Improve institutions and mechanisms for basic research to cultivate major scientific and technological achievements

Basic research is the source of important S&T innovation. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) proposed the implementation of the innovation-driven development strategy, S&T innovation has become a strategic support for enhancing social productivity and comprehensive national strength, and the role of basic research in the national innovation system has been significantly enhanced. How to give full play to the role of basic research has become a major decision-making issue in providing the source and leading the direction of S&T innovation. This study conducts in-depth case studies and extensive questionnaire surveys focusing on two pathways: free exploration to significant S&T achievements, and distilling scientific issues from applied research to feed back into key technology breakthroughs. Centering on questions such as “what are the formation rules of significant S&T achievements” and “what kind of funding methods are conducive to promoting the output of significant S&T achievements”, as well as “how to enhance the ability of original research”, this study summarizes the main laws and influencing factors of forming original S&T achievements, and puts forward suggestions for improving the mechanism and system of basic research.