Will Relaxed Funding Controls Promote Research？



Will Relaxed Funding Controls Promote Research？

The Central Government has recently announced a series of new measures to relax its stringent control over funding for scientifc research.

For decades， government funds for science in China have been allocated on the basis of administrative regulations. Researchers have had to spend huge amounts of energy and time，either annually or monthly， filling in various expense claim forms in great detail to ensure they receive reimbursement of the costs associated with their research. The rigid reins on scientific funding have even affected normal research activities. Worse still， given the strict control， scientists sometimes resort to claiming funds deceitfully in order to be able to conduct research as they wish.

On the whole， the way science funding is managed in China has undermined scientists' motivation to engage in research. Up to now，equipment and materials have soaked up the lion's share of funding. The reform aims to increase the proportion of funds allocated to researchers and to give them more freedom in how they use the money.

While this round of reform is generally welcomed， doubts also exist about whether relaxing control too much will simply fuel corruption.

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More discretion for scientists

Yue Qian （news.sina.com.cn）: In China， the management of scientifc research is conducted according to a planned model. The applicant must detail every plan and arrangement for how funding will be spent. Having been granted the money， users can spend it only within the framework imposed by the provider.

These detailed plans are necessary in some sense. It makes administrative management easier， while effectively preventing abuse of the funds and scientifc research-related corruption. All modern scientifc research requires planned management.

The problem is that if the rules are too harsh， they might restrict scientists' creativity，which in turn goes against the inherent nature of scientifc research.

Scientifc research does have rules to follow，but in essence， it is a creative activity. It needs to break through current scientifc frameworks and modes to achieve new outcomes. It should be carried out in an independent and free atmosphere.

Overly strict control affects the kind of independence and freedom that are key to scientifc creativity. In particular， in many cases，research plans are put together by administrative authorities according to their own priorities and preferences.

Properly relaxing funding control necessitates accepting the reality that some factors in scientific research are uncontrollable and unpredictable and that respecting the will of researchers is crucial to the development of scientifc research and innovation.

Zhang Tianwei （Beijing Youth Daily）: The current management of scientific research funding is quite ineffective， as demonstrated by two aspects. First， scientific funds are disproportionately allocated in favor of equipment and materials， while researchers receive only a minor share. Second， scientific funds are managed and operated in the same way as government administrative funds. Under the rigid rules，researchers have to spend quite a lot of time getting all kinds of expenses reimbursed.

Leaving insuffcient discretion to researchers over how to use funding has dampened their enthusiasm， and sometimes hinders normal scientifc research. As a result， some have tried to acquire more funds by falsely claiming that they have conferences to attend and important trips to take. Perhaps， only two people will attend a certain activity， but have asked for four places. Actually， this has already become an open secret. Such behavior not only damages researchers' initiative for， and belief in， their work， but also exposes them to risks.

In 2012， for example， a professor from the Renmin University of China was investigated and accused of using funds under false pretenses. The professor claimed that as part of his research， he needed to survey sex workers in south China's Guangdong Province. To gain the cooperation of those involved in prostitution，which is illegal in China， he had to pay them some money， for which， naturally， he was unable to get invoices. Following the investigation，the professor was demoted.

To some extent， the proper management of scientifc research funds may be an international headache. Scientifc programs， particularly highly sophisticated ones， are not easily understood by non-specialists. How much money does a program really need？ Where should the money go？

Under China's current scientific research system， most programs are financed by thegovernment. Preventing deception， embezzlement and corruption is crucial to the success of a program. It's also important because the government is responsible for taxpayers' money. Therefore， reining in funding seems to be the only choice.

Nevertheless， scientifc research is， after all， based on researchers' belief in science and their free will. Excessively strict control over scientific funds places additional burdens on researchers， and constant supervision sometimes forces them to conduct actions under the table. Consequently， the whole of China's scientific circle is infused with a utilitarian atmosphere.

The negative consequences have actually already begun to unfold. Hopefully， this new reform will be able to reverse the trend， help improve the environment for scientific research，and rebuild respect for science in the nation. We need to drag the scientific cause back to the normal path and encourage those engaged in science to renew their passion and belief in the endeavor.

Ke Ji （Economic Daily）: In recent years，we have often heard complaints from the frontlines of scientifc research. Some scientists say they spend a third of their time flling in all kinds of application and reimbursement forms. Others say the complicated reimbursement procedures and long drawn-out process have distracted scientists from their research. The list of complaints goes on.

China's science funding is managed in a traditional administrative style， with rigid rules to follow， which is not conducive to facilitating scientifc research. Suffcient fnancial input should be a strong driver of innovation and creativity，but flaws in the management system block scientific progress. Targeting these problems，the current reform stipulates detailed and pragmatic measures.

Its most signifcant feature is the delegating of power to universities and scientifc research institutions to manage funds for conferences，travel， scientifc equipment purchases and infrastructure construction.

Conferences highlight the issue. Under the current system， if a foreign scientist is invited to attend a conference in China， daily expenses that can be reimbursed may not exceed 800 yuan （$120）， which may be insuffcient to cover the cost of a standard hotel room in a large city. Such embarrassing situations， caused by the rigid travel expense regulations， often arise in the course of academic activities.

The purpose of this round of reform is to stimulate scientifc researchers' creativity. It recognizes and respects their hard work by making it easier for them to use science funding.

Hard nut to crack

Zhang Songchao （China Youth Daily）: For years， government-allocated scientifc research funds have been under such strict control that it's said that researchers have to turn themselves into accountants. Expenses often cannot be reimbursed smoothly. In order to get expenses reimbursed， scientists have to go through many time-consuming procedures.

This round of reform of science budget management aims to stimulate scientists' enthusiasm to undertake research by relaxing control on funding to some extent. The funds can be used across a more extensive range of areas and in a more fexible way.

Meanwhile， it must be pointed out that although stringently controlling funding is not good， loosening the reins too much is not good either. We should always be alert to corruption stemming from scientific research. Statistics from the Ministry of Education show that scientific research-related malpractices are a significant part of corruption in colleges and universities. Without effective restrictions，abuse of funds occurs easily. While relaxing the rules on scientifc research funding， a blind eye should not be turned to corruption.

The new measures have increased payments to， and rewards for， researchers，but if their accounts are not reviewed or checked carefully， the funds could easily be embezzled for purposes other than scientifc research. We know that this happens often nowadays， so more attention should be paid to this issue.

The authorities concerned have a hard nut to crack in deciding how to boost scientifc researchers' creativity and morale while making sure that funds are properly and fully used. ■