Can social funds test the water for basic research to warm up the "cold bench"?
The mechanism of diversified investment in basic research has its own mature process and will not be accomplished overnight.
The government can encourage social funds to support basic research through donations through policies such as tax incentives.
The greater the government's incentives, the greater the volume of social capital investment, and the more mature the diversified investment mechanism will be.
"expect!"
On April 30, Zhu Xinle, an associate researcher at the China Academy of Science and Technology Development Strategy, excitedly posted a circle of friends after seeing the news of Tencent's announcement of the "New Cornerstone Researcher Project".
As a researcher who has been concerned about the development of basic research in my country for a long time, Zhu Xinle is well aware of the significance of this plan.
The "New Cornerstone Researcher Program" will support a group of scientists working full-time in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau to independently choose their research directions for a long time, focusing on the original innovation "from 0 to 1".
Over the next 10 years, Tencent will invest 10 billion yuan in the project.
Like a stone falling into a lake, the project creates ripples in the field of basic research.
Wuhan University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University and other universities have forwarded relevant news. Like Zhu Xinle, they are looking forward to the "follow-up" - more information such as project application qualifications and application channels will be announced one after another, and the application will be officially launched within the year.
10 billion yuan is a big deal.
For the total funding required for basic research in my country, it may still be insignificant, but its more profound significance lies in the fact that social funds are surging, and the diversified investment in basic research that has been advocated by all walks of life for many years has begun.
Government investment accounts for more than 90% of my country's basic research funds
"In the United States and Germany, some private foundations and other private capitals are supporting basic research, which has not yet appeared in my country." In 2015, Yang Wei, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and then director of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, said bluntly.
Basic research is the source of innovation and the fundamental driving force and source of building an innovative country, but it also has practical problems such as long cycle, high difficulty, and high risk. Because of this, basic research investment has always been one of the topics that scientists pay the most attention to. one.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the overall level and international influence of my country's basic research has been greatly improved, and it has entered an important period from quantitative accumulation to qualitative leap, from point breakthrough to system capability improvement.
In particular, my country's basic research funding has continued to grow rapidly, with an average annual growth rate of 14.6%.
This growth trend makes Yang Wei and other researchers who have been calling for more investment in basic research for many years feel gratified.
What makes Yang Wei even more happy is that his many suggestions to "leverage part of local, enterprise and national defense investment into basic research and applied basic research" are becoming a reality little by little.
For a long time, my country's largest funding for basic research has been the central government's financial funds.
Relevant data show that government investment accounts for more than 90% of basic research funding.
Xue Wei, a researcher at the Institute of Science and Technology Strategic Consulting of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told reporters that this ratio is likely to be a conservative estimate, and the real situation may be higher.
Compared with many world science and technology powers, my country's basic research investment structure needs to be improved.
He Defang, Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Science and Technology, once analyzed that the proportion of my country's investment in basic research is actually not much different from that of the US federal government, but the total amount of investment in basic research between the two countries is huge. The main reason is the difference in investment structure.
In addition to the federal government's investment, the state-level finance will have corresponding investment funds, and more importantly, private capital such as enterprises and foundations will also continue to support basic research.
However, my country's basic research is mainly supported by the central government, and the proportion of local finance and enterprises is very small.
According to statistics, in 2017, US government investment accounted for about 45% of basic research funding, and the remaining 55% came from companies, universities and non-profit organizations.
In European countries such as the UK and Germany, there is a long tradition of private foundations and charities funding basic research.
Zhu Xinle mentioned the "UK Wellcome Trust" to a reporter from Science and Technology Daily.
Founded in 1936, this charitable trust organization focusing on research in the field of health and medicine has assets of 38.2 billion pounds in 2021.
According to her introduction, the foundation's funding for scientific researchers at all levels is very flexible. Even undergraduates can apply for temporary projects related to the fields funded by the foundation, even if they have summer internships. In addition to the expenses, it can also cover the living costs of scientific researchers.
So far, more than 30 Nobel Prize winners have been born among the researchers funded by the Wellcome Trust.
Foreign social funds support basic research more actively, along with the development of modern science.
Yang Wei told reporters: "When modern science was in its infancy, many scientists were driven by their interests and believed that basic research was a noble career, and invested all their wealth in basic research. For example, from the 18th century to the 19th century, many British scientists The princes and nobles did basic research experiments in their castles, and later established various foundations with their family properties to support related research."
He also mentioned some foreign foundations: the Helmholtz Foundation in Germany, the foundations established by American "steel king" Carnegie, "oil king" Rockefeller and others, as well as the now well-known Bill and Melin Da Gates Foundation.
"These foundations all fund basic research," Yang Wei said.
In fact, how to get more funds into basic research has always been a problem that science and technology management departments and scientists hope to solve.
The government's earliest initiative to direct social funds into basic research or the National Natural Science Foundation of China established a joint fund.
In 1996, in order to change the situation that the core technology of my country's iron and steel industry is controlled by others, the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Baosteel Group established the "Steel Joint Research Fund".
The fund plays an important role in basic research on cutting-edge technologies and advanced processes in the development of iron and steel.
Yang Wei said that the joint fund has played an important role in attracting and integrating social resources to invest in basic research and guiding researchers to pay attention to national strategic needs and regional and industrial development. , guide diversified investment, promote resource sharing, and promote successful exploration of multi-party cooperation.
But for quite a while, basic research in general was an overly ambitious proposition for social funding.
The Attempt of the Joint Fund and the "Grand Prize First"
Things are changing.
Local governments have also begun to explore in various ways.
In 2015, the Beijing Natural Science Foundation for the first time guided enterprises to support basic research in Beijing, and established a joint fund with Beijing Sanyuan Food Co., Ltd. in a ratio of 1:4.
In the following three years, 8.67 million yuan was approved to support 17 basic research projects related to maternal and infant health.
Since then, Beijing Natural Science Foundation has successively established several joint funds with Traffic Control Technology Co., Ltd., Haidian District Government, Fengtai District Government, Beijing Baicaibang Technology Co., Ltd., and Beijing Kexin Bicheng Pharmaceutical Technology Development Co., Ltd. The funding exceeds 200 million yuan.
In 2021, the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission and United Imaging Group jointly established the "Explorer Program", which kicked off the diversified investment in Shanghai's exploration of basic research.
According to reports, Chen Mingbo, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal Government, revealed that Shanghai will actively build channels for the diversified input of the government, enterprises and social forces, launch the "Explorer Program", guide enterprises and the government to jointly set up scientific research programs, and encourage enterprises and society to donate or Establish a foundation and explore the joint establishment of a regional innovation and development joint fund with the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
A more positive signal is that a group of enterprises and entrepreneurs have begun to pay attention to basic research based on the long-term development and social responsibility of enterprises.
In 2017, Alibaba established the Dharma Institute, which is engaged in cutting-edge technology research, to carry out basic science and applied technology research, and to carry out in-depth cooperation with universities to jointly cultivate innovative talents.
Huawei established the Strategic Research Institute in 2019 to support the academic community in conducting research on basic science, basic technology, and technological innovation through an annual cooperative funding of US$300 million.
At the National People's Congress in 2018, Shen Nanpeng, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and founding partner of Sequoia Capital China, said on the first day of the panel discussion that he has been paying attention to the development of basic science and hopes that the country will improve the diversification of basic research in the next step. support mechanism.
"In terms of financial support for basic research, in addition to the stable support of the government, private capital should play an important role. To encourage private donations, the government can encourage enterprises and entrepreneurs to provide funds to support basic research through preferential policies such as taxation and undertake more Take more social responsibilities, solve problems and make contributions to the country." Shen Nanpeng said.
In 2016, Shen Nanpeng and several other entrepreneurs set up the Future Science Prize and invited well-known scientists to form a scientific committee to ensure the professionalism of the prize.
This is the first civil science award jointly initiated by scientists and entrepreneurs in mainland China, focusing on original basic scientific research.
In 2019, on behalf of the Donor Conference, Shen Nanpeng made a commitment to "permanent the Future Science Prize". In addition to continuing the original annual donation, he also initiated the establishment of a permanent endowment fund totaling US$100 million.
Two years after the birth of the Future Science Prize, the Science Exploration Prize appeared.
It was jointly established by Ma Huateng, the founder of the Tencent Foundation, Rao Yi, a then professor of Peking University, Yang Zhenning, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mao Shude, director of the Department of Astronomy of Tsinghua University, and He Huawu, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
The Tencent Foundation invested RMB 1 billion in start-up capital to finance the award.
The Scientific Exploration Award Review Committee selects 50 young and middle-aged scientists under the age of 45 each year.
Each winner can receive a total of 3 million yuan in prize money within 5 years.
Prize money is at the discretion of the winner.
This is also the original intention of this award, to give those potential young scientists a heavy award to help them break free from the "gravity" of real life, so that they can focus on exploring the "no man's land" of basic science and cutting-edge technologies.
Huang Zhiwei, a 2020 winner in the field of life sciences, professor and dean of the School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, said that the Science Exploration Award provides confidence to young people engaged in basic scientific research and supports more young scholars to engage in the most basic and real research. Research.
"Overall, the picture of diversification is getting better"
At the beginning of this year, after chatting for only 1 hour, Tao Hu, a 40-year-old doctoral tutor, a researcher at the Shanghai Institute of Microsystems and Information Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the founder of "Brain Tiger Technology", won the investment and investment of Chen Tianqiao, the founder of Shanda Group. commitment to its long-term support.
Tao Hu and Chen Tianqiao talked about the future development trends, core technical challenges and key application scenarios of brain science.
Chen Tianqiao's understanding and investment in brain science, especially the field of brain-computer interface, shocked Tao Hu.
Brain science is one of the areas where basic research needs to be broken through.
Since announcing that he would invest 1 billion US dollars to support brain science research in 2016, Chen Tianqiao has successively supported basic brain research, brain disease treatment and academic exchanges in more than 10 countries around the world, and has achieved a series of results.
$1 billion, why not invest in applied research?
How useful can it be for basic research?
Chen Tianqiao believes that enterprises fulfilling their social responsibilities can support Hope Primary Schools and participate in poverty alleviation, but investing in basic research can benefit all mankind; the flexibility of private capital can improve the efficiency of basic research.
For example, better funding for young scientists.
"In terms of funding allocation, young scientists today often cannot get big money, or they can only get big money if they hang on to the name of an academic leader. When we go to many universities to talk about donation funds, the presidents and department chairs come out to receive them, and then go to the university to receive them. Divide the money. But the problem is that science is a challenge. If young people are all under the name of Daniel, how can they challenge academic authority?" Chen Tianqiao said.
Chen Tianqiao is not the only one donating basic research.
In April 2021, Xu Hang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Perennial Group and co-founder of Mindray Medical, and the Perennial Public Welfare Foundation jointly donated RMB 1 billion to the World Top Scientists Development Foundation for a period of five years.
This donation is also the first donation the foundation has received since its inception.
The funds will be used to support basic scientific research, international scientific cooperation and exchanges, and programs to support the growth of young scientists.
Xu Hang told the media that he has been focusing on the field of technology application, but the qualitative change at the level of technology application must rely on breakthroughs in basic scientific theories.
At a time when mankind is facing the new crown epidemic and seeking answers from science, it is hoped that more entrepreneurs will pay attention to and devote themselves to science, and contribute to basic science and cutting-edge scientific research, scientific exchange and achievement transformation.
Then there is Tencent's "New Cornerstone Researcher Program" recently released.
The project strictly follows the principle of "scientist-led", and establishes a scientific committee as the core organization. Shi Yigong, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of West Lake University, serves as the chairman of the first scientific committee.
Shi Yigong said: "The next 10-20 years will be a critical period for China's scientific and technological development to accumulate quantitatively and take a qualitative leap. Basic research is the foundation of science, which requires the field of basic research to take the lead in achieving more breakthroughs. This project In the next 10 years, we will support 200 to 300 outstanding scientists stably, providing the greatest space for their free exploration. We expect these scientists to propose and solve major scientific problems, promote theoretical innovation, lead the frontier of disciplines, and open up new research directions and fields. , to become the new academic leader of the scientific community.”
Pan Jianwei, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, executive vice president of the University of Science and Technology of China, and member of the scientific committee of the "New Cornerstone Researcher Project" believes: "This project responds to the long-standing expectations of the scientific community. Free exploration and targeting uncertainty are often difficult and risky. It is high, time-consuming, and social funds are more flexible, which can help scientists who focus on free exploration."
Yang Wei is very pleased with these changes.
"Basic research benefits the entire human society, and diversified investment is better than relying on government departments alone," he said. "Social forces should be welcomed, encouraged, and supported to invest in basic research, and the government should complement each other."
Xue Wei also holds the same view.
"Basic research is a public product, mainly provided by the government and the public sector, but social capital from enterprises, individuals and non-profit organizations is a useful supplement to the government's investment, with free choice of projects, flexible use of funds, and diverse organizational methods."
"In the past, overseas Chinese entrepreneurs from Hong Kong and Macau donated a lot. In recent years, some domestic innovative leading enterprises have also begun to invest in basic research. In general, the situation of diversified investment is getting better and better." Yang Wei said.
More detailed support policies still need to be introduced at the implementation level
In recent years, relevant departments have attached great importance to diversified investment in basic research, and have written "encouraging social forces to invest in basic research" into policies and regulations.
In 2018, the "Several Opinions of the State Council on Comprehensively Strengthening Basic Scientific Research" proposed that a diversified investment mechanism for basic research should be established, and measures such as joint construction of new R&D institutions, joint funding, and charitable donations should be explored to encourage enterprises and social forces to increase investment in basic research.
In 2020, six departments including the General Office of the Ministry of Science and Technology further clarified in the relevant notices to support all sectors of society in setting up basic research endowment funds.
The Science and Technology Progress Law revised and passed in 2021 stipulates that the state guides enterprises to increase investment in basic research, encourages social forces to invest in basic research through multiple channels such as donations and the establishment of funds, and provides fiscal, financial, taxation and other policy support.
The "14th Five-Year Plan" and the outline of the long-term goals for 2035 clearly stated that tax incentives should be implemented for enterprises to invest in basic research, and the society should be encouraged to invest through multiple channels such as donations and the establishment of funds.
These "heavyweight" documents have established a firm "diversified" direction for basic research investment. When it comes to implementation, the experts interviewed agreed that the government needs to introduce more specific and detailed support policies.
"There should be more specific guiding policies. For example, if companies donate basic research, the money should be deducted or preferential in tax. The government and society should also recognize companies or individuals that support basic research." Yang Wei said .
According to Wei Shijie, a researcher at the China Academy of Science and Technology Development Strategy, the phenomenon of basic research on social fund donations in China is scattered in a "dotted" manner and has not yet formed a scale. Donation channels are not very smooth, and there is a lack of foundations that focus on basic research.
"Corporate donation of basic research and donation to basic education and poverty alleviation are equivalent to fulfilling social responsibility, but basic research of donation has received less social attention. It is still necessary to increase social attention through publicity, recognition, etc., and tax incentives and other policies can also be used. Means to encourage social funds to support basic research through donations." Wei Shijie said.
In recent years, Xue Wei has heard the voice of "difficulties" in the relevant investigation of social forces' investment in basic research.
"It is very difficult to initiate the establishment of a foundation in China. Most of the non-profit R&D institutions initiated by the private sector are 'private non-enterprise units' in nature, and it is difficult to enjoy the same relationship with enterprises, enterprises and enterprises in terms of personnel file management, talent introduction and professional title evaluation. Equal support policies for public institutions. In terms of tax incentives for donations, there are no special tax incentives for basic research donations; it is difficult for non-profit R&D institutions to pass the 'qualification for pre-tax deduction for public welfare donations', and it is difficult for donors to obtain pre-tax deductions for donations. At present, the scale of basic research donations is still relatively small, but there are signs of increase. In the future, to attract large-scale social donations, we need to expand donation channels and create a good donation environment." Xue Wei said.
She also suggested that the establishment of non-profit organizations to support basic research should "open up" and build some platforms and channels for social forces to invest in scientific research at the national level.
"Government departments such as the National Institutes of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture of the United States have long initiated the establishment of foundations dedicated to funding scientific research, accepting private donations and giving corresponding rights and interests, but in my country, there is no national level that absorbs social donations to fund basic research. foundation."
In Xue Wei's view, the joint funding model of the National Natural Science Foundation of my country is a beneficial exploration to attract social funds to invest in basic research, but there are also some problems.
"The current joint fund does not have the form of an independent legal person. It follows the approval process of general scientific research projects. It cannot fully reflect the demands of joint funders such as local governments and enterprises. It is difficult to expand with the existing management model."
Many companies that invest in joint funds hope to have more "speaking power".
An entrepreneur said: "Academic experts have a process of understanding applied projects, and sometimes reject projects that companies need because they are not innovative enough." In this regard, scholars suggest that a relatively independent "joint fund management" should be established. Center”, improve the joint fund governance system and management mechanism, and improve the evaluation standards and achievement utilization mechanism that conform to the characteristics of the joint fund.
"The mechanism of diversified investment in basic research has its own mature process, and it will not be achieved overnight. The greater the level of government support, the larger the volume of diversified investment and the faster the development." Yang Wei said.
They are looking forward to the power of "supporting one" basic research diversified investment mechanism.