(Authorized to publish) Xi Jinping: Speech at the Symposium of Scientists
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 11th
Speech at the symposium of scientists
Xi Jinping
Today, we hold a symposium for scientists to listen to your opinions and suggestions on promoting innovation-driven development and accelerating the pace of technological innovation during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period and a longer period.
The scientists and scientific and technological workers attending today's symposium are from scientific research institutes, universities and enterprises, involving basic research, applied basic research, applied research, and foreign scientists working in China.
Just now, based on their respective research fields, you have put forward many valuable opinions and suggestions on deepening the reform of the scientific and technological system and promoting scientific and technological innovation and development.
Relevant parties are requested to study and absorb them carefully.
Now, combining your speeches, let me make a few comments.
1. Fully understand the major strategic significance of accelerating technological innovation
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, we have attached great importance to scientific and technological innovation and insisted on taking innovation as the first driving force for development.
Through the joint efforts of the whole society, my country's scientific and technological undertakings have made historic achievements and undergone historic changes.
Major innovations are emerging, and some frontier fields have begun to enter the stage of parallel running and leading. The technological strength is moving from the accumulation of quantity to the qualitative leap, from the breakthrough of points to the improvement of system capabilities.
In the fight against the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the majority of scientific and technological workers have carried out scientific research in many important fields such as treatment, vaccine research and development, prevention and control, and provided strong support and made major contributions to the overall promotion of epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development. .
I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to the majority of scientific and technological workers!
The world today is undergoing major changes unseen in a century. The domestic and international environment facing my country's development has undergone profound and complex changes. my country's development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period and a longer period has put forward more urgent requirements for accelerating technological innovation.
One is that accelerating technological innovation is the need to promote high-quality development.
Building a modern economic system, promoting quality change, efficiency change, and power change all require strong scientific and technological support.
The second is that accelerating technological innovation is the need to realize the people's high-quality life.
At present, the main social contradiction in our country has been transformed into a contradiction between the people's growing needs for a better life and unbalanced and insufficient development. In order to satisfy the people's yearning for a better life, more scientific and technological innovations involving people's livelihood must be introduced.
The third is that accelerating technological innovation is the need to build a new development pattern.
To promote the domestic cycle, we must adhere to the main line of supply-side structural reform, improve the quality and level of the supply system, and create new demand with new supply. Technological innovation is the key.
Smooth domestic and international double cycles also require technological strength to ensure the safety and stability of the industrial chain and supply chain.
Fourth, accelerating scientific and technological innovation is a requirement for smoothly starting the new journey of building a modern socialist country in an all-round way.
From the initial proposal of the "four modernizations" to the present proposal of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, the modernization of science and technology has always been an important part of my country's modernization.
Nowadays, my country's economic and social development and the improvement of people's livelihood require more scientific and technological solutions than ever in the past, and it is even more necessary to enhance the primary driving force of innovation.
At the same time, in the face of fierce international competition, against the background of rising unilateralism and protectionism, we must take a path of innovation that suits our national conditions, and in particular, we must put the improvement of original innovation capabilities in a more prominent position and strive to achieve more "From 0 to 1" breakthrough.
It is hoped that the majority of scientists and scientific and technological workers will shoulder their historical responsibilities and persist in facing the frontiers of world science and technology, facing the main economic battlefield, facing the major needs of the country, facing the people's lives and health, and continuously marching towards the breadth and depth of science and technology.
2. Speed up the resolution of some key issues restricting the development of scientific and technological innovation
my country has a large number of scientific and technological workers and large-scale R&D investment. It initially has the conditions to compete with the international advanced level in some fields. The key is to improve the scientific and technological innovation ecology, stimulate innovation and creativity, and provide scientists and scientific and technological work They set up a stage to display their talents and let the scientific and technological innovations emerge continuously.
First, insist on demand-oriented and problem-oriented.
The selection of scientific research topics is the first problem that needs to be solved in scientific and technological work.
I have said many times that the choice of research direction should be demand-oriented, starting from the urgent and long-term needs of the country, and truly solving practical problems.
Engels said: "Once society has a technical need, this need will push science forward better than ten universities."
At present, my country's economic and social development, people's livelihood improvement, and national defense construction are facing many practical problems that need to be resolved.
For example, in agriculture, many seeds rely heavily on foreign countries, and the cultivation and processing technology of agricultural products is relatively backward. In some areas, agricultural non-point source pollution and heavy metal pollution in cultivated land are serious.
In industry, some key core technologies are controlled by others, and some key components, parts, and raw materials rely on imports.
In terms of energy resources, the degree of dependence on foreign oil has reached more than 70%, oil and gas exploration and development, and the development of new energy technologies are insufficient; the unbalanced spatial distribution of water resources has brought many problems.
In terms of society, the aging of our country’s population has continued to deepen, the people’s requirements for a healthy life have continued to increase, and the lagging technology development in biomedicine and medical equipment has become increasingly prominent.
For technologies that can make rapid breakthroughs and solve problems in a timely manner, we must step up quickly; for technologies that are strategic and require long-term success, we must deploy them in advance.
Second, integrate and optimize the allocation of scientific and technological resources.
For technological innovation, the optimal allocation of technological resources is crucial.
The success of the "two bombs and one satellite" depends on a group of leading talents and also on my country's strong organizational system.
We have a large number of scientists, academicians, and a world-class team of scientific researchers and engineers. We must pay close attention to the construction of the innovation system, optimize the combination, and overcome the disadvantages of fragmentation, inefficiency, and duplication.
There must be a group of talented scientists who can effectively integrate scientific research resources.
It is necessary to give play to the main role of enterprises in technological innovation, promote the concentration of innovative elements in enterprises, and promote the in-depth integration of production, education and research.
It is necessary to give full play to the advantages of my country's socialist system that can concentrate its efforts on major tasks, optimize the allocation of advantageous resources, and promote the research on key core technologies in important areas.
A number of national laboratories should be established, and the existing state key laboratories should be reorganized to form a laboratory system in my country.
It is necessary to give play to the important role of universities in scientific research, mobilize the enthusiasm of various scientific research institutes, give play to the advantages of abundant talents and orderly organization, and form a strategic force.
Third, persevere in strengthening basic research.
Basic research is the source of technological innovation.
Although my country's basic research has made remarkable progress, the gap with the international advanced level is still obvious.
The root cause of many "stuck neck" technical problems facing my country is that basic theoretical research cannot keep up, and the source and underlying issues have not been clarified.
On the one hand, basic research must follow the laws of scientific discovery, driven by curiosity to explore the mysteries of the world, and encourage free exploration and full exchanges and debates; on the other hand, it must be driven by major scientific and technological issues to abstract theoretical issues from major applied research. Further explore the laws of science, so that basic research and applied research promote each other.
It is necessary to clarify the direction and development goals of my country's basic research field, and continue to work for a long time.
To increase investment in basic research, first of all, the national finance must increase investment, and at the same time, it is necessary to guide enterprises and financial institutions to increase support in appropriate forms, encourage society to invest in multiple channels through donations and fund establishments, expand funding sources, and form a continuous Stable investment mechanism.
For scientific research units and enterprises that have carried out effective basic research, necessary policy support should be given in terms of finance, banking, and taxation.
It is necessary to create a good scientific research ecology that is conducive to basic research, establish a sound scientific evaluation system and incentive mechanism, encourage scientific researchers to emancipate their minds and make bold innovations, and allow scientists to concentrate on research.
We must run first-class academic journals and various academic platforms, and strengthen domestic and international academic exchanges.
Fourth, strengthen the education and training of innovative talents.
Talent is the first resource.
The fundamental source of national scientific and technological innovation lies in people.
Ten years of trees, a hundred years of trees.
We must put education in a more important position, improve the quality of education in an all-round way, and focus on cultivating students' innovative consciousness and ability.
It is necessary to strengthen the construction of basic disciplines such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology, encourage qualified universities to actively set up basic research, interdisciplinary and related disciplines, strengthen the training of basic disciplines undergraduates, and explore the training mode of basic disciplines.
It is necessary to strengthen the training of top-notch students in basic subjects, build a number of bases in subjects such as mathematics, physics and chemistry, and attract the best students to engage in basic research.
It is necessary to strengthen basic research in universities, lay out the construction of cutting-edge science centers, and develop new research-oriented universities.
It is necessary to respect the law of talent growth and the law of scientific research activities, and cultivate a group of strategic scientific and technological talents, leading scientific and technological talents and innovative teams with international standards.
We must attach great importance to the growth of young scientific and technological talents and make them the main force of technological innovation.
It is necessary to gather top talents from all over the world, attract high-end overseas talents, and provide internationally competitive and attractive environmental conditions for overseas scientists to work in China.
Fifth, rely on reform to stimulate the vitality of scientific and technological innovation.
my country's science and technology team has great potential for innovation, and the key is to effectively release this potential through deepening the reform of the science and technology system.
Transforming government functions is an important task of scientific and technological reform.
Many of our industrial supply chains need technological solutions. Only the tens of thousands of scientific and technological workers and market players who are fighting on the front line can provide such solutions. What the government has to do is to create a good environment and provide a foundation for them. Conditions, play a good role in organization and coordination.
It is necessary to speed up the transformation of science and technology management functions, and shift more energy from dividing money, dividing materials, and determining projects to determining strategies, guidelines, policies, creating the environment, and improving services.
It is necessary to accelerate the reform of scientific research institutes, give universities and scientific research institutions greater autonomy, give innovative leaders greater power to determine technical routes and use funds, and resolutely eliminate "only papers, professional titles, academic qualifications, and awards."
It is necessary to integrate the financial research investment system and change the state of division, small and scattered departments.
We will comprehensively study and consider the issue of strengthening the overall coordination of scientific and technological forces raised by everyone.
Sixth, strengthen international scientific and technological cooperation.
International scientific and technological cooperation is a major trend.
We need to be more proactive in integrating into the global innovation network and enhance our technological innovation capabilities through open cooperation.
The more we face the blockade and suppression, the less we can engage in self-enclosure and self-isolation. Instead, we must implement a more open, inclusive, mutually beneficial and shared international science and technology cooperation strategy.
On the one hand, we must persist in running our own affairs well, continue to improve our capacity for independent innovation in science and technology, build a "long board" in some areas of advantage, and consolidate the foundation for international cooperation.
On the other hand, it is necessary to promote international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation with more open thinking and measures.
Under the current situation, it is necessary to pragmatically promote international scientific and technological cooperation in the field of global epidemic prevention and control and public health, and carry out research cooperation in the fields of drugs, vaccines, and testing.
It is necessary to focus on common issues such as climate change and human health, and strengthen joint research and development with scientific researchers from various countries.
It is necessary to gradually liberalize the establishment of international science and technology organizations in my country and foreign scientists to hold posts in my country's science and technology academic organizations, so that my country will become a broad stage for global science and technology open cooperation.
3. Vigorously promote the spirit of scientists
Scientific achievements are inseparable from spiritual support.
The scientist spirit is the precious spiritual wealth accumulated by scientific and technological workers in long-term scientific practice.
Since the founding of New China, the vast number of scientific and technological workers have set up monuments of scientific and technological innovation in the motherland, and they have also created a unique spiritual temperament.
In May last year, the Party Central Committee issued the "Opinions on Further Promoting the Spirit of Scientists and Strengthening the Construction of Work Style and Style of Study", which required vigorously promote the patriotic spirit of minding the motherland and serving the people, and the innovative spirit of bravely climbing the peak and being the first to pursue truth. The pragmatic spirit of rigorous scholarship, the dedication spirit of being indifferent to fame and fortune, dedicated research, the collaborative spirit of gathering wisdom to tackle key problems, unity and cooperation, and the spirit of educating people willing to be a ladder and rewarding students.
The majority of scientific and technological workers must shoulder the important task of scientific and technological innovation entrusted by history.
Here, I will emphasize patriotism and innovation.
Science knows no borders, and scientists have a motherland.
The historic achievements of our country's scientific and technological undertakings are the result of generation after generation of scientists who have dedicated themselves to serving the country.
From Li Siguang, Qian Xuesen, Qian Sanqiang, Deng Jiaxian and other older generation scientists to Chen Jingrun, Huang Danian, Nan Rendong and other outstanding scientists who have grown up after the founding of New China, they are all models of patriotic scientists.
I hope that the majority of scientific and technological workers will not forget their original intentions, keep their mission in mind, uphold the national and people's interests, inherit and carry forward the excellent qualities of the older generation of scientists in minding the motherland and serving the people, carry forward the spirit of "two bombs and one star", and take the initiative to shoulder the historical responsibility Integrate one's scientific pursuit into the great cause of building a modern socialist country.
Technological innovation, especially primitive innovation, must have the ability to think creatively and strictly verify the method, not be superstitious of academic authority, not blindly follow existing theories, dare to question boldly, earnestly empirically, and constantly experiment.
Originality generally comes from hypotheses and conjectures. It is a complex process of continuous observation, thinking, hypothesis, experiment, verification, and induction, rather than simple induction.
The innovative nature of assumptions and conjectures is crucial.
Einstein once said: “Ask a problem is often more important than solve a problem.” If the choice is not correct, it will be difficult to produce results even with a lot of effort.
The majority of scientific and technological workers must have the ambition to be creative, dare to put forward new theories, open up new fields, explore new paths, and work hard on originality.
It is necessary to produce more high-level original results and contribute to the continuous enrichment and development of the scientific system.
The starting point of scientific research, especially basic research, is often the curiosity of scientists to explore the mysteries of nature.
From a practical point of view, all scientists who have achieved outstanding achievements rely on persistent curiosity, professionalism, and lifelong exploration to achieve their careers.
Studies have shown that scientists’ advantages are not only based on intelligence, but more importantly, focus and diligence. After long-term exploration, they form an advantage in a certain field.
It is necessary to encourage scientific and technological workers to concentrate on their own scientific research, study diligently, do not seek vanity, and do not consider fame or gain.
It is necessary to widely publicize the vivid deeds of scientific and technological workers who have the courage to explore and devote themselves to science.
Curiosity is human nature. The guidance and cultivation of interest in science should start from the baby, so that they can learn more about scientific knowledge, master scientific methods, and form a large group of young people with the potential of scientists.
Party committees and governments at all levels and leading cadres at all levels must earnestly implement the Party Central Committee’s decision and deployment on technological innovation, implement the innovation-driven development strategy, respect labor, knowledge, talent, and creativity, follow the laws of scientific development, and promote scientific and technological innovation. Constantly emerging and transformed into actual productivity.
Leading cadres should strengthen the learning of new scientific knowledge and pay attention to global technological development trends.
Marx said: "There is no smooth road in science. Only those who are not afraid of hard work and climb steep mountain roads can hope to reach the culmination of glory." I believe that the vast majority of scientists and scientific and technological workers in my country have confidence, will, and Have the ability to reach the peak of science and make due contributions to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind!