z-bio 2025-02-28 329

　　The Regulations of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations") have been revised for the first time in 17 years, aiming to further promote the standardized management of scientific funds, improve the efficiency of scientific fund utilization, and promote the realization of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement. What changes have been made in the newly revised Regulations regarding the sources of funds? How to further strengthen the management of the National Natural Science Foundation of China? The National Natural Science Foundation of China (hereinafter referred to as NSFC) organized relevant experts to interpret.

　　Encourage diversified investment

　　At present, the National Natural Science Foundation of China has established a relatively mature joint fund management model and actively explored the establishment of effective mechanisms for social and individual donations. The Regulation summarizes practical experience and proposes that the state encourages local governments, enterprises, and other organizations to invest funds in joint funding and establish mechanisms for scientific and technological innovation cooperation. The state encourages social forces to donate to the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

　　Lv Wei, a researcher of the Development Research Center of the State Council and former member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, believes that the main reason for the lack of investment intensity in basic research in China is the single source of investment, which mainly depends on the financial input of the central government. Practice has proven that the joint fund mechanism not only increases the funding sources of scientific funds, but also helps to solve major key scientific problems that need to be addressed by local governments, enterprises, and others, "said Lv Wei.

　　Social forces can support basic research through the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and can use the professional and credible evaluation mechanism of the Natural Science Foundation of China to help select the best and most promising projects. The introduction of social donations by the Natural Science Foundation of China can increase funding, alleviate the current problem of low funding rates, and achieve a win-win situation, "said Zhang Qiang, a professor in the Department of Earth System Science at Tsinghua University.

　　Optimize funding project management

　　The Regulation emphasizes the responsibilities of the supporting units, clarifies that the supporting units are the main responsible parties for fund supported projects and their fund management, and supplements and improves the management responsibilities of the supporting units.

　　This means that the supporting unit will play a more important role in the fund management process, "said Yang Lingchun, Deputy Director of the Department of Scientific Research at Peking University. As a supporting unit, fund management is not only the responsibility of the scientific research management department, but also requires further coordination and cooperation among departments such as scientific research management, expense management, audit supervision, and scientific research integrity. It is necessary to implement the responsibilities of the supporting unit in improving the scientific research project management system and optimizing the project fund management process regulations.

　　In addition, the Regulation also specifies the establishment of a special fund to support young talents; For major originality, interdisciplinary innovation and other fund supported projects, the fund management agency can formulate specific application and evaluation regulations to encourage original basic research work.

　　Strengthening the construction of scientific research integrity

　　The Regulation has made a series of new provisions to strengthen the construction of scientific research integrity and technological ethics, including the addition of a scientific research integrity commitment system, the establishment of a joint punishment mechanism, and the strengthening of the handling of violations.

　　In Lv Wei's opinion, due to the large amount and wide coverage of funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, in order to ensure the academic atmosphere of the fund projects, we cannot rely solely on the Natural Science Foundation of China, but also fully leverage the management and supervision role of the supporting units. In the new situation, the 'Regulations' stipulate that the relying unit not only manages and supervises the use of funds and unethical practices of the application team, but also strengthens the governance of scientific research ethics, intellectual property management, and protection, "said Lv Wei.

　　Yang Lingchun believes that the Regulation has taken a series of measures to maintain a good scientific research environment. For example, a new research integrity commitment system has been added, requiring all participants to abide by the principle of integrity; Established a joint disciplinary mechanism to deal with violations seriously; Expanded the types of violations and increased the severity of punishment. These measures aim to enhance the sense of responsibility of researchers, supporting units, and evaluation experts, and create a fair, just, and upright research atmosphere.