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 China will revise the law on progress of science and technology, aiming to improve the quality and efficiency of scientific and technological innovation and to promote breakthroughs in key technologies, according to media reports. 

The goals are set to be achieved by increasing investment for basic research, establishing strategic science and technology support, and by supporting scientific and technical personnel, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday.  

The draft revision of the law was submitted to a meeting of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress (NPC) for the first deliberation on Wednesday.

The current law on the progress of science and technology was adopted in 1993 and amended in 2007. As China’s development of science and technology is entering a new stage and facing new challenges, the law needs to be further revised and improved.   

The revision of the law aims to highlight the strategic position of scientific and technological innovation, by strengthening the capacity to build and enhance the nation’s innovation system and accelerating the promotion of high-quality development in the new stage. 

The draft proposes establishing an investment mechanism for stable support of basic research and increasing the proportion of basic research funding in the total social research and development (R&D) funding, in order to enhance the capacity of original innovation for basic research. 

Moreover, the draft law also makes it clear that support for national strategic science and technology should be established and strengthened as the revision prioritizes promoting breakthroughs in key areas and core technologies. 

The support is expected to include helping national laboratories, science and technology research and development institutions, high-level research universities and leading enterprises in the science and technology field. 

In order to encourage scientific and technical personnel to be more creative and innovative and to strengthen education and training, the draft stresses the importance of creating a favorable and respectful environment for scientific and technical personnel. 

The draft also stipulates that a mechanism for education and training needs to be established and improved, and a classification and evaluation system for scientific and technical personnel should be implemented. 

Global Times