Academies and Government

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), which has just celebrated its  60^th anniversary, has made important contributions to the country’s  progress and advancement in science and technology, national security, higher education and social sustainable development.  These contributions were reconfirmed by top-level officials of the Chinese Government in their recent attendance of the jubilee event. CAS is, on the one hand, a merit-based national academy, serving as the country’s highest advisory body in science & technology, on the other, a scientific research institution with the mandate to conduct basic, strategic and forward looking R&D and featured with a number of other functions including higher education and incubation of high technology industries. A historical analysis reveals that its founding, growth and development as well as its accomplishments have been closely linked with the decisions and support of the Chinese Government. This process is also one in which CAS has actively engaged in the pursuit of scientific and technological solutions to national strategic needs and social sustainable development, the development of higher education and world-class scientific work. It is also is a process and reflection of the active engagement and advice from CAS to the Government, various governmental agencies and provincial governments on national S&T strategy, policy, programs and development issues.  Although much has been done in the upgrade of the institution’s innovation capacity in the past decade, CAS faces sever challenges ahead such as balancing the basic and applied research and to be better focused on its work with the continuous rise of capabilities in the university and industrial sectors.   Looking ahead, CAS will continue to do well in the framework of its functions on the basis of scientific decision-makings and active communication and exchanges with the Government and various governmental sectors under the guidance of Scientific Development Outlook.