在国家与科学之间:中国科学基金制的创立及其历史意义

Between the State and Science: Establishment of Science Funding System in China and Its Historical Significance

改革开放40年来,在我国基础研究发展和科研体制变革的历程中,科学基金制的创立和基金委的成立是重要的里程碑之一。其意义不仅在于改革和优化科研经费拨款制度为主的资源配置方式,更重要的是调整和重塑国家与科学的关系,使之在计划体制向市场体制的转型过程中,不断深化科技体制改革的制度基础。本文通过考察中国科学基金制从探索试行到正式实施的历史背景及其影响因素,展现改革开放初期政府与科学的密切互动,以及科学界在促成重大科技决策中的重要作用,进而系统分析和深入阐释科学基金制对发展我国基础研究和深化科技体制改革的重大历史意义。

During the last 40 years since China’s Reform and Opening up, the establishment of a competitive science funding system and the creation of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC) is an important milestone in the process of basic research development and science system reform in China. Its substantial role is not merely to reform allocation mechanism of national research resources, but more importantly to reshape the relationship between the state and science in China, which has stabilized the institutional basis of S&T system reform during the country’s transition from planned economy to market system. This paper investigates the historical background of the science funding system from trial implementation to formal organization and its influential factors in the process, in order to show the intimate interaction between government and science in the early years of China’s reform and opening up, especially scientists’ important role in the shaping of major policies in science and technology. It also reveals and explains the historical significance of NSFC to foster basic research and deepen S&T system reform in China.