Give Full Play to the Party’s Leadership Advantages and Vigorously Advance Scientific and Technological Innovation

The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Upholding the Party’s overall leadership is the prerequisite for advancing high-level self-reliance and self-strengthening in science and technology and for building a strong scientific and technological nation. In today’s world, changes unseen in a century are accelerating, the intensity and density of technological innovation are constantly increasing, and the forefront and main battlefield of international competition are gradually converging on high-tech fields, which is affecting the reshaping of the global order and development landscape. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee has formulated the *Outline of the National Innovation-Driven Development Strategy* to accelerate the building of an innovative country. The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC further established the goal of building a strong scientific and technological nation by 2035, using world-leading scientific and technological strength and innovation capacity to support a substantial leap in national economic strength, defense capability, and comprehensive national power, enhance human well-being, and promote global development. The CPC’s leadership of the people in firmly advancing scientific and technological innovation is the strategic guide and fundamental support for giving play to the Party’s leadership advantages and advancing the great cause of national rejuvenation.

中国共产党的领导是中国特色社会主义最本质的特征。坚持党的全面领导是推进高水平科技自立自强、建成科技强国的前提。当今世界百年未有之大变局加速演进，技术创新的密集活跃程度不断增强，国际竞争最前沿和主战场逐渐聚焦于高技术领域，正在影响全球秩序和发展格局的重塑。党的十八大以来，党中央为加快建设创新型国家制定了《国家创新驱动发展战略纲要》，党的二十大报告进一步确立2035年建成科技强国的奋斗目标，以居于世界前列的科技实力和创新能力支撑国家经济实力、国防实力和综合国力大幅跃升，增进人类福祉，推动全球发展。中国共产党领导人民坚定推进科技创新，是发挥党的领导优势、推进民族复兴伟业的战略先导和根本支撑。

The Communist Party of China has always attached great importance to the development of science and technology. In accordance with the different needs of national economic and social development in different periods, it has continuously broken through the fields and scope of scientific and technological development, and the driving force of scientific and technological innovation in supporting national development has been continuously strengthened. After the founding of New China, national industrialization created a strong demand for science and technology. In 1956, the Central Committee of the CPC proposed the national strategy of “marching toward science” at the National Conference on the Question of Intellectuals, which promoted the emergence of defense-related scientific and technological innovations such as the “two bombs and one satellite” [1]1 “Two bombs and one satellite” refers to China’s successful development of the atomic bomb, the hydrogen bomb, and the artificial satellite in the 1960s and 1970s, a landmark achievement in national defense science and technology. and the formation of a scientific research system under the guidance of the principle of independence and self-reliance. When China entered the period of reform and opening up, it ushered in the “spring of science.” The 1978 National Science Conference clearly stated that “science and technology are productive forces” and that the key to the Four Modernizations [2]2 The Four Modernizations refer to the modernization of agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology, a strategic goal set by the CPC in the late 1970s. is the modernization of science and technology, emphasizing the driving role of scientific and technological innovation in modernization. In 1985, the Central Committee of the CPC issued the *Decision on the Reform of the Science and Technology System*, beginning a led, organized, and planned reform of scientific research institutions, focusing on solving the problem of the “two separate skins” of science and technology and the economy, and accelerating the coordinated development of science and technology and the economy. When China entered the stage of establishing a socialist market economy system, in order to further unleash the momentum of scientific and technological innovation, the Party Central Committee organized and carried out pilot reforms in science and technology focusing on structural adjustment, talent diversion, and mechanism transformation. At the 1995 National Conference on Science and Technology, it proposed the “Strategy of Rejuvenating the Country through Science and Education,” placing science, technology, and education in an important position in economic and social development, enhancing the country’s ability to transform scientific and technological achievements into productive forces, relying on scientific and technological progress to drive economic construction, and gradually expanding the reform of the science and technology system from the micro level to the macro level. Subsequently, the state issued a series of laws, regulations, and policies, established and implemented the “Climbing Plan,” the “National Key Basic Research and Development Plan,” the “Technology Innovation Project,” etc., organized practical exploration of scientific and technological innovation, and accelerated the development of scientific and technological innovation. Entering the 21st century, the Party Central Committee summarized the experience of the early pilot Knowledge Innovation Project in establishing a national innovation system with Chinese characteristics, placed strengthening the construction of the national innovation system on a par with economic development, and issued and implemented the *Outline of the National Medium- and Long-Term Plan for Scientific and Technological Development (2006–2020)* along with a number of supporting policies, reflecting the clear orientation of the state to integrate forces to enhance independent innovation capacity and build an innovative country. Entering the New Era, the Party Central Committee has kept pace with the times by implementing the innovation-driven development strategy, firmly grasping the “bull’s nose” of scientific and technological innovation, overcoming difficulties, consolidating the foundation, removing a series of institutional and mechanistic obstacles restricting the development of scientific and technological innovation, fully unleashing the vitality of innovation and entrepreneurship across society, and laying a solid foundation for building a world power in science and technology.

中国共产党历来高度重视科技事业发展，根据不同时期国家经济社会发展的不同需求，不断突破科技发展的领域、范围，科技创新支撑国家发展的动力持续增强。新中国成立后，国家工业化发展对科技需求强烈，1956年中共中央在全国知识分子问题会议上提出“向科学进军”的国家战略，推动了“两弹一星”等国防科技创新成果的涌现以及独立自主原则指导下科研体系的形成。中国进入改革开放时期后迎来了“科学的春天”，1978年的全国科学大会明确提出“科学技术是生产力”，四个现代化的关键是科学技术现代化，强调了科技创新在现代化发展中的动力作用。1985年中共中央发布《关于科学技术体制改革的决定》，开始对科研机构进行有领导、有组织、有计划的改革，着力解决科技与经济“两张皮”问题，加速推进科技与经济的协调发展。我国进入建立社会主义市场经济体制阶段，为进一步释放科技创新动能，党中央组织开展了以结构调整、人才分流、机制转变为重点的科技改革试点工作，并在1995年的全国科学技术大会上提出了“科教兴国战略”，把科技和教育摆在经济和社会发展的重要位置，增强国家科技成果向生产力转化的能力，依靠科技进步带动经济建设，科技体制改革逐渐从微观层面向宏观层面拓展。随后，国家出台了一系列法律、规定和政策，设立并实施“攀登计划”“国家重点基础研究发展计划”“技术创新工程”等，有组织地推动科技创新的实践探讨，科技创新加速发展。进入21世纪，党中央总结前期试点知识创新工程在建立中国特色国家创新体系中的经验，将加强国家创新体系建设与经济发展并列提出，发布实施《国家中长期科学和技术发展规划纲要（2006—2020年）》以及若干配套政策，体现出国家整合力量提升自主创新能力建设创新型国家的鲜明导向。进入新时代，党中央与时俱进实施创新驱动发展战略，紧紧抓住科技创新这个“牛鼻子”，攻坚克难、强基固本，破除了一系列制约科技创新发展的体制机制障碍，充分发挥全社会创新创业活力，为建设世界科技强国奠定了坚实基础。

Scientific and technological innovation is a powerful driving force for the Communist Party of China to respond to the new propositions of the times, to sublimate the thinking of successive Party central leadership collectives on liberating and developing the productive forces of science and technology, and to achieve high-level self-reliance and self-strengthening in science and technology. Vigorously advancing scientific and technological innovation is the choice of the CPC in fulfilling its original aspiration and founding mission. Being people-centered, enhancing the well-being of the people, and promoting the all-round development of people have always been the starting point and ultimate goal of the Party’s work. Seeking happiness for the people and rejuvenation for the nation is the main purpose of the Party’s leadership work, which is clearly reflected in the strategic orientation of scientific and technological innovation proposed by the Party Central Committee: “facing the world’s scientific and technological frontiers, facing the main economic battlefield, facing the major needs of the country, and facing the life and health of the people.” Only by accelerating scientific and technological innovation in all fields and seizing the first opportunity in global scientific and technological competition can the Party lead China from a large country to a powerful one. Vigorously advancing scientific and technological innovation is a necessary condition for the Party to lead the people in accelerating the construction of Chinese-path modernization. The world historical logic of the rise and fall of nations shows that national competition is a contest of strength, essentially a contest of productive forces, and at root a contest of scientific and technological innovation capability. The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC pointed out that from now on, the central task of the Communist Party of China is to unite and lead the people of all ethnic groups across the country to comprehensively build a great modern socialist country, achieve the Second Centenary Goal [3]3 The Second Centenary Goal is the goal of building China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful by the middle of the 21st century, marking the centenary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 2049., and comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization. Adhere to the core position of innovation in the overall situation of Chinese-path modernization construction. Relying on scientific and technological innovation to transform the driving force of development is a trend in world scientific and technological development and also the key to solving the difficulties of Chinese-path modernization construction. For example, cultivate new momentum through original and disruptive technological innovation, lead the development of new quality productive forces, break resource constraints, achieve balanced development, use scientific and technological innovation to help China break the Western mindset that “a strong country is bound to seek hegemony,” and contribute wisdom to the peaceful development of humanity. Vigorously advancing scientific and technological innovation is an important guarantee for the Party to lead the country in enhancing its competitiveness and building a solid line of defense for national security. China is facing a historic period of convergence between the new round of world scientific and technological revolution and industrial revolution and China’s transformation of its development model. Science and technology have never affected the future and destiny of the country and the well-being of the people as profoundly as they do today. Security risks in areas such as economic security, network security, ecological security, biosafety, and national defense security continue to increase. It is necessary to build a new nationwide system for scientific and technological innovation, accelerate the solution of “bottleneck” problems, become pioneers and leaders in emerging frontier interdisciplinary fields, achieve independent control of key core technologies, enhance the country’s soft power, and hold the bottom line of security in the modernization process.

科技创新是中国共产党应对新的时代命题，升华党的历代中央领导集体关于解放和发展科学技术生产力的思想，实现高水平科技自立自强的强大驱动力。大力推进科技创新是中国共产党践行初心使命的选择。以人民为中心，增进人民福祉、促进人的全面发展始终是党的工作的出发点和落脚点。为人民谋幸福、为民族谋复兴是党领导工作的主旨，鲜明地体现在党中央提出的“面向世界科技前沿、面向经济主战场、面向国家重大需求、面向人民生命健康”的科技创新战略导向上。只有加快各领域科技创新，掌握全球科技竞争先机，党才能领导中国从大国走向强国。大力推进科技创新是党领导人民加快建设中国式现代化的必要条件。国家兴衰的世界历史逻辑显示，国家竞争就是实力之争，本质是生产力之争，根源是科技创新能力之争。党的二十大报告指出，从现在起，中国共产党的中心任务就是团结带领全国各族人民全面建成社会主义现代化强国、实现第二个百年奋斗目标，以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴。坚持创新在中国式现代化建设全局中的核心地位。依靠科技创新转换发展动力是世界科技发展的趋势，也是解决中国式现代化建设难题的钥匙，例如，通过原创性颠覆性技术创新培育新动能，引领新质生产力发展，破解资源约束，实现均衡发展，以科技创新助力中国打破西方“国强必霸”的思维陷阱，为人类和平发展贡献智慧等。大力推进科技创新是党领导国家提升竞争力，筑牢国家安全防线的重要保障。中国正面临着世界新一轮科技革命和产业革命变革同我国转变发展方式的历史性交汇期，科学技术从来没有像今天这样深刻影响着国家前途命运和人民生活福祉。我国在经济安全、网络安全、生态安全、生物安全和国防安全等领域的安全风险仍不断增加，要构建科技创新新型举国体制，加快解决“卡脖子”问题，在新兴前沿交叉领域成为开拓者、领跑者，实现关键核心技术自主可控，增强国家软实力，守住现代化进程的安全底线。

The Communist Party of China upholds the positions, viewpoints, and methods of Marxism, integrates the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture, and leads the people in forging a path of scientific and technological innovation with Chinese characteristics. To accelerate the building of an innovative country, it is necessary to give full play to the political and institutional advantages of the Party’s leadership and further drive scientific and technological innovation. First, uphold the Party Central Committee’s centralized, unified leadership over scientific and technological work and its full-chain deployment and full-domain layout of scientific and technological innovation. The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the greatest strength of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Improve the new system for mobilizing resources nationwide [4]4 The new system for mobilizing resources nationwide (新型举国体制) refers to a contemporary Chinese institutional mechanism that combines state strategic direction with market mechanisms to concentrate resources on major scientific and technological tasks., carry out top-level design, overall planning, and coordinated arrangements for scientific and technological innovation, build a coordinated and efficient decision-making command system and organizational implementation system, pool a powerful combined force to drive scientific and technological innovation, and ensure that the development of scientific and technological undertakings always advances in the correct direction. Basic research is the key to scientific and technological innovation. By strengthening the forward-looking, strategic, and systematic layout of basic research, the Party Central Committee actively establishes interdisciplinary research clusters and task-oriented teams, gives play to the leading role of platforms such as national laboratories and large-scale scientific facilities in supporting basic research and frontier exploration, encourages the proposal of original basic theories and the mastery of underlying technical principles, and solidifies the foundation and base of scientific and technological innovation. Second, actively promote the integrated development of education, science and technology, and human resources, and consolidate the talent foundation for scientific and technological innovation. The way of innovation lies first in obtaining talent and broadly storing it [5]5 A classical allusion to the importance of talent, derived from the Ming dynasty text *Expanding Wisdom* (《广智》) by the scholar-official Zhang Juzheng.. Adhere to the principle of the Party managing talent and implement a systematic talent strategy. Use new industrial forms to force educational reform, empower educational development with scientific and technological innovation achievements, use high-quality education to reserve high-quality talent for scientific and technological innovation, and use high-level scientific and technological talent to promote the development of scientific and technological innovation. Flexibly formulate systems for talent cultivation, introduction, development, and incentives, gather outstanding talent from all fields to devote themselves to the cause of the Party and the people, and form a comparative advantage for scientific and technological innovation talent in international competition. Third, further deepen reform and fully unleash the innovation vitality of the whole society. Reform of institutions and mechanisms is the underlying logic for shaping the national innovation system. Efforts need to be made from multiple dimensions such as institutional design, resource allocation, and evaluation and incentives, accurately position government functions and the central-local coordination relationship, optimize the governance system, strengthen the principal role of enterprises in innovation, and enhance the market’s driving force for innovation. The government should act as a link for the organization and coordination of scientific and technological innovation, improve the investment mechanism combining competitive support and stable support, promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, establish an integrated development mechanism of “government, industry, academia, research, finance, application, and users” [6]6 “Government, industry, academia, research, finance, application, and users” (政产学研金服用) is a Chinese policy shorthand for a seven-element innovation ecosystem linking state, business, universities, research institutes, financial institutions, technology application, and end users., and increase the efficiency of scientific and technological innovation and its application and transformation output. Actively explore a multi-factor scientific research evaluation system and give play to the positive incentive role of evaluation orientation. Fourth, adhere to the path of independent scientific and technological innovation with Chinese characteristics while balancing open cooperation. The Communist Party of China should dialectically handle the relationship between independent scientific and technological innovation and international exchange and cooperation, seize opportunities such as jointly building international mega-science projects, practice the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, and promote open cooperation in science and technology.

中国共产党坚持马克思主义的立场、观点、方法，将马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，带领人民走出一条中国特色科技创新道路。为加快建设创新型国家，需要充分发挥党的领导的政治优势、制度优势，进一步驱动科技创新。第一，坚持党中央对科技工作的集中统一领导和对科技创新的全链条部署、全领域布局。中国共产党的领导是中国特色社会主义制度的最大优势。健全新型举国体制，做好科技创新的顶层设计、总体布局和统筹协调工作，构建协同高效的决策指挥体系和组织实施体系，凝聚推动科技创新的强大合力，保证科技事业发展始终沿着正确方向前进。基础研究是科技创新的关键。党中央通过强化基础研究前瞻性、战略性、系统性布局，积极组建交叉学科群和攻关团队，发挥国家实验室、大科学装置等平台支持基础研究和前沿探索的引领作用，鼓励提出原创基础理论、掌握底层技术原理，筑牢科技创新根基和底座。第二，积极推进教育、科技、人才一体化发展，夯实科技创新人才基础。创新之道，首在得人且广以储之。坚持党管人才原则，实施体系化人才战略。以新型产业形态倒逼教育改革，以科技创新成果赋能教育发展，以高质量的教育为科技创新储备高素质人才，以高水平科技人才推动科技创新发展。灵活制定人才培养、引进、发展和激励制度，集聚各方面优秀人才投身到党和人民事业，形成科技创新人才国际竞争比较优势。第三，进一步深化改革，充分释放全社会创新活力。体制机制改革是塑造国家创新体系的底层逻辑，需要从制度设计、资源配置、评价激励等多维度着力，准确定位政府职能以及央地协同关系，优化治理体系，强化企业的创新主体地位，增强市场创新驱动力。政府做好科技创新组织协同的纽带，完善竞争性支持和稳定性支持相结合的投入机制，推进科技创新和产业创新深度融合，建立“政产学研金服用”融合发展机制，提高科技创新及其应用转化产出效率。主动探索多要素的科研评价体系，发挥评价导向的正向激励作用。第四，坚持走中国特色科技自主创新道路与开放合作兼顾。中国共产党要辩证处理科技自主创新与国际交流合作的关系，抓住共建国际大科学工程等契机，践行人类命运共同体理念，推动科技开放合作。

(The author is Director of the Academic Committee, Vice Dean, and Professor of the School of Marxism at the University of Science and Technology of China)

（作者系中国科学技术大学马克思主义学院学术委员会主任、副院长、教授）

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