The 2019 National S&T Work Annual Conference was held in Beijing on 9 January 2019. The event was chaired by Chinese Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Wang Zhigang, who reported on S&T work concluded in 2018, and indicated what the main national priorities will be for 2019 and the future years.
The year 2018 ended with the realisation of the following indicators:
- % of R&D spending on GDP: 2.15%
- R&D personnel nationwide: 4.18 million man-years
- Number of High- and New-Technology Enterprises (HNTEs): 181,000
- Number of Tech-based SMEs: 130,000
- Value of the technology market: 1.78 trillion RMB
- Several major achievements realised, including:
- Demonstration of Toffoli gates in a semiconductor three-qubit system
- Evidence for Majorana bound states in an iron-based superconductors
- Creation of first artificial single-chromosome yeast
- Landing of Chang’e 4 on the far side of the moon
- Maiden flight of the AG600 amphibious aircraft
- Basic completion of the Beidou satellite system
- Launch of the Belt and Road International Science Organisations Alliance, supporting around 700 young scientists from relevant countries to come to China to conduct short-term research. Preparatory work for the establishment of the first Belt and Road Joint Laboratory
- Full adoption of a new foreign talent management system, with a total of 336,000 talent work permits released.
- 33 trillion RMB of revenue from 168 national high-tech zones, 3.3 trillion RMB of which from exports, and 400,000 new resident enterprises registered
According to minister Wang Zhigang, there still are two years left before China is set to officially turn into an “innovative country”: the necessary efforts will be put in order to ensure that the expected objectives are met. The minister also mentioned that China will soon complete the formulation of a 2021-2035 national medium-long term development plan for science and technology, and will speed up the organisation and implementation of national Megaprojects.
Finally, the main priorities for 2019 will be to:
- Enhancement of long-term planning for science, technology and innovation
- Speed up the achievement of breakthroughs on key core technologies to occupy key positions in strategic competitive fields
- Continue to support basic and applied research
- Optimisation of the layout of national innovation bases
- Strengthening the integration of science and technology with the economy and the society
- Continue to deepen the S&T innovation reforms
- Promotion of multi-level joint and integrated regional innovation
- Incentivising and stimulating the vitality of innovation talents, nurturing of high-quality talent teams
- Deepening of innovation openness and cooperation
- Embedding science, technology and innovation into culture, shaping a positive innovation ecosystem
External link:
http://www.most.gov.cn/ztzl/qgkjgzhy/2019/2019tpxw/201901/t20190109_144687.htm