Common challenges addressed in science funding
By China Watch |
Updated: 2018-09-11 13:30
The International Workshop on Science Funding Strategies and Policies, hosted by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), was held in Paris on Sept 6. The workshop aimed at soliciting comments and suggestions from European funding agencies about the on-going reform in the NSFC. It also provided participants with a stage to share experience, provide suggestions and devise common strategies and policies for science funding agencies in the new era.
It saw a wide and active participation of around 30 participants from 15 European funding agencies. The roadmap for NSFC reform was presented by NSFC President Jinghai Li, followed by an intensive and candid discussion on the challenges and possible solutions faced by funding agencies. Topics addressed during the meeting included funding trans-disciplinary research, evaluation practices, international cooperation and achieving synergies between funding and research.
Participants generally commended the reform roadmap as ambitious, forward-looking, and targeted at issues that science funding agencies are facing across the world. Specific topics addressed during the meeting included best practices, sharing evaluations, factors to be considered in funding trans-disciplinary research, ways and means shaping the framework conditions for international cooperation between different funding agencies.
Against the backdrop of scientific innovation and revolution, China and Europe share similar challenges and opportunities in their scientific and technological development. It is of common interests for both sides to join forces to tackle these challenges together. Moreover, science has no borders and international cooperation is therefore natural for scientific development, especially for basic research.
As the major funder of basic research in China, the NSFC is currently undergoing a comprehensive and in-depth reform in a bid to better adapt its science funding system to the existing challenges and the future. The overall reform plan has gone through an extensive domestic consultation process. The workshop in Paris marks a major step forward for NSFC to align its strategies and policies with the international partners in the world, and a milestone in its own internationalization process.
The International Workshop on Science Funding Strategies and Policies, hosted by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), was held in Paris on Sept 6. The workshop aimed at soliciting comments and suggestions from European funding agencies about the on-going reform in the NSFC. It also provided participants with a stage to share experience, provide suggestions and devise common strategies and policies for science funding agencies in the new era.
It saw a wide and active participation of around 30 participants from 15 European funding agencies. The roadmap for NSFC reform was presented by NSFC President Jinghai Li, followed by an intensive and candid discussion on the challenges and possible solutions faced by funding agencies. Topics addressed during the meeting included funding trans-disciplinary research, evaluation practices, international cooperation and achieving synergies between funding and research.
Participants generally commended the reform roadmap as ambitious, forward-looking, and targeted at issues that science funding agencies are facing across the world. Specific topics addressed during the meeting included best practices, sharing evaluations, factors to be considered in funding trans-disciplinary research, ways and means shaping the framework conditions for international cooperation between different funding agencies.
Against the backdrop of scientific innovation and revolution, China and Europe share similar challenges and opportunities in their scientific and technological development. It is of common interests for both sides to join forces to tackle these challenges together. Moreover, science has no borders and international cooperation is therefore natural for scientific development, especially for basic research.
As the major funder of basic research in China, the NSFC is currently undergoing a comprehensive and in-depth reform in a bid to better adapt its science funding system to the existing challenges and the future. The overall reform plan has gone through an extensive domestic consultation process. The workshop in Paris marks a major step forward for NSFC to align its strategies and policies with the international partners in the world, and a milestone in its own internationalization process.
