisms to create a fundamental system supportive of comprehensive innovation. Technological innovation should be accompanied by institutional innovation. Targeting existing problems and meeting actual needs, we will put more energy into improving institutional planning, policies, the general environment, and practices of innovation. We will devote a constant effort to fostering innovators, to enhancing the foundations and resources of innovation, and to creating a favorable environment, so as to increase our national strength in strategic science and technology and the overall efficiency and capability of the national innovation system. We will improve the top-level design for the technological innovation system, clarify the functions and positions of enterprises, universities and research institutes in the innovation chain, and arouse the enthusiasm and vitality of all parties.

Strengthening national strategic scientific and technological forces

The competition among world science and technology powers is the competition in national strategic scientific and technological strength. At the 19th and 20th CPC National Congresses, and group study sessions of the Political Bureau, General Secretary Xi has repeatedly emphasized that we need to strengthen our overall planning for key scientific and technological programs concerning national security and overall economic and social development, and reinforce our national strategic strength in science and technology. As important components, national laboratories, national scientific research institutions, high-quality research universities, and leading science and technology enterprises should take on the mission of reinforcing China’s sci-tech self-reliance and strength. We should support eligible localities in building comprehensive national science centers or regional scientific and technological innovation centers, and help turn these centers into global hubs for scientific innovation in frontier fields, technological innovation in emerging industries, and sci-tech innovation in other sectors.

Establishing robust mechanisms for managing and operating science and technology

Achieving breakthroughs in scientific and technological innovation requires not only physical infrastructure support, but also sound systems and mechanisms to enable those innovations. We must have even greater courage to deepen reforms in the management system for science and technology, drive changes in the functions of science and technology management, and effectively unleash the immense innovative potential of China’s scientific and technological workforce. In writings like “Building a Science and Technology Program and Management System with Chinese Characteristics,” General Secretary Xi has pointed out that we must coordinate science and technology resources, establish an open and unified national science and technology management platform, and build a science and technology program and management system with an overall reasonable layout, clear functional positioning, and distinct Chinese characteristics to drive in-depth reforms in other areas of science and technology.

Science and technology management reforms should focus on strategy, reform, planning, and services. This requires transforming work styles, enhancing capabilities, and reducing direct interventions such as fund allocation, resource allocation, and project designation. It is necessary to to strengthen policy guidance through planning, grant greater autonomy to scientific research institutions, and empower scientists with more decision-making authority over technical roadmaps and fund utilization. This will liberation research institutions and personnel from cumbersome and unnecessary institutional and systemic constraints. We must accelerate the establishment of a science and technology advisory mechanism to support administrative decision-making, attach importance to the roles of think tanks and professional research institutions, improve the mechanism for science-based decision-making, and enhance scientific decision-making capabilities. We must also comprehensively strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights and establish an effective innovation incentive mechanism to stimulate innovative vitality across society.

Promoting close integration of scientific and technological innovation with economic and social development

The disconnect between scientific research and the economy has long been a major problem. If this problem is not properly resolved, scientific research and the economy will always remain separate. In his writings, such as “Breaking through All Mindsets and Institutional Barriers Hindering Innovation-Driven Development,” General Secretary Xi emphasizes that the primary goal of reform is to open up channels between science and technology and economic and social development. He asserts that science and technology must serve economic and social progress, and calls for the deployment of the innovation chain around industrial chains and the completion of the funding chain around the innovation chain. This approach aims to eliminate “isolated islands” in scientific and technological innovation, remove obstacles to the transfer and diffusion of scientific and technological achievements, and enhance the overall efficacy of the national innovation system. General Secretary Xi has emphasized the importance of leveraging the market to guide the directions and pathways for technological research and development, pricing of factors, and allocation of all innovative resources. He advocates for accelerating the establishment of a market-driven evaluation mechanism for technological innovation achievements, breaking bottlenecks that hinder the application of these achievements, and ensuring that innovative outcomes are quickly transformed into productive forces. We must address three fundamental issues: “who innovates,” “where the driving force comes from,” and “how achievements are utilized.” This involves emphasizing the primary role of enterprises as the main drivers of technological innovation. Enterprises should take the lead in decision-making for technological innovation, R&D investment, scientific research organization, and achievement conversion. We aim to cultivate a group of leading innovative enterprises with strong core technological capabilities and integrated innovation capacities. Additionally, we seek to foster a positive cycle of innovation that integrates production, education, and research, promotes upstream and downstream linkages, and encourages collaboration among enterprises of all sizes.

Planning and promoting scientific and technological innovation with a global perspective

Science and technology are global and era-defining fields, and their development requires a global perspective. Amid deepening economic globalization, international scientific and technological cooperation has become a major trend. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that while we prioritize innovation, it does not mean closing the door to the world. Instead, it means integrating more proactively into the global innovation network and enhancing our own scientific and technological capabilities through openness and cooperation.

We must focus on strengthening our own capabilities, continuously enhancing independent scientific and technological innovation, fostering strengths in key areas, and solidifying the foundation for international cooperation. Moreover, we should promote international exchanges and cooperation in science and technology with a more open mindset and practical measures, making our country a broad stage for global scientific and technological openness and collaboration.

General Secretary Xi stresses that we should use to the maximum global innovation resources, raise China’s status in the global innovation landscape across the board, and increase our influence and ability to participate in rule-making in global scientific and technological governance. We need to strengthen the development of an internationalized scientific research environment and develop an open innovation ecosystem with global competitiveness.

V. Thoroughly implementing the strategy of building a talent-strong country for the New Era, and accelerating the development of a global center for science and innovation

Ultimately, achieving high-level self-reliance in science and technology hinges on high-caliber innovative talent. General Secretary Xi Jinping stresses that talent is a primary resource. We must ensure Party leadership over talent management. We must thoroughly implement the strategy of building a talent-strong country for the New Era, educate and attract talent in all fields, give full play to their knowledge and strength, and accelerate the development of a global center for science and innovation. This collection of specialized articles prominently reflects General Secretary Xi Jinping’s profound reflections and long-term planning on this matter.

Human beings are the most critical factor in scientific and technological innovation. The saying goes, “Feats are accomplished by capable people; undertakings proceed because of capable people.” The fundamental source of a country’s scientific and technological innovation capabilities lies in its people. General Secretary Xi points out that talent is the foundation of innovation, and innovation-driven development is, in essence, talent-driven. Whoever possesses world-class innovative talent will gain the advantages and dominance in scientific and technological innovation. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee with General Secretary Xi Jinping at its core has profoundly answered the major theoretical and practical questions of why we need to build a talent-strong powerhouse, what constitutes a talent-strong powerhouse, and how to build one. It has put forward a series of new concepts, strategies and measures, made major plans to nurture, attract and properly utilize talent in an all-round way, thus driving historic achievements and transformations in talent work in the New Era. The eight principles for talent proposed by General Secretary Xi at the Central Conference on Talent in 2021 reflect a profound understanding of the laws governing the development of China’s talent initiatives. These principles must be adhered to, comprehensively implemented, and continuously enriched and developed.

Accelerating the development of a strategic talent force for the country

Talent is key to innovation, and top-notch talent is irreplaceable. At present, China still lacks high-caliber innovative talent, especially leading scientific and technological talent. General Secretary Xi pointed out that we need a large, well-structured contingent of high-caliber people, and we must stimulate their creative potential in order to build China into a world leader in science and technology. We must enhance the strategic layout for talent, prioritizing the development of a strategic talent force. This involves cultivating a substantial number of scientific and technological talents capable of understanding global trends and directing scientific and technological development. We must also foster leading scientific and technological talents who can rally and coordinate efforts effectively, nurture entrepreneurs and highly-skilled personnel who are bold and excel in innovation, and build an engineering workforce that is dedicated, committed, and skilled in technological innovation and solving complex engineering problems. This workforce should also embody a love for the Party and the country. General Secretary Xi places particular emphasis on the fact that young talent is the wellspring of the nation’s strategic talent force, the source of national innovative vitality, and the hope for scientific and technological development. We must focus policy efforts on cultivating young scientific and technological talent in developing a national strategic talent force, nurturing a large contingent of young scientific and technological talent.

Deepening reforms to the systems and mechanisms for talent development

Heroes are not defined by their origins. Likewise, innovators must not be defined by their backgrounds. General Secretary Xi pointed out that we should adopt open competition mechanisms for selecting the best candidates to undertake key research projects and multi-team research mechanisms for finding the best pathways and achieving optimal results. We should remove seniority and other barriers to ensure that all capable scientists and technologists have the opportunity to display their talent. We should stay problem-oriented and remove all institutional barriers in training, posting, evaluating, supporting and incentivizing talent. We should discard the criteria that overemphasize research papers, academic titles, educational backgrounds, and awards. We should turn our institutional strengths into competitive strengths in talent and technology. We should put in place effective training, hiring, incentive and competition mechanisms that enable talent to pursue excellence. We should free researchers from pointless formalities and bureaucratic constraints in their work. We should give more say to employers and give full play to their positive role in educating and attracting talent and giving full play to their knowledge and strength. We should create an accommodating environment for talent development, improve talent management systems, and grant scientists greater decision-making power over technical roadmaps, greater control over funding, and greater authority to allocate resources. This will allow them to fully unleash their talents and energy. We need to improve the talent evaluation system and form and implement an evaluation system conducive to scientific and technological talents devoting themselves to research and innovation. We must promote reforms to the academician system oriented toward national strategic needs, enabling it to become a powerful positive force in guiding the healthy growth of China’s scientific and technological innovation talent.

Educating and attracting talent in all fields and giving full play to their knowledge and strength

Talented people are essential to innovation. We must expand the channels to build a large talent pool. General Secretary Xi pointed out that nurturing talent is a major undertaking for the long-term development of the country and nation. The cultivation and training of scientific personnel has its rules to follow. We should value people with talent, be adept at identifying talent, have the foresight to employ them, be earnest in keeping them, and welcome them into our ranks. We must improve systems and mechanisms to attract talent and enable them to demonstrate their capabilities, creating a policy environment for giving full scope to people’s talents. We should discover, nurture and retain capable people throughout the whole process of innovation. We should appeal for talent around the world and let more of them display their potential to the full.

General Secretary Xi stressed that we should build science and innovation centers that gather outstanding talent from all over the world, and improve our policies concerning high-end and specialized talent coming to work, conduct research, and engage in exchanges in China. We should implement a more proactive, open and effective human resources policy to form a sound human resources system with international competitiveness. We must give talent free rein, foster a culture that encourages creativity and innovation throughout society, and provide them with greater opportunities to put their talent to best use.

Promoting the spirit of scientists

Scientific achievements cannot be separated from the support of a strong spirit. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Chinese scientists and engineers have created monumental achievements in scientific and technological innovation across the nation, forging a unique spirit. The New Era calls for further promoting the spirit of scientists, grounded in patriotism. In his works like “Promoting the Spirit of Scientists and Scaling Scientific and Technological Heights,” General Secretary Xi Jinping advocates for advancing the ethos of scientists. He urges the robust promotion of patriotism, emphasizing love for the motherland and service to the people. Furthermore, he stresses the importance of fostering innovation, encouraging individuals to strive for excellence and embrace pioneering endeavors. General Secretary Xi emphasizes the pursuit of truth and rigorous scholarship, highlighting the value of seeking knowledge with dedication and rigor. Additionally, he underscores the significance of selfless dedication, urging researchers to prioritize their work over personal gain. Moreover, General Secretary Xi calls for collaboration, emphasizing the collective effort needed to overcome significant challenges. Lastly, he emphasizes the importance of nurturing talent, encouraging seasoned professionals to mentor and support younger generations in their pursuits. Scientists and engineers should emulate exemplary figures in their field, drawing inspiration from their patriotic fervor, unwavering dedication, and exemplary character. It is imperative for them to champion the fundamental interests of their nation and its people, seamlessly aligning their scientific endeavors with the overarching mission of constructing a modern socialist society. They must boldly ascend the global scientific and technological landscape, striving to innovate and make significant contributions toward advancing their country as a frontrunner in science and technology, ultimately attaining self-sufficiency in these domains.