State Programs for the Development of Science and Technology
The state has put forward a series of overall plans for scientific and technological research and development since the 1980s, aiming to strategically improve the nation's comprehensive scientific and technological competitive power in the 21st century. The Key Technologies Research and Development Program, the High-Tech Research and Development Program (Program 863), and the National Program for Priority Basic Research and Development (Program 973) have constituted the principal parts of the state plans, and the Spark Program and Torch Program have played important roles in enhancing the national capabilities in science and technology.
Key Technologies Research and Development Program
Started in 1982, it was the largest scientific and technological plan in the 20th century in China. Oriented toward national economic construction, it aims to solve the key and comprehensive problems directing the national economic and social development, covering agriculture, electron information, energy resources, transportation, materials, resources exploration, environmental protection, medical and health care, and other fields. This program, engaging tens of thousands of persons from more than 1,000 scientific research institutions nationwide, has been so far the largest national scientific and technological plan that has been invested with most funds, employed most personnel, and made the greatest impact on the national economy.
High-Tech Research and Development Program (Program 863)
In March 1986, the Hi-Tech Research and Development Program (called Program 863 for short) was issued after extensive and strict appraisal by hundreds of Chinese scientists. The program later structured the framework of the modern scientific concepts of the Chinese people. The program has established 20 subjects covering eight fields, including biology, aerospace, information, laser, automation, energy resources, new materials and oceanology. In the operation process of the program, the government departments focused on macro regulation and control, and services to back up the scientific research work, while the scientists determined the overall orientation of the scientific research work through discussions, and the Specialists Committee determined the concrete projects. The members of the specialist group are responsible for closely following the development trend of the cutting edge of international science and technology, and submitting reports of investigations and surveys in their fields each year to determine the new research orientations. Another distinctive feature of Program 863 is the rapid industrialization of its research findings.
National Program for Priority Basic Research and Development (Program 973)
Started in 1998 and focusing on the major scientific issues of agriculture, energy resources, information, resources environment, population and health care, and materials, the program committed itself in conducting comprehensive multi-disciplinary research to provide theoretic grounds and scientific basis for solving problems. The program encourages outstanding scientists to develop priority basic research into the cutting edge of science and major scientific and technological issues in key fields having great impact on economic and social development, so as to render powerful support to solve the major problems of China's economic and social development in the 21st century.
The Torch Program
Launched in August 1988, the Torch Program is the most important hi-tech industrial development plan in China. As a national
guidance plan, it aims to organize and implement marketable hi-tech product development projects with advanced technological level and good economic returns, establish hi-tech industrial development zones nationwide, and explore management system and operation mechanism gearing to the hi-tech industrial development. The program gives priority to projects of new materials, biotechnology, electro information, integration of technology and electromechanics, new energy resources and energy-saving technology.
The Spark Program
The major task of the Spark Program introduced in 1986 is to rejuvenate the rural economy by relying on scientific and technological progress, popularize scientific and technological findings in the rural areas, and lead farmers to become well-off. Currently, more than 100,000 scientific and technological pilot projects have been carried out in the countryside, covering over 85 percent of the rural areas.
