Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 20. Recently, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council issued the "Opinions on Strengthening the Ethical Governance of Science and Technology" and issued a notice, requiring all regions and departments to earnestly implement them in light of their actual conditions.
The full text of the "Opinions on Strengthening the Ethical Governance of Science and Technology" is as follows.
Science and technology ethics are the values and behavioral norms that need to be followed in scientific research, technology development and other scientific and technological activities, and are an important guarantee for promoting the healthy development of scientific and technological undertakings.
At present, my country's scientific and technological innovation is developing rapidly, and the challenges of science and technology ethics are increasing. However, the governance of science and technology ethics still has problems such as imperfect systems and mechanisms, imperfect systems, and unbalanced development of fields. It is difficult to meet the practical needs of scientific and technological innovation and development.
In order to further improve the scientific and technological ethics system, enhance the ability of scientific and technological ethics governance, effectively prevent and control scientific and technological ethics risks, continuously promote science and technology for good, benefit mankind, and achieve high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement, the following opinions on strengthening the scientific and technological ethics governance are hereby offered.
1. General requirements
(1) Guiding ideology.
Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly implement the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and all the 19th Plenary Sessions, adhere to and strengthen the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee on scientific and technological work, accelerate the construction of a scientific and technological ethics system with Chinese characteristics, and improve multi-party participation The scientific and technological ethics governance system and mechanism of coordinated and co-governance, adhere to the unification of promoting innovation and risk prevention, the combination of institutional norms and self-discipline, strengthen bottom-line thinking and risk awareness, establish and improve a scientific and technological ethics system that conforms to my country's national conditions and is in line with international standards, and shapes The cultural concept and guarantee mechanism of science and technology for good, strive to achieve high-quality development of scientific and technological innovation and high-level security and benign interaction, promote the healthy development of my country's scientific and technological undertakings, and provide strong scientific and technological support for enhancing human well-being and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
(2) Governance requirements
- Ethics come first.
Strengthen the governance at the source, focus on prevention, apply the requirements of science and technology ethics throughout the entire process of scientific research, technology development and other scientific and technological activities, promote the coordinated development and benign interaction between scientific and technological activities and science and technology ethics, and achieve responsible innovation.
- In accordance with laws and regulations.
Persist in carrying out scientific and technological ethics governance in accordance with laws and regulations, and accelerate the construction of a legal system for scientific and technological ethics governance.
- Agile governance.
Strengthen scientific and technological ethics risk early warning and follow-up research and judgment, timely and dynamically adjust governance methods and ethical norms, and respond quickly and flexibly to ethical challenges brought about by technological innovation.
——Based on national conditions.
Based on the historical stage and social and cultural characteristics of my country's scientific and technological development, follow the laws of scientific and technological innovation, and establish and improve a scientific and technological ethics system that conforms to my country's national conditions.
- Open cooperation.
Adhere to the concept of open development, strengthen external exchanges, establish a multi-party collaborative cooperation mechanism, build consensus, and form synergy.
Actively promote global scientific and technological ethics governance, and contribute Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions.
2. Clarify the principles of science and technology ethics
(1) Improve human well-being.
Scientific and technological activities should adhere to the people-centered development philosophy, which is conducive to promoting economic development, social progress, improvement of people's livelihood, and ecological environmental protection, continuously enhancing people's sense of gain, happiness, and security, and promoting the peaceful and sustainable development of human society.
(2) Respect the right to life.
Science and technology activities should avoid harm or potential threats to human life safety, physical health, mental and mental health to the greatest extent possible, respect personal dignity and personal privacy, and protect the right to know and the right of choice for participants in science and technology activities.
The use of experimental animals should meet the requirements of "reduction, replacement, optimization".
(3) Adhere to fairness and justice.
Scientific and technological activities should respect differences in religious beliefs, cultural traditions, etc., treat different social groups fairly, justly and tolerantly, and prevent discrimination and prejudice.
(4) Reasonably control risks.
Scientific and technological activities should objectively evaluate and prudently deal with uncertainties and risks of technological application, and strive to avoid and prevent possible risks, prevent the misuse and abuse of scientific and technological achievements, and avoid endangering social security, public security, biological security and ecological security.
(5) Maintain openness and transparency.
Scientific and technological activities should encourage the reasonable participation of stakeholders and the general public, and establish a disclosure mechanism for scientific and technological activities involving major and sensitive ethical issues.
When publishing information related to scientific and technological activities, transparency should be improved to be objective and truthful.
3. Improve the scientific and technological ethics governance system
(1) Improve the government's scientific and technological ethics management system.
The National Science and Technology Ethics Committee is responsible for guiding, coordinating and promoting the construction of the national science and technology ethics governance system.
The Ministry of Science and Technology undertakes the daily work of the Secretariat of the National Science and Technology Ethics Committee, and the member units of the National Science and Technology Ethics Committee are responsible for the formulation of scientific and technological ethics norms, review and supervision, publicity and education and other related work according to the division of responsibilities.
All localities and relevant industry competent departments are specifically responsible for the scientific and technological ethics governance of their localities and systems in accordance with their responsibilities, authority and affiliation.
(2) Consolidate the responsibilities of the main body of scientific and technological ethics management of innovation subjects.
Institutions of higher learning, scientific research institutions, medical and health institutions, enterprises and other units should perform the main responsibility of scientific and technological ethics management, establish a normalized working mechanism, strengthen the daily management of scientific and technological ethics, and actively research and judge and timely resolve the ethical risks existing in the scientific and technological activities of their units; If necessary, set up a science and technology ethics (review) committee of the unit, and provide the necessary conditions for its independent work.
Units engaged in scientific and technological activities such as life sciences, medicine, and artificial intelligence, where the research content involves sensitive fields of science and technology ethics, should establish a science and technology ethics (review) committee.
(3) Give full play to the role of scientific and technological social groups.
Promote the establishment of the China Science and Technology Ethics Society, improve the social organization system for science and technology ethics governance, and strengthen academic research support.
Relevant societies, associations, research societies and other scientific and technological social groups should organize and mobilize scientific and technological personnel to actively participate in scientific and technological ethics governance, promote industry self-discipline, strengthen cooperation with colleges and universities, scientific research institutions, medical and health institutions, enterprises, etc., and carry out scientific and technological ethics knowledge propaganda and popularization , to improve the public awareness of science and technology ethics.
(4) Guide scientific and technological personnel to consciously abide by the requirements of scientific and technological ethics.
Scientific and technological personnel should actively learn the knowledge of science and technology ethics, enhance their awareness of science and technology ethics, consciously practice the principles of science and technology ethics, adhere to the bottom line of science and technology ethics, and take the initiative to report and resolutely resist behaviors that violate the requirements of science and technology ethics.
The person in charge of the science and technology project (project) should carry out research in strict accordance with the scope of science and technology ethics review and approval, strengthen the ethical management of team members and the whole process of project (project) research implementation, and publish, disseminate and apply research results involving sensitive issues of science and technology ethics. Comply with relevant regulations, be rigorous and prudent.
Fourth, strengthen the guarantee of scientific and technological ethics governance system
(1) Formulate and improve scientific and technological ethics norms and standards.
Formulate scientific and technological ethics norms and guidelines in key fields such as life sciences, medicine, and artificial intelligence, improve relevant standards of scientific and technological ethics, clarify scientific and technological ethics requirements, and guide scientific and technological institutions and scientific and technological personnel to carry out scientific and technological activities in compliance.
(2) Establish a scientific and technological ethics review and supervision system.
Clarify the responsibilities of scientific and technological ethics review and supervision, and improve the rules and procedures of scientific and technological ethics review, risk disposal, and violation processing.
Establish and improve the establishment standards, operation mechanism, registration system, and supervision system of the science and technology ethics (review) committee, and explore the certification mechanism of the science and technology ethics (review) committee.
(3) Improve the legalization of scientific and technological ethics governance.
Promote clear regulations on the governance of science and technology ethics supervision, violation investigation and punishment in the basic legislation of scientific and technological innovation, and implement the requirements of science and technology ethics in other relevant legislation.
During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, focus on strengthening scientific and technological ethics legislation research in the fields of life sciences, medicine, artificial intelligence, etc., and promptly promote the promotion of important scientific and technological ethics norms to national laws and regulations.
If the law has clearly stipulated, it is necessary to adhere to strict enforcement of the law, and violations must be prosecuted.
(4) Strengthen theoretical research on science and technology ethics.
Support relevant institutions, think tanks, social groups, and scientific and technological personnel to carry out theoretical explorations of science and technology ethics, strengthen forward-looking research on ethical issues in scientific and technological innovation, and actively promote and participate in discussions on major international science and technology ethics issues and rule-making.
5. Strengthen scientific and technological ethics review and supervision
(1) Strict scientific and technological ethics review.
Scientific and technological ethics risk assessment or review should be carried out when carrying out scientific and technological activities.
Scientific and technological activities involving humans and experimental animals shall be reviewed and approved by the science and technology ethics (review) committee of the unit in accordance with the regulations. Units that do not have the conditions to establish a science and technology ethics (review) committee should entrust the science and technology ethics (review) committee of another unit to conduct the review.
The Science and Technology Ethics (Review) Committee must adhere to the principles of science, independence, impartiality, and transparency, carry out scientific and technological ethics review, supervision and guidance on scientific and technological activities, and effectively control scientific and technological ethics.
Explore the establishment of professional and regional science and technology ethics review centers.
Gradually establish a mechanism for mutual recognition of scientific and technological ethics review results.
Establish and improve the scientific and technological ethics emergency review mechanism in emergency situations such as public health emergencies, improve the procedures and rules of emergency review, and achieve rapid response.
(2) Strengthen scientific and technological ethics supervision.
All localities and relevant industry competent departments should refine and improve the regulatory framework and institutional norms of science and technology ethics in their localities and systems, strengthen the supervision and management of science and technology ethics (review) committees and high-risk scientific and technological activities of science and technology ethics in each unit, and establish high-risk scientific and technological ethics in science and technology. An expert review mechanism for the results of ethical review of scientific and technological activities, organizes the investigation and handling of major scientific and technological ethics cases, and uses typical cases to strengthen warning education.
Entities engaged in scientific and technological activities shall establish and improve the whole-process scientific and technological ethics supervision mechanism, review quality control, supervision and evaluation mechanism, and strengthen the dynamic tracking, risk assessment and emergency response to ethical incidents of high-risk scientific and technological activities in science and technology ethics.
The National Science and Technology Ethics Committee researches and formulates a list of high-risk scientific and technological activities for scientific and technological ethics.
The high-risk scientific and technological activities of scientific and technological ethics shall be registered according to the regulations.
The scientific and technological plans (special projects, funds, etc.) established by financial funds should strengthen the supervision of scientific and technological ethics, and the supervision will comprehensively cover all links such as guide compilation, project approval, process management, final acceptance, supervision and evaluation.
Strengthen scientific and technological ethics review and supervision of international collaborative research activities.
International cooperative research activities should comply with the scientific and technological ethics management requirements of the countries where the cooperating parties are located, and pass the scientific and technological ethics review of the countries where the cooperating parties are located.
For international cooperative research activities with high risk of scientific and technological ethics, local and relevant industry authorities will organize experts to review the results of scientific and technological ethics review.
(3) Monitoring and early warning of scientific and technological ethical risks.
Relevant departments should promote institutions of higher learning, scientific research institutions, medical and health institutions, social groups, enterprises, etc. to improve the monitoring and early warning mechanism of scientific and technological ethics risks, track the frontier trends of emerging scientific and technological development, and strengthen the rule conflicts, social risks, and ethical challenges that may be brought about by scientific and technological innovation. Research and propose countermeasures.
(4) Seriously investigate and punish violations of scientific and technological ethics.
Institutions of higher learning, scientific research institutions, medical and health institutions, enterprises, etc. are the primary responsible subjects for the internal investigation and handling of scientific and technological ethics violations. They should formulate and improve relevant regulations on the investigation and handling of their own units, and actively investigate scientific and technological ethics violations in a timely manner. Strictly pursue accountability and accountability in accordance with regulations; if the unit and its person in charge are suspected of scientific and technological ethics violations, the superior competent department will investigate and deal with it.
All localities and relevant industry competent departments shall, in accordance with their duties, powers and affiliations, strengthen the guidance and supervision of the investigation and handling of scientific and technological ethics violations in their localities and systems.
Any unit, organization or individual carrying out scientific and technological activities shall not endanger social security, public security, biological security and ecological security, shall not infringe on human life safety, physical and mental health, and personal dignity, shall not infringe upon the right of participants in scientific and technological activities to know and choose, and shall not Fund scientific and technological activities that violate the requirements of scientific and technological ethics.
Relevant industry authorities, funding agencies, or the unit where the responsible person belongs should distinguish between different situations, order the responsible person for scientific and technological ethics violations to make corrections in accordance with laws and regulations, stop relevant scientific and technological activities, recover funding funds, revoke awards and honors obtained, and cancel related For professional qualifications, it is prohibited to undertake or participate in scientific and technological activities supported by financial funds within a certain period of time.
Those responsible for scientific and technological ethics violations are public officials who are punished according to law and regulations, and those who are party members are punished according to regulations and disciplines; those suspected of committing crimes are punished according to law.
6. In-depth education and publicity of science and technology ethics
(1) Attach importance to science and technology ethics education.
Take science and technology ethics education as an important part of undergraduate and postgraduate education in relevant professional disciplines, encourage colleges and universities to offer courses related to science and technology ethics education, and educate young students to establish a correct awareness of science and technology ethics and abide by the requirements of science and technology ethics.
Improve the training mechanism for scientific and technological ethics talents, and accelerate the cultivation of high-quality and professional scientific and technological ethics talents.
(2) Promote the institutionalization of scientific and technological ethics training.
Incorporate scientific and technological ethics training into scientific and technological personnel induction training, undertaking scientific research tasks, academic exchanges and seminars, etc., and guide scientific and technological personnel to consciously abide by the requirements of scientific and technological ethics, and carry out responsible research and innovation.
Industry competent departments, localities and relevant units should regularly conduct training for members of the science and technology ethics (review) committee to enhance their ability to perform their duties and improve the quality and efficiency of science and technology ethics review.
(3) Do a good job in the publicity of science and technology ethics.
Carry out scientific and technological ethics propaganda for the public, promote the public to raise their awareness of scientific and technological ethics, and deal with scientific and technological ethics issues rationally.
Encourage scientific and technical personnel to communicate with the public on ethical issues in scientific and technological innovation.
For scientific and technological activities that have differences in public perception and may bring challenges to scientific and technological ethics, relevant units and scientific and technological personnel should strengthen scientific popularization and guide the public to treat them scientifically.
News media should consciously improve their scientific and technological ethics literacy, report scientific and technological ethical issues scientifically, objectively and accurately, and at the same time avoid generalizing scientific and technological ethical issues.
Encourage all kinds of societies, associations, research societies, etc. to build scientific and technological ethics publicity and exchange platforms to disseminate scientific and technological ethics knowledge.
Relevant departments in all regions should attach great importance to the governance of science and technology ethics, refine the implementation of the Party Central Committee and the State Council's plans to improve the science and technology ethics system, strengthen the management of science and technology ethics, improve the organization and leadership mechanism, clarify the division of labor, strengthen cooperation, and solidly promote the implementation. Effective Prevent scientific and technological ethics risks.
Relevant industry authorities and localities shall regularly report to the National Science and Technology Ethics Committee on the performance of their duties of science and technology ethics supervision and accept supervision.