Missions of the Ministry of Science and Technology

1. MOST formulates and facilitates the implementation of strategies and policies for innovation-driven development, and plans and policies for S&T development and the attraction of foreign talent.
2.MOST coordinates the development of the national innovation system and the reform of the national S&T management system, and works with relevant government departments to improve incentive mechanisms for technological innovation. MOST endeavors to improve the national R&D system, facilitate the reform and development of research institutes, enhance the innovation capabilities of enterprises, promote military-civilian integration, and develop the consulting system for major national S&T decision-making.
3.MOST takes the lead in establishing a unified national platform for S&T management and a mechanism for fund allocation, evaluation and supervision of research projects. MOST works with relevant government departments to put forward policy recommendations for optimizing the allocation of S&T resources, build a diversified system for S&T investment, coordinate, manage and oversee the implementation of S&T programs (projects and funds) financed by the central government.
4. MOST formulates and implements national basic research plans, policies and standards, and organizes and coordinates major national projects on basic research and application-oriented basic research. MOST formulates and oversees the implementation of plans for major STI bases, participates in the formulation and oversees the implementation of plans for major S&T infrastructure, leads the efforts to develop national laboratories, lays a sound groundwork for scientific research, and promotes the open access to and sharing of S&T resources.
5. MOST formulates plans for major national S&T projects and oversees their implementation, coordinates the R&D and innovation of key generic technologies, cutting-edge frontier technologies, modern engineering technologies and disruptive technologies, leads the efforts to tackle key technological problems, and promotes the demonstration and application of major R&D and innovation outcomes. MOST coordinates the efforts to implement or participate in international mega-science programs and projects.
6. MOST takes the lead in formulating plans, policies and measures for the R&D and industrial application of high and new technologies and the promotion of agricultural, rural and social development through S&T. MOST analyzes technological demands in priority areas, proposes major tasks and oversees their implementation.
7. MOST leads the efforts to develop the national technology transfer system, formulate and oversee the implementation of policies and measures for promoting the transfer and commercialization of R&D outcomes and the collaboration among enterprises, universities and research institutes. MOST provides guidance for the development of S&T services, technology markets and S&T intermediaries.
8. MOST coordinates the development of the regional innovation system, provides guidance for regional innovation-driven development, appropriate distribution of S&T resources and capacity building for collaborative innovation, and promotes the development of science parks.
9. MOST oversees the development of the S&T supervision and assessment system and the work concerning S&T evaluation, provides guidance for the reform of the S&T assessment mechanism, and coordinates the efforts to promote research integrity. MOST organizes the national innovation survey, and implements the S&T report system.
10. MOST formulates plans, policies and measures for international S&T exchanges and open cooperation in innovation capacity building, and organizes international S&T cooperation and personnel exchanges. MOST provides guidance for relevant government departments and local authorities on conducting international S&T cooperation and personnel exchanges.
11. MOST brings in foreign talent. MOST formulates and facilitates the implementation of plans for bringing in high-end foreign experts, develops mechanisms for pooling top-notch scientists and research teams from abroad, and provides services for foreign experts. MOST formulates and oversees the implementation of overall plans, policies and annual schemes for overseas training programs.
12. MOST works with relevant government departments to formulate plans and policies for S&T personnel development, establish a sound assessment and incentive mechanism for S&T personnel, organize the implementation of plans on S&T personnel, and develop a large pool of high-caliber innovative talent. MOST formulates plans and policies for science communication and popularization.
13. MOST organizes the evaluation and selection of recipients for the State Science and Technology Award and the Chinese Government Friendship Award.
14. MOST oversees the work of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), and carries out macro-management, coordination, supervision and evaluation of the operation of the National Natural Science Fund. NSFC with relative autonomy is responsible for the administration of the National Natural Science Fund, including developing funding schemes, identifying research priorities, organizing peer review, making funding decisions and supervising project implementation.
15. MOST oversees the operation of the Science and Technology Daily.
16. MOST performs other tasks assigned by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council.
17. MOST is committed to strengthening, transforming and optimizing its functions of S&T management and services, and improving the national innovation system to better implement the strategy for invigorating China through science and education, the strategy on developing a quality workforce, and the innovation-driven development strategy. MOST devotes efforts to improve macro-management and overall coordination, reduce micro-management and the number of items requiring administrative review and approval, strengthen compliance oversight, and promote research integrity. To facilitate the shift in its role from R&D management towards innovation services, MOST pushes forward with the reform of the management of S&T programs, puts in place an open and unified national platform for S&T management, and addresses the existing problems of S&T programs, such as the funding of research projects in a repetitive, fragmented, closed and inefficient way under S&T programs. Government departments do not directly manage research projects any more, but entrust specialized agencies with project management, including evaluating project proposals, making funding decisions and reviewing project deliverables. Ordinary overseas training programs are no longer subject to review and approval of MOST, but are arranged by relevant departments in response to industrial and sectoral demands. MOST is no longer in charge of the review and approval of the establishment and restructuring of research institutes. Instead, it focuses on the overall planning and performance evaluation of research institutes. MOST works to improve the assessment system and incentive policies for S&T personnel based on innovation capability, quality, contribution and performance. MOST coordinates the development of S&T personnel at home and the attraction of talent from abroad.