Premier Li Keqiang called for more efforts to stimulate the potential of scientific research in innovating and to create a better environment for young talent.
He spoke at a symposium on the work of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars.
Li said China has deepened implementation of its innovation-driven development strategy and promoted the integration of science technology and the economy since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012.
Innovation should be placed at the core of the overall development of the country, Li said, calling for greater efforts to stimulate the enthusiasm and potential for innovation of scientific research personnel, especially young talent.
Scientific and technological innovation should play a bigger role in leading economic and social development in order to push forward high-quality development, he said.
The premier encouraged efforts to strengthen basic research, which determines the scope and depth of a country’s scientific and technological innovation.
Governments at all levels should strengthen their long-term and stable support for basic research and guide enterprises to increase investment in such research, he said. Li asked for the science fund for distinguished young scholars to play a bigger role in promoting China’s basic research and original developments.
Li also urged continued efforts to deepen reforms to delegate power, streamline administration and optimize government services in science and technology to create a relaxed environment for scientific researchers to explore freely and make breakthroughs.
The fund should play an exemplary role in reform efforts such as exploring the establishment of a mechanism that requires young scientific researchers to promise to spend budgets in a reasonable way, he said.
Li said the fund should be considered the country’s “venture capital fund” that promotes innovation while tolerating failures, in order to encourage more scientific researchers, especially young talent, to explore “uninhabited areas” in scientific research and make greater contributions to building an innovation-oriented country.