政府资助引导基础研究多元投入的内在逻辑与未来挑战——基于联合基金的案例分析

Internal logic and future challenges of government funding in guiding diversified investment in basic research:A case study based on the joint fund

政府资助在构建基础研究多渠道持续稳定投入格局中发挥着重要作用。作为国家自然科学基金的一种特殊类型,联合基金在面向国家需求、引导多元投入、推动资源共享、促进多方合作等方面进行了长期深入的探索实践,并取得了良好成效。但学界对联合基金引导多元投入内在机理的研究有待深入。从“联合资助项目”到“联合基金”,国家自然科学基金联合资助工作的发展历程可划分为4个阶段,其功能定位、资助方式、制度安排等在各阶段表现出不同特点。联合基金引导多元投入的内在逻辑包括两个方面:一是联合基金实现了国家自然科学基金委员会在经费来源、基础设施、社会服务等方面的功能扩展;二是联合基金在合作的基本前提、内在动力和平台保障等层面促成了国家自然科学基金委员会与多元投入主体的优势互补。联合基金取得成功的根本原因是实现了“应用目标—科学问题—资金投入—科研力量”的高效、精准对接。面向未来,联合基金面临着协调统一管理与个性化需求的挑战、塑造适应其特点的管理制度的挑战、突破投入主体“公”与“私”界限的挑战,仍需进一步改革创新。

Government funding plays an important role in building a multi-channel pattern of sustained and stable investment in basic research.As a special type of China’s national natural science fund,the joint fund has made long-term and in-depth exploration and practice in the aspects of meeting the national demand,guiding diversified input,promoting resource sharing and multilateral cooperation,and has achieved good results.However,the existing literature is weak on the internal mechanism of multi-investment guided by joint funds.From the“joint funding project”to the“joint fund”,the development of the joint funding can be divided into four stages,with different features of function positioning,funding methods and institutional arrangements in each stage.The inherent logic of the joint fund guiding diversified investment includes two aspects.First,the joint fund has realized the expansion of the functions of the National Natural Science Foundation(NSFC)in terms of funding sources,scientific research infrastructure and social services.Second,from the basic premise of cooperation,internal motivation and platform guarantee,the joint fund promotes the complementary advantages of the NSFC and diversified investment subjects.The fundamental reason for the success of the joint fund is to realize the efficient and accurate docking of“application target-scientific problem-capital investment-scientific research force”.Finally,the joint fund is faced with the challenges of coordinating unified management and unique needs,shaping the management system adapted to its characteristics,and breaking through the“public-private”boundary of the investment subject,which still needs further reform and innovation.