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Sino-U.S. Forum on Basic Science for the Next Fifteen Years

 

Sino-U.S. Forum on Basic Science for the Next Fifteen Years

February 16-17, 2004

Beijing, China

A Bilateral Forum on Basic Science for the Next Fifteen Years was held on February 16-17, 2004, in Beijing.  This forum was the first in a series aimed at better understanding of Chinese and U.S. science and technology policies: past, present and future.  The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) supported this seminar.

This forum brought together scientists and science administrators from the United States and China to examine draft plans for the support and structure of Chinese basic research in the medium and long-term (through 2020).  The NSFC has responsibility for developing these plans in the context of a broad national planning effort, under the oversight of the Chinese Ministry for Science and Technology (MOST), entitled “China’s Science & Technology Towards 2020.”

The February Beijing Forum addressed four main topics:

  1. Understanding of the strategic role of basic science
    1. The role of basic science in enhancing national competence
    2. Social and economic functions of basic science
    3. Public understanding of basic research
  2. Major scientific issues in basic science
    1. Future trends and features of basic science development
    2. International cooperation in basic science
    3. Selecting major scientific areas of emphasis
  3. Disciplinary structure and development of basic science
    1. Major trends in disciplinary development in the world today
    2. Roles and structure of disciplines in basic science
    3. How to promote disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and cooperation
  4. Policies for advancing basic science development
    1. How to assure adequate investment inn basic science to meet the needs of a global knowledge-based economy
    2. How to accelerate integration of basic research and education
    3. Understanding relationship between cooperation and competition

This Beijing forum was the first step in a major effort to define and compare U.S. and Chinese science and technology policies.

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