Materials for the Press Conference of the State Council Information Office
Background Material on the First “National Science and Technology Workers’ Day”
(May 25, 2017)
China Association for Science and Technology
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the broad masses of science and technology workers band together under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with General Secretary Xi Jinping as the core, resolutely implement decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, and vigorously promote the comprehensive innovation with scientific and technological innovation. China’s scientific and technological progress and innovation ability are significantly upgraded. The overall scientific and technological level evolves from quantitative growth to qualitative upgrade at faster speed. Remarkable results are achieved in scientific and technological support for economic and social development. In recent years, a large number of scientific and technological achievements come out. All of these efforts strike worldwide attention, inspire the whole China, greatly arouse the Chinese people’s national self-confidence and pride, and intensify the solidarity and cohesion of the Chinese Nation.
I. Background on Initiation of “National Science and Technology Workers’ Day”
The CPC Central Committee and the State Council always attach great importance to the work related to intellectuals and scientific and technological talents. On May 30th, 2016, the National conference on Science and Technology, the biennial conference of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the 9th National Congress of China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) (hereinafter referred to as “Three Conference on Science and Technology”) were grandly held in Beijing. General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech, and gave the great call for developing China into a leading power in science and technology. This greatly arouses the majority of Chinese science and technology workers’ fervent enthusiasm for innovation. With epoch-making significance in the great practice of realizing “China Dream”, this event will go down in history of China’s economic and social development and especially the development history of science and technology. In order to commemorate this event with important historical significance and echo with the strong demands from the broad masses of science and technology workers, under great attention and cordial concern from the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the State Council approved to designate May 30th as “National Science and Technology Workers’ Day” in November 2016. The celebration of the day will be organized and coordinated by the China Association for Science and Technology, the Ministry of Science and Technology and other related ministries and organizations. China’s science and technology workers had their own festival for the first time. This fully demonstrates that the CPC Central Committee, with General Secretary Xi Jinping as the core, places top priority over China’s science and technology undertaking. Chinese science and technology workers are all exalted and encouraged and eagerly look forward to the unprecedented grand event of science and technology community.
II. Brief Introduction to “National Innovation Pioneer Award”
(I) Background and Significance
On May 30th, 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at “Three Conference on Science and Technology”, distinctly instructed CAST and its branches and affiliated organizations to “unite and lead the broad masses of science and technology workers to actively participate in scientific and technological innovation, take innovation pioneer action, drive prosperity and development of science and technology, and promote science popularization and communication”, thereby endowing science and technology workers with more glorious and great missions. The Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also gave important instructions on the kickoff of “Innovation Pioneer Action”, and pointed out: “It is necessary to carry forward the Chinese science and technology workers’ good tradition of serving China with cherished ambition and challenging new heights bravely, and further stimulate their enthusiasm for creation and innovation”. CAST has put forward a proposal to nationwide science and technology workers on taking “Innovation Pioneer Action”, and called for the broad masses of science and technology workers to actively respond and accurately comply with General Secretary Xi Jinping’ requirements and the arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, fill the gaps and strengthen areas of weakness, try to be the first to make breakthroughs, explore for cutting-edge realms, set the pace, pioneer in commercialization and entrepreneurship, popularize science, render services, make greater contributions, and play a role with respective wisdom and strength for further implementing the innovation-driven development strategy and boldly forging ahead towards the goal of making China a great power of science and technology.
In order to unite and lead the broad masses of science and technology workers to roll out innovations and play pioneering role in the process of building China into a great power of science and technology, in April 2017, with approval of the central authorities, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, China Association for Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology and SASAC of the State Council jointly set up “National Innovation Pioneer Award” in recognition of outstanding contributions to Scientific Research, Technology Development, Major Equipment and Engineering Research, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship, Science Popularization and Social Services made by outstanding science and technology workers and outstanding research teams with influences at home and abroad. Through demonstration and guidance, “National Innovation Pioneer Award” is intended to further present favorable atmosphere of respect for labor, respect for knowledge, respect for talent and respect for creation in the whole society, and demonstrate a benign environment that various innovation players and innovation factors develop in synergy, and all kinds of talents go all out to innovate.
(II) Appraisal Criteria
“National Innovation Pioneer Award” is conferred every three years in recognition of contributions of ten research teams every time, and these teams are awarded with medals. At most 30 science and technology workers are awarded with medals, and enjoy privileges of provincial and ministerial-level model laborer. No more than 300 science and technology workers are awarded with certificates of merits.
Following “National Natural Science Award”, “National Technology Invention Award” and “National Science and Technology Progress Award”, “National Innovation Pioneer Award” is another major science and technology award approved and initiated by China. It is an important part and supplement of the national science and technology award system, and effective link between the national science and technology awards and national major talent programs, which is a science and technology talent award second only to “Top Science and Technology Award of China”. In order to set good models and benchmarks in the scientific and technological circles, strict appraisal criteria are developed for this award:
1. Scientific research, technology development and major equipment and engineering research: keeping abreast of the global cutting-edge science and technology, contending in the main stronghold of the economy, echoing with major national needs, resolving major scientific problems, exploring for new directions, making breakthroughs in key core technologies, and making significant contributions to lifting the bottlenecks or constraints of economic and social development or addressing the major national security challenges.
2. Commercialization and entrepreneurship: driving scientific and technological achievements to translate into products or services, carrying out development, application and spread of scientific and technological achievements, forming new standards, new industries and large-scale application demonstration, and harvesting remarkable economic and social benefits.
3. Science popularization and social services: taking advantage of scientific and technological knowledge, launching science popularization and social services, rendering socialized public service products related to science and technology for the public, having great social impact, and making eminent contributions.
In the appraisal process, it is necessary to refer to five criteria of “morality first, superb professionalism, strong ability, solid foundation and great contribution”, emphasize that winners should have strong patriotic feelings, uphold good scientific morality and style of study, closely comply with national significant development strategy for scientific and technological innovation, make systematic and creative achievements and contributions, boast strong foundation of the work, keep proficient in integrating various disciplines and academic fields, actively seize the commanding heights for scientific and technological competition and the future development, and make collective efforts to break through in the key and core technology.
(III) Appraisal Process and Progress
On April 14th, 2017, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, China Association for Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology and SASAC of the State Council jointly issued Notice on Appraisal for National Innovation Pioneer Award, and requested departments (bureaus) of human resources, science and technology associations, departments (bureaus and commissions) of science and technology and SASACs of all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities under the Central Government and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, departments of personnel and talent work of the national-class CPC and governmental organs and the Central Military Commission, national-class societies, associations and research societies affiliated to China Association for Science and Technology and federation of various national-class societies to recommend outstanding science and technology workers and outstanding research teams, and enjoyed positive response. Through a total of 217 recommender channels, 1,343 outstanding science and technology workers and 227 research teams came out in the recommendation list.
With a view to smooth appraisal process, Award-presenting Committee, Jury Committee and Supervision Committee are set up for “National Innovation Pioneer Award”. Measures for Appraisal of National Innovation Pioneer Award is established. More than 300 prominent representatives with lofty morality, great attainments and outstanding achievements, science and technology management experts and enterprise heads are invited to serve as jury members. This guarantees scientific, authoritative, impartial and rigorous appraisal of this award.
Appraisal process consists of online pre-trial, preliminary evaluation, re-evaluation, public announcement, verification and other aspects. Under five categories (i.e., Scientific Research, Technology Development, Major Equipment and Engineering Research, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship, Science Popularization and Social Services), 16 appraisal panels are set up. After the online pre-trial, preliminary evaluation and re-evaluation, ten research teams, 28 medalists and 254 certificate holders are currently shortlisted. At present, award-winning teams and candidates are publicly announced on the media, and they will be commended on “National Science and Technology Workers’ Day” as planned.
III. Main Arrangement for the 2017 National Science and Technology Workers’ Day
Besides selection and commendation of the National Innovation Pioneer Award, China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) in association with Ministry of Science and Technology, will be launching a series of thematic activities during the last ten days of May. The activities, with the theme of “Patriotism, Passion for excellence，Integrity and Dedication,” are designed to disseminate scientific achievements of China, carry on the spirit of Chinese scientists, co-celebrate the science and technology workers’ own festival with practical actions.
Specific activities include: Broadcast National Science and Technology Workers’ Day public interest ad and promotional film, introduce the thematic program of “Innovate – See the Future -- National Science and Technology Workers’ Day” in CCTV Science and Education Channel, a series of thematic publicity coverage on “Stars of Science and Technology” in central media, host the National Science and Technology Activity Week 2017, performance on “China’s Backbone –Science Masters Communication Lectures in Renowned Universities” in Chongqing, Thematic Exhibition on Chinese Scientists on the Way to a Strong Science and Technology Country in Beijing and Lhasa, release conference of 100 copies of Biography Series of Academic Growth Material Collection Engineering of Senior Scientists, ceremony of Home of Science and Technology Workers website going online, issue of commemorative stamps such as National Science and Technology Workers’ Day First-Day Cover, activate production of thematic documentary Great Power’s Backbone, hosting of the 1st Edition of Exhibition of Painting, Calligraphy and Photo of Old Science and Technology Workers, launch on Netease platform “a Science and Technology Worker’s Day – A Hundred Cities Linkage” Live Broadcast.
The activities mentioned above will be coupled with activities aimed at science popularization. Disseminate scientific knowledge, carry on scientific spirit, spread scientific thought, and advocate scientific method via “China Science Communication- Charms of Science and Technology Celebrities” channel and CAST’s China Science Communication website (http://www.kepuchina.cn/)
All science and technology association branches, science and technology departments (commissions, bureaus) will conduct relevant activities locally. They will invite relevant leaders of party committee and the government to go and visit scientist representatives and frontline science and technology workers. Head and deputy head of all levels of science and technology association branches and principals of departments (commissions, bureaus) will go and visit scientific institutions, institutions of higher learning, enterprises where science and technology workers concentrate, work with them to co-carry out activities on the National Science and Technology Workers’ Day, show active efforts in caring for young, old and woman science and technology workers, help science and technology workers with their problems, solve them and ease their anxieties.
Associations of science and technology affiliated to universities and enterprises will take into account actual situations, launch interdisciplinary academic exchanges, youth science and technology salons, scientific and technological innovation competitions and exhibitions on scientific and technological innovation and entrepreneurial achievements, and make use of key laboratories and engineering and technology centers to carry out science popularization events.
National societies will give into full play to their own characteristics, organize commending and award-presenting events for outstanding science and technology workers (members), and make news coverage for meritorious deeds of outstanding science and technology workers (members); pay a visit to highly respected old experts and grassroots forefront science and technology workers; intensively solicit individual members; invite young scientists and technicians to participate in all kinds of academic exchange activities; and organize various events of different disciplines and fields with unique characteristics.
Some CAST local branches have launched various warming-up and promotion activities, attracting a lot of scientific workers to participate, creating a very positive social atmosphere.