国家自然科学基金委员会 z-bio 2024-12-31 442

　　On December 19-20, 2024, the third meeting of the 9th Expert Advisory Committee of the Life Sciences Department of the National Natural Science Foundation of China was held in Beijing. Academician Zhang Xuemin, member of the Party Group and Deputy Director of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Academician Zhong Kang, Director of the Department of Life Sciences, presided over the meeting.

　　Vice Director Zhang Xuemin pointed out in his speech that strengthening basic research is the only way to build a strong country in science and technology. The Science Foundation will continue to invest valuable technological resources in the most innovative and dynamic researchers, and respond to major national strategic needs. Primitive innovation is far from comparable in terms of difficulty and risk to traceable scientific research, but once breakthrough occurs, it will result in unprecedented scientific discoveries, create unprecedented technological inventions, and open up unprecedented new industrial directions. Therefore, in academic evaluation, it is necessary to adhere to the scientific value orientation of excellence, and prevent researchers who are formulaic, quick, and high-yield but low-quality from winning. We hope that the work of the department will rely more on the valuable opinions of the advisory committee experts to further improve the funding efficiency of the Science Foundation.

　　Director Zhong Kang introduced the reform ideas and measures of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, stating that the Ministry of Life Sciences will substantially stimulate the innovative vitality of young researchers through a series of policies, mechanisms, and reform measures. He emphasized that establishing a scientific evaluation system relies on the evaluation experts to fully utilize their academic appreciation and cultivate a group of truly "discerning" experts. At the same time, he also put forward requirements for the future funding layout from the perspective of the "five new" characteristics of academic value, namely exploring new phenomena, revealing new mechanisms, developing new carriers, applying new technologies, and adopting new methods.

　　The meeting listened to a report by Wang Puyue, Deputy Director of the Department of Life Sciences, on the evaluation work of the Department of Life Sciences in 2024. The proposal for major projects to be approved by the Department of Life Sciences in 2025 was fully discussed, and the recommended areas for approval were selected based on the differences. The attending experts had in-depth discussions on topics such as "Proposal for Major Research Projects" and "Proposal for Key Special Topics of National Key R&D Programs" in the field of life sciences, and put forward constructive consulting suggestions and opinions; Discussions were held on the theme of "Deepening Reform and Enhancing Funding Efficiency of Natural Science Foundation of China", and suggestions were put forward on the direction of deepening reform of the Science Foundation of China.

　　Specially invited experts and relevant staff from the Life Science Department of the National Natural Science Foundation of China attended the meeting.