“More efforts should be made to deepen system and mechanism reform to unleash the productivity and creativity of scientific research personnel, helping more of them concentrate on research,” Premier Li Keqiang said.

Premier Li, also head of the National Science and Technology Leading Group, made the remarks while chairing a meeting of the group on Dec 7. He heard a report on advancing scientific and technological innovation at the meeting.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), he said, China accelerated its pace to build an innovative country and implement an innovation-driven development strategy, with a boom in major scientific and technological outcomes and new industries and business models, as well as mass entrepreneurship and innovation.

At the same time, the Premier noted, China should be keenly aware of its weaknesses in basic research and original innovation, and some key technologies.

To solve those problems, the new development stage must further highlight the role of scientific and technological innovation in breaking through development bottlenecks and building new development advantages, the Premier said.

He urged following the new development concepts to form a new development pattern, and putting more focus on basic research and application-oriented basic research.

He also called for stimulating innovation vitality through reforms, and deeply integrating science and technology into the economy to boost the country’s technological strength and high-quality development.

To promote innovation in science and technology, Premier Li said, more work should be done on basic and applied research, and focus put on original and revolutionary innovation in major scientific issues.

He stressed that the application of research achievements also should be strengthened to tap into China's huge market, which can provide support to employment and economic development and further progress in basic research.

While making good use of the fiscal fund, universities, research institutions, and enterprises should be encouraged to raise input through multiple channels to increase the share of basic research spending, Premier Li said.

He also called for improved treatment for those in basic research, and encouraged them to explore more findings with a tenacious spirit, and the nation will provide more support to mathematics and other basic disciplines.

Promoting scientific and technological innovation should follow scientific laws and better arouse the activeness and creativity of researchers, the Premier said. He also called for a scientific research competition system to allow young researchers to assume more important tasks.

Unreasonable restrictions should be removed and social forces should be introduced in major scientific and technological projects, the Premier said.

As the new-round technological revolution and industrial changes are emerging with mushrooming technologies, the government cannot predict the future on its own, Premier Li said, and regulations in some areas should not be too strict.

“We should believe in the scientists’ professional choice, and the judgment of business entities, and the government should follow scientific laws and provide them a better environment and necessary support,” the Premier said.

According to the Premier, researchers told him that all kinds of forms and papers are too consuming and some medical staff said they need to publish several papers on national-level journals before getting a promotion.

To solve those problems, he said, continuous administrative reform in tech fields will break unreasonable management rules and regulations, and offer researchers more autonomy.

The achievement evaluation mechanism should be improved to replace the assessment that solely relies on papers, the Premier noted.