《自然》：中國大力改革科研資助體系，973和863將被停止

　　10月23日，《自然》發布重磅消息，中國將大力改革科研資助體系，傳統的資助模式以及計劃可能全部進行改變。

　　到2017年，現行的973和863等重大科技資助項目將被停止，并整合國家自然科學基金，重新設計5種不同類型的科研資助體系，科研部統一管理。這將是國家對競爭性科研計劃最大的一次改革。

　　1. the National Natural Science Foundation (which currently distributes many of the small-scale competitive grants)；國家自然科學基金（主要小額普惠型資助）

　　2. national science and technology major projects；相當于原來的973（大型國家科技項目）

　　3. key national research and development programmes；相當于以前的863 （重大關鍵技術的突破性研究）

　　4. a special fund to guide technological innovation；技術創新基金，如目前的新藥創制等基金形式

　　5. and special projects for developing human resources and infrastructure.這可能整合目前的社科類基金。

　　These five will be managed under a new science and technology agency that will unify planning and assessment of scientific projects.

　　On 20 October, the Chinese government announced the passage of a reform plan that will fundamentally reshape research in the country.

　　By 2017, the main competitive government funding initiatives will be eliminated. This includes the ’863′ and ’973′ programmes, two channels for large grants that have been at the heart of modern China’s development of science and technology infrastructure since being established in 1986 and 1997, respectively.

　　The government announcement noted that wastefulness and fragmented management has led to overlaps and inefficient use of funds for science and technology, and the need for a unified platform for distributing grants. As new funding programmes have been added over the years, competitive funding has become divided among some 100 competitive schemes overseen by about 30 different governmental departments.

　　Although efforts to reorganize science in China are already underway, the latest reform will be comprehensive. Science and technology spending by the central government was 77.4 billion yuan renminbi (US$12.6 billion) in 2006 but jumped to 236 billion yuan renminbi in 2013, 11.6% of the central government’s direct public expenditure. Some 60% of this is competitive funding, and subject to change under under the new reforms. To maintain stability, the overhaul will not affect the remaining 40%, which covers operation costs for research institutes and key state laboratories