Laying Foundations, Building Platforms, Cross-Integration — The Construction of Philosophy and Social Science Laboratories during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period

When scholars decipher the climatic codes hidden in tree rings through a microscope, when researchers observe the psychological mechanisms behind economic decisions in behavioral laboratories, when massive historical documents are re-analyzed by artificial intelligence technology to reveal new laws of civilizational development, when computers simulate the future landscape of the “Ice Silk Road” on a map through parameter tuning… these scenes, brimming with a sense of technology, do not take place in natural science laboratories, but are rather everyday snapshots of philosophy and social science laboratories in China today.

当学者透过显微镜解析木材年轮隐藏的气候密码，当研究人员在行为实验室内观测经济决策背后的心理机制，当海量历史文献通过人工智能技术被重新解析并揭示出新的文明发展规律，当计算机通过参数调试在地图上模拟出“冰上丝绸之路”的未来图景……这些充满科技感的场景，并非发生在自然科学实验室，而是今日中国哲学社会科学实验室的日常剪影。

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, a batch of distinctive philosophy and social science laboratories have sprung up in universities and research institutes across the country. Rooted in China’s realities, focusing on cutting-edge issues, and concentrating superior strengths, they are moving from blueprints of top-level design to solid, grounded practice, growing from a strategic layout for disciplinary development into an indispensable pillar of the philosophy and social science enterprise, injecting a continuous stream of intellectual vitality into China’s economic and social development.

“十四五”期间，一批特色鲜明的哲学社会科学实验室在全国高校与科研院所中拔地而起。它们立足中国实际，聚焦前沿问题，集中优势力量，正从顶层规划的蓝图走向扎实落地的实践，从学科发展的战略布局成长为哲学社会科学事业中不可或缺的支柱性力量，为我国经济社会发展注入源源不断的智力活水。

National Strategy Guides the Accelerated Construction of the Laboratory System

国家战略引领实验室体系加速构建

General Secretary Xi Jinping has always been concerned with “building a national laboratory system with Chinese characteristics,” and the report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC [1]1 The 20th National Congress of the CPC was held in October 2022. clearly issued the mobilization order to “form a national laboratory system.” The *National 14th Five-Year Plan for Philosophy and Social Sciences Development* [2]2 The 14th Five-Year Plan covers the years 2021–2025. further made specific arrangements, directing the guidance and construction of a number of key philosophy and social science laboratories, aimed at solving the comprehensive and complex problems encountered in economic and social development.

习近平总书记始终心系“构建中国特色国家实验室体系”，党的二十大报告明确发出“形成国家实验室体系”的动员令。《国家“十四五”时期哲学社会科学发展规划》更是具体部署，要指导建设一批哲学社会科学重点实验室，旨在破解经济社会发展中遇到的综合性、复杂性难题。

Beneath the grand blueprint, a philosophy and social science laboratory system with Chinese characteristics is being constructed at an unprecedented pace. In 2021, the first batch of the Ministry of Education’s philosophy and social science laboratories was announced, with 9 pilot laboratories, including Peking University’s Linguistics Laboratory and Tsinghua University’s Laboratory of Computational Social Science and National Governance, and 21 cultivation laboratories, including Renmin University of China’s Laboratory of Digital Government and National Governance, standing out, marking the entry of laboratory construction into a substantive operational phase.

宏伟蓝图之下，中国特色哲学社会科学实验室体系正以前所未有的速度构建。2021年，首批教育部哲学社会科学实验室名单揭晓，北京大学语言学实验室、清华大学计算社会科学与国家治理实验室等9家试点实验室与中国人民大学数字政府与国家治理实验室等21家培育实验室脱颖而出，标志着实验室建设进入实质性操作阶段。

In 2023, the issuance of the *Ministry of Education Measures for the Construction and Management of Philosophy and Social Science Laboratories (Trial)* [3]3 The Ministry of Education is the central government agency overseeing education in China. charted a clear path for laboratory construction: it must focus on forward-looking, comprehensive, and complex issues, make full use of information technology, promote deep cross-integration within philosophy and social sciences and between them and the sciences, engineering, agriculture, and medicine, foster new disciplinary growth points, lead a fundamental transformation of research paradigms, and ultimately build high-quality innovation platforms that integrate disciplines and combine teaching, research, and policy advice.

2023年，《教育部哲学社会科学实验室建设与管理办法（试行）》的出台，为实验室建设指明了清晰路径：必须着眼前瞻性、综合性、复杂性问题，充分利用信息技术，推动哲学社会科学内部及其与理工农医学科的深度交叉融合，催生新的学科增长点，引领研究范式根本性转型，最终建成学科交叉、教研咨政并举的高质量创新平台。

This series of intensive deployments marks the formal transformation of philosophy and social science laboratories from a conceptual idea into a practical action forcefully promoted at the national level, and their innovative potential is being rapidly unleashed.

这一系列紧锣密鼓的部署，标志着哲学社会科学实验室已从设想的概念，正式转化为国家层面强力推动的实践行动，其创新潜力正在加速释放。

Cross-Integration Empowers a Profound Transformation of Research Paradigms

交叉融合赋能研究范式深刻变革

Stepping into the Wood Archaeology Laboratory, part of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Key Laboratory of Scientific Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Protection, a strong atmosphere of academic exploration greets you. The laboratory’s director, Wang Shuzhi, is identifying wood species under a microscope. “Building a tree-ring database is the key to decoding the connections between past climates, ecosystems, and human civilization,” she told the reporter. Here, how to match appropriate technologies for archaeology, how to interpret massive data from an archaeological perspective, and how to promote deeper integration between archaeology and the natural sciences are core issues that team members continuously explore.

走进中国社会科学院科技考古与文化遗产保护重点实验室下属的木材考古实验室，浓郁的学术探索气息扑面而来。实验室负责人王树芝正借助显微镜鉴定木材种属。“建设树木年轮数据库，是解码过去气候、生态系统与人类文明关联的关键钥匙。”她告诉记者。在这里，如何为考古学匹配合适技术，如何对海量数据进行考古学阐释，如何推动考古学与自然科学更深度的融合，是团队成员不断求索的核心议题。

In May of this year, the Key Laboratory of Scientific Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Protection released “Research on the Manufacturing Techniques and Conservation and Restoration Results of Tang Dynasty Pottery Dragon-Head Architectural Components Unearthed from the Ancient Guchengzhou Site in Xiong’an, Hebei,” which vividly demonstrated the charm of cross-integration. The application of various cutting-edge technological methods—computed tomography scanning, curved-surface micro-area X-ray fluorescence analysis, 3D laser scanning, virtual splicing—provided new archaeological evidence for the evolution of dragon imagery and powerfully substantiated the transmission of Xiong’an New Area’s millennia-old cultural lineage.

今年5月，科技考古与文化遗产保护重点实验室发布的“河北雄安古州城遗址出土唐代陶质龙首建筑构件制作工艺及保护修复成果”，集中展现了交叉融合的魅力。计算机断层扫描、曲面微区X射线荧光分析、三维激光扫描、虚拟拼接……多种尖端科技手段的运用，为龙文化形象演变提供了崭新的考古证据，有力实证了雄安新区千年文脉的传承。

“We have constructed a collaborative innovation model of ‘goal-oriented, division of labor and cooperation, and resource sharing,’” introduced Lü Peng, deputy director of the Key Laboratory of Scientific Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Protection. This promotes the transformation of research from “single-discipline research” to “interdisciplinary systematic problem-solving,” facilitates the cross-domain flow of knowledge and technology, achieves the mutual penetration of basic and applied research, and provides a vivid model for the new research form of “new technology + philosophy and social sciences.”

“我们构建了‘目标导向、分工协作、资源共享’的协同创新模式。”科技考古与文化遗产保护重点实验室副主任吕鹏介绍，这推动科研从“单一学科研究”向“跨学科系统攻关”转型，促进了知识与技术的跨域流动，实现了基础研究与应用研究的相互渗透，为“新技术+哲学社会科学”科研新形态提供了生动范本。

As one of the first batch of pilot laboratories, Tsinghua University’s Laboratory of Computational Social Science and National Governance is dedicated to building a comprehensive platform for the new liberal arts [4]4 “New liberal arts” (新文科) refers to a reform initiative to modernize humanities and social science disciplines, often through integration with digital technologies and natural sciences.. Meng Tianguang, deputy director of the laboratory and professor at Tsinghua University’s School of Social Sciences, told the reporter that their interdisciplinary integration is by no means a “patchwork” combination. Instead, by building a hub-type organization, leveraging major platforms, taking experimental research as the core mechanism, and using disciplinary cross-integration as the internal driving force, they explore innovative models for organized research in the new liberal arts.

作为首批试点之一，清华大学计算社会科学与国家治理实验室致力于打造新文科综合平台。实验室副主任、清华大学社会科学学院教授孟天广向记者介绍，他们的跨学科融合绝非“拼盘式”组合，而是通过建设枢纽型组织，以重大平台为牵引，以实验研究为核心机制，以学科交叉为内在动力，探索新文科有组织科研的创新模式。

“Compared with traditional social science research institutions, philosophy and social science laboratories have been endowed with multiple missions from the moment of their birth,” said Qian Minghui, director of the Humanities and Social Sciences Department at Renmin University of China. “They have broken the traditional paradigm that mainly relied on literature review and speculative argumentation, pushing humanities and social science research towards empirical, precise, and scientific directions. They have become a key engine driving the development of China’s philosophy and social science enterprise.”

“与传统社科研究机构相比，哲学社会科学实验室自诞生之初就被赋予了多重使命。”中国人民大学人文社会科学部部长钱明辉表示，“它打破了传统主要依赖文献研读和思辨论证的范式，推动人文社科研究向实证化、精准化、科学化方向演进，已成为推动中国哲学社会科学事业发展的关键引擎。”

Diverse Paths of Exploration, Results Serving National Welfare and People’s Livelihood

多元路径探索成果服务国计民生

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, universities and research institutes, combining their own characteristics, have formed a situation of “a hundred flowers blooming” [5]5 “A hundred flowers blooming” (百花齐放) is a classical Chinese idiom, famously used by Mao Zedong in 1956 to encourage diverse intellectual and artistic expression. on the path of constructing philosophy and social science laboratories.

“十四五”期间，各高校与科研院所结合自身特色，在哲学社会科学实验室建设道路上形成了百花齐放的局面。

The Party Leadership Group of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences [6]6 The Party Leadership Group (党组) is a leading Party body established within state organs and other organizations to ensure the implementation of Party policies. has made unified plans, relying on the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, integrating resources, and constructing a key laboratory support platform, a laboratory incubation platform, and a database platform. A laboratory cluster that is “effective within the academy, has highlights in the industry, and has influence nationwide” is rising. Renmin University of China has systematically constructed a “1+N+X” three-tier architecture system: one university-level core platform supports N college-level experimental centers, which in turn radiate and drive X characteristic research direction laboratories, forming a virtuous ecological closed loop connecting production, learning, research, and application. Nankai University’s Laboratory of Economic Behavior and Policy Simulation adheres to serving national strategy, features disciplinary cross-integration, is based on data-driven and digital technology empowerment, and simultaneously exerts effort in both theoretical frontiers and policy advisory services. Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Laboratory of Digital Management Decision, leveraging its strengths in science and engineering, breaks down disciplinary barriers and constructs an innovation path of “technology empowerment, cross-driven development, and distinctive features.” Gu Feng, full-time deputy director of Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s University Affairs Committee, stated that many universities regard the construction of liberal arts laboratories as an important part of their strategic layout to promote research paradigm transformation and high-quality development.

中国社会科学院党组统筹谋划，依托中国社会科学院大学，整合资源，构建了重点实验室支持平台、实验室孵化平台及数据库平台，一个“院内有实效、行业有亮点、全国有影响”的实验室集群正在崛起。中国人民大学系统构建了“1+N+X”三级架构体系，即1个校级核心平台支撑N个学院级实验中心，再辐射带动X个特色研究方向实验室，形成贯通产学研用的良性生态闭环。南开大学经济行为与政策模拟实验室坚持服务国家战略，以学科交叉为特色，基于数据驱动和数字技术赋能，同时在理论前沿与咨政服务两个方向发力。上海交通大学数字化管理决策实验室则立足理工科优势，打破学科壁垒，构建了“技术赋能、交叉驱动、特色发展”的创新路径。上海交通大学校务委员会专职副主任顾锋表示，许多高校都将文科实验室建设作为战略布局的重要部分，以推动研究范式转型和高质量发展。

The results of these laboratories directly serve national welfare and people’s livelihood. A series of reports, such as the *Analysis and Forecast Report on China’s Macroeconomic Situation*, the *Annual Report on China’s Private Enterprises’ Outward Direct Investment Index*, and the *Suggestions on Strengthening and Expanding the Carbon Market in Guangdong to Promote High-Quality Development*, have generated widespread social impact, and many policy proposals have been adopted by national ministries and commissions.

这些实验室的成果直接服务于国计民生。《中国宏观经济形势分析与预测报告》《中国民营企业对外直接投资指数年度报告》《广东做大做强碳市场推进高质量发展的建议》等一系列报告，产生了广泛社会影响，不少政策提案被国家部委采纳。

At the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ National Future City Laboratory, deputy director Cong Xiaonan demonstrated the power of policy simulation to the reporter: this technology simulates different scenarios through computers to analyze the geopolitical situation of the Arctic shipping routes and the “Belt and Road” cross-border transport corridors, providing key decision-making support for improving China’s participation in Arctic affairs and the development strategy of the “Ice Silk Road.”

在中国社会科学院大学国家未来城市实验室，副主任丛晓男向记者展示了政策模拟的力量：这项技术通过计算机模拟不同情景，分析北极航道、“一带一路”跨境运输通道的地缘态势，为完善我国参与北极事务和“冰上丝绸之路”开发策略提供了关键决策支持。

“These results collectively demonstrate the unique value of philosophy and social science laboratories,” evaluated Jiang Dianchun, deputy dean of the School of Economics at Nankai University and deputy director of the Laboratory of Economic Behavior and Policy Simulation. Through methods such as policy simulation, social experiments, and index construction, laboratories transform academic research into concrete, operable decision-making tools, significantly enhancing the scientific nature and precision of policy formulation.

“这些成果集中展现了哲学社会科学实验室的独特价值。”南开大学经济学院副院长、经济行为与政策模拟实验室副主任蒋殿春评价道，通过政策模拟、社会实验、指数构建等方式，实验室将学术研究转化为具象、可操作的决策工具，显著提升了政策制定的科学性与精准性。

At the regional level, provinces such as Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shandong, and Henan have successively initiated the construction of provincial-level key philosophy and social science laboratories. Jinan University hosts two Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratories: the “Key Laboratory of the Community of Life between Humanity and Nature” and the “Key Laboratory of Big Data and International Communication.” Yang Jie, Director of the Social Science Research Office at Jinan University, introduced to the reporter that the “Key Laboratory of the Community of Life between Humanity and Nature” has established a “trinity” [7]7 “三位一体” (sān wèi yī tǐ) — “trinity” or “three-in-one,” a common Chinese political and organizational formula indicating the integration of three elements into a unified whole. training model integrating teaching, research, and international exchange, bringing together over 50 talents from multiple disciplines and forming six interdisciplinary research teams. Zhengzhou University’s “Digital Economy and Industrial Innovation Laboratory,” as the only provincial-level joint laboratory in this field in Henan Province, has innovatively constructed a “four-in-one” [8]8 “四位一体” (sì wèi yī tǐ) — “four-in-one,” a formula analogous to “三位一体,” indicating the integration of four elements. joint system comprising universities, research platforms, market institutions, and think tanks. “This joint system leverages the advantages of multi-institutional co-construction, building an integrated platform for ‘government, industry, academia, research, and application,’ [9]9 “政产学研用” (zhèng chǎn xué yán yòng) — “government, industry, academia, research, and application,” a standard Chinese phrase describing a collaborative innovation model linking these five sectors. which can truly achieve full-chain coverage from basic research to industrial application,” said Wang Haijie, Vice President of Zhengzhou University and head of the laboratory.

在区域层面，广东、江苏、山东、河南等省份相继启动省级哲学社会科学重点实验室建设。暨南大学拥有“人与自然生命共同体重点实验室”“大数据与国际传播重点实验室”两家广东省重点实验室。暨南大学社会科学研究处处长杨杰向记者介绍，“人与自然生命共同体重点实验室”构建了教学、科研、国际交流“三位一体”的培养模式，汇聚了来自多个学科50余名人才，组建了六大跨学科研究团队。郑州大学的“数字经济与产业创新实验室”作为河南省该领域唯一的省级联合实验室，创新性地构建了高校、科研平台、市场机构、智库单位“四位一体”的联合体系。“这种联合体系发挥了多单位共建优势，构建了‘政产学研用’一体化平台，能真正实现从基础研究到产业应用的全链条覆盖。”郑州大学副校长、实验室负责人王海杰说。

Contributing More Solid Theoretical Support for the Future

面向未来贡献更坚实的理论支持

Currently, the construction of the second batch of Ministry of Education Philosophy and Social Science Laboratories is being actively advanced. The new members will continue to focus on major issues of Chinese-path modernization, fully utilize new technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence, strengthen interdisciplinary and cross-field joint research, and produce more outstanding achievements that support the construction of China’s independent knowledge system, serve the practice of Chinese-path modernization, and help disseminate China’s discourse internationally.

目前，第二批教育部哲学社会科学实验室建设工作正在积极推进。新成员们将继续聚焦中国式现代化的重大议题，充分运用大数据、人工智能等新技术，加强跨学科、跨领域联合攻关，产出更多支撑构建中国自主知识体系、服务中国式现代化实践、助力中国话语对外传播的卓越成果。

Looking ahead to the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, [10]10 “十五五” (shí wǔ wǔ) — the 15th Five-Year Plan period, covering 2026–2030. scholars are full of confidence and expectations for the development of philosophy and social science laboratories. Qian Minghui stated that against the backdrop of the new round of technological revolution and the construction of the “New Liberal Arts,” [11]11 “新文科” (xīn wén kē) — “New Liberal Arts,” a Chinese higher education reform initiative promoting the integration of traditional humanities and social sciences with modern technologies like AI and big data. laboratories have become “switches” for the cross-fertilization of advanced technology and humanities and social science knowledge, and are key breakthroughs for universities to promote changes in research organization models and pursue high-quality development. Zhang Tianshu, a professor at the School of Political Science and Public Administration at Shandong University, said that in the future, it is necessary to closely integrate top-level design with university practices, promoting the transformation of liberal arts laboratories from “instrumental platforms” to “innovative academic communities.” On the one hand, barriers between universities and society must be broken down, high-quality resources pooled, and evaluation systems improved; on the other hand, systemic innovation should be encouraged, exploring development models that suit each university’s specific circumstances and local conditions.

展望“十五五”，学者们对哲学社会科学实验室的发展充满信心与期待。钱明辉表示，在新一轮科技革命和“新文科”建设背景下，实验室已成为先进技术与人文社科知识交叉融合的“交换机”，是各高校推动科研组织模式变革、追求高质量发展的重要突破口。山东大学政治学与公共管理学院教授张天舒说，未来，需将顶层设计与高校实践紧密结合，推动文科实验室从“工具性平台”向“创新性学术社群”转型。一方面，要打破高校与社会壁垒，汇聚优质资源，完善评价体系；另一方面，要鼓励系统性创新，探索符合各自校情、地情的发展模式。

In Meng Tianguang’s view, the intelligent age is profoundly changing the paradigm of knowledge production, and future original achievements in philosophy and social sciences will increasingly emerge from interdisciplinary zones. The “open, innovative, collaborative, and cross-disciplinary” operational model commonly adopted by laboratories can more effectively break down disciplinary barriers, integrate multi-disciplinary forces, share resources, and help solve complex problems in economic and social development from multiple dimensions. Jiang Dianchun called for laboratories to place greater emphasis on original methodological innovation, moving beyond simple technological application, with the goal of building a number of national-level laboratories with international influence, serving as “policy simulators” and “strategic rehearsal platforms” for central and local government decision-making. Wang Haijie expressed hope for deepening cooperation with domestic and international institutions, establishing mechanisms for academic exchange and joint talent training, building a bridge for dialogue among “academia, government, and industry,” and continuously enhancing research levels and influence.

在孟天广看来，智能时代正深刻改变知识生产范式，未来哲学社会科学的原创性成果将更多产生于学科交叉地带。实验室普遍采用的“开放、创新、协同、交叉”运行模式，能更有效地打破学科壁垒，整合多学科力量，共享资源，从多维度助力解决经济社会发展的复杂问题。蒋殿春呼吁，实验室应更加注重原始方法创新，超越简单技术应用，目标是建成一批具有国际影响力的国家级实验室，成为中央与地方政府决策的“政策模拟器”与“战略预演平台”。王海杰则期望深化与国内外机构的合作，建立学术交流与人才联合培养机制，搭建“学界—政界—业界”对话桥梁，持续提升研究水平与影响力。

The blueprint has been drawn; set sail once more. With strong national support and the joint efforts of the philosophy and social science community, the construction of philosophy and social science laboratories in China will surely usher in an even brighter tomorrow, contributing more solid theoretical support to comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization.

蓝图已绘就，扬帆再起航。在国家的大力支持与哲学社会科学界的共同努力下，我国哲学社会科学实验室建设必将迎来更加璀璨的明天，为以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴贡献更为坚实的理论支持。

Duan Danjie, Reporter for China Social Sciences Today (Liu Yue, Ban Xiaoyue, Zha Jianguo, Chen Lian, Li Yongjie, and Zhang Qingli of China Social Sciences Today also contributed to the reporting)

中国社会科学报记者 段丹洁（中国社会科学报记者刘越、班晓悦、查建国、陈炼、李永杰、张清俐参与采访）

Online Editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧