Promote the upgrading of scientific research paradigm-strengthen the national strategic scientific and technological strength

Throughout the history of global scientific and technological development, national strategic scientific and technological forces are not innate, but are generated by focusing on national goals and strategic needs under the background of the era of great science. The “Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Several Major Issues Concerning Upholding and Improving the Socialist System with Chinese Characteristics, Promoting the Modernization of the National Governance System and Governance Capability” reviewed and approved by the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China clearly stated that it is necessary to “strengthen the national strategic scientific and technological strength” and In particular, it points out the important connection between the new nationwide system and the strengthening of national strategic scientific and technological capabilities.

    National strategic science and technology forces include scientific research institutions such as the National Engineering Research Center, the National Technology Innovation Center, and the National Science Data Center. Giving full play to the leading role and source of scientific and technological innovation of the country's strategic scientific and technological forces is the key to my country's construction of a scientific and technological power and an industrial power.

    Major scientific discoveries increasingly rely on major technological infrastructure

    National strategic scientific and technological forces need to maintain strategic determination and strategic vision, give full play to the advantages of systems and systems, and optimize the allocation of resources and the layout of innovative elements through scientific and technological risk research and prediction and clear strategic thinking and strategic layout in accordance with the development trend of world science and technology. The resources of the company are placed in the key scientific and technological fields of priority development, highlighting competitive advantages, and shaping more leading innovations that rely on innovation-driven and more first-mover advantages. To meet the above requirements, it is essential to use the national strategic scientific and technological power to promote the upgrading of scientific research paradigm and to reshape the leading role of the scientific and technological innovation language system.

    The scientific research paradigm is the way the scientific community conducts scientific research in a specific historical period, which is compatible with the inherent laws of scientific and technological innovation. From the perspective of the history of science and technology, scientific discovery and technological invention are an organic whole. New discoveries may lead to new inventions, and new inventions may also lead to new discoveries. Some major inventions themselves contain new discoveries. Scientific research needs the support of technical means and platform facilities, and the self-iteration of technology will produce new technologies and major scientific discoveries.

    The major national scientific and technological infrastructure is the material and technological foundation for breaking through the frontiers of science, solving economic and social development and major national scientific and technological problems. It can be seen from the paradigm upgrade of scientific research that major scientific discoveries and technological changes increasingly rely on major scientific and technological infrastructure, innovation platforms, extreme experimental conditions, and collective research by large scientific teams. To further promote the upgrading of scientific research paradigm through national strategic scientific and technological forces in the future, the following two points must be achieved.

    First, the national strategic scientific and technological forces should focus on the interaction between theory and practice, discovery and invention, manufacturing equipment and testing equipment, and promote creative transformation between scientific discovery and technological invention.

    Second, the national strategic scientific and technological forces should pay attention to the systematicness, integrity and continuity of research activities, provide stable support for the creative transformation of research results, and thoroughly carry out related research.

    "Going alone" is no longer suitable for technological innovation in the era of big science

    The scientific research organization model is the way that the social community organizes scientific research in a specific period, and it has a dynamic influence on the scientific research paradigm and technological innovation. From the perspective of the development trend of scientific research organizations, research activities in the era of big science are not the "islands" of individual "self-care" and classified research. The scientific research model of "single fight alone" and "all the world" is no longer suitable for scientific and technological innovation in the era of big science. The method of overall planning is more suitable for the national strategic scientific and technological power after the scientific and technological paradigm has been upgraded. The following three suggestions are proposed.

    The first is to clarify the functional positioning between national strategic scientific and technological forces and innovation communities such as universities, institutes, and enterprises to better assist the national innovation-driven strategy, the higher-quality integration strategy of the Yangtze River Delta, and the coordinated development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei. Leading, supporting and power source of strategic scientific and technological forces.

    The second is to strengthen the complementary advantages of national strategic scientific and technological forces and regional innovation forces, support each other and develop joint development, jointly conduct research and build joint laboratories, stimulate the driving effect of national strategic forces and the empowerment effect of regional innovation forces, and build innovation alliances and integrity To create an innovation environment with obvious knowledge spillover effects.

    Third, national strategic scientific and technological forces should deeply participate in international cooperation, participate in or lead major international innovation projects, and carry out cooperation through multiple channels such as projects and talents. Actively integrate into the global governance system and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, enhance the ability to participate in the formulation of various standards and rules, and promote global governance and cooperation on a higher level and broader community of interests.

    Build a cooperative innovation mechanism for strategic scientific and technological forces

    We also need to give play to the institutional advantages of national strategic scientific and technological forces and build a collaborative innovation mechanism for national strategic scientific and technological forces.

    First, new policies and governance methods need to adapt to the transformation of scientific research paradigm, form an innovation community with consistent goals and interests through institutional guarantees, promote cross integration of disciplines and teams through resource guidance, promote the flow of scientific and technological innovation elements through evaluation constraints, and improve overall innovation performance. Advocate team collaboration and integration to form the "barrel effect" of the symbiosis of technological innovation, rather than the "hedgehog effect" caused by individual auras.

    The second is to improve the resource allocation method that conforms to the laws of scientific and technological innovation. In terms of the allocation of innovative elements such as project funds and talents, promote the transformation from resource-driven to goal-driven, implement the "decentralization, management and service" policy, and optimize and improve the organizational design of independent allocation of scientific research funding. Use the project to allocate resources to build a team and play the guiding and promoting effect of resource allocation. Establish a traction mechanism for major scientific issues, "expose the list and put in command" key scientific research projects, and establish a classification and evaluation system oriented by the quality, contribution and performance of scientific and technological innovation.

    The third is to vigorously promote the spirit of scientists and craftsmen, cultivate a spirit of critical and questioning, and build a competitive and cooperative scientific research team. Disruptive research and innovation requires a problem-solving-oriented, oriented research team with clear goals and mission guidance. It is necessary to strengthen the division and collaboration of major innovation tasks and give full play to the team's overall combat advantages.

(Author unit: Hefei Institute of Material Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences)