Why can American scientific and technological achievements be firmly ranked first in the world?

“It’s easy to conquer the world, but it’s difficult to sit in the world.” Technological innovation is like “conquering the world”, and management of scientific and technological achievements is like “sit down in the world.” The United States has become a world economic power because it attaches importance to the innovation of industrial technology and the industrialization of achievements. . In the eyes of Americans, only technological innovation is far from enough. There must be a sound mechanism to manage scientific and technological achievements in order to better promote the rapid development of science and technology and the economy. Today, let’s take a look at how the United States “sit the world.” “What?” 

First, there are special government agencies in the United States responsible for the management of scientific and technological achievements, mainly the Ministry of Commerce and its subordinate scientific and technological management institutions.

The Ministry of Commerce itself has a strong scientific and technological work team composed of ministers, executive deputy ministers, ministers responsible for technology, deputy ministers responsible for ocean and atmospheric affairs, assistant ministers responsible for communications and information affairs, assistant ministers responsible for patent and trademark affairs, and national Formed by the dean of the Institute of Standards and Technology. Moreover, various departments under the Department of Commerce, such as the National Patent Office (USPTO), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), are all in It plays an extremely important role in promoting industrial technological innovation and the industrialization of achievements.

Second, in the management of scientific and technological achievements, the US government has issued many laws and regulations to promote the promotion and transformation of scientific and technological achievements.

At present, there are more than 10 laws and regulations that are well known to people, which shows that the United States attaches importance to the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. The editor is here to list the main relevant laws and regulations in the United States for your reference.

1. Stevenson-Wyler Technology Innovation Act

(Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Actof 1980).

The bill requires federal government laboratories to promote the transfer of inventions and technologies owned by the federal government to state governments, local governments, and the private sector. All federal government laboratories must use a certain percentage of their research and development budgets for transfer activities, and establish a research and technology application office to promote such transfers.

2. Beh-Dor University and Small Business Patent Law

(Bayh-DoleAct (Patent and Trademark Law Amendment) of 1980).

The law was formulated to encourage mutual exchanges between academic institutions and business enterprises. Allow government fund recipients and contractors to retain ownership of inventions funded by the federal government, and encourage universities to transfer inventions to industry. The law will vest the ownership of inventions made by contractors (small businesses, universities, and non-profit institutions) receiving federal government research and development funds to the contractors.

3. Small business innovation and development law

(Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982)

The law requires each federal agency with a research and development budget of 100 million U.S. dollars or more to set aside a certain percentage of the budget to fund small business innovation research.

4. Federal Government Technology Transfer Act

(Federal Technology Actof 1986)

The Act amends the Stevenson-Wyler Technology Innovation Act to recognize cooperative research and development agreements between federal government laboratories and other entities, including state government agencies.

5. Comprehensive Trade and Competition Law

(Omnibus Tradeand Competitiveness Act of 1988)

The law proposes to strengthen the promotion and transformation of scientific and technological achievements as a major measure to improve the competitiveness of enterprises. In addition, several new programs (such as manufacturing technology centers) have been established in the National Institute of Standards and Technology of the Ministry of Commerce to help small and medium manufacturers improve their competitiveness.

6. National Competitive Technology Transfer Law

(National Competitiveness Technology Transfer Act of 1989)

This is part of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, which amends the Stevenson-Wyler Technology Innovation Act to allow government-owned and contractor-operated laboratories to participate in cooperative research and development agreements. Through legislation, strengthen the responsibility of the federal government and research institutions for promotion and transformation, remove unreasonable barriers that restrict promotion and transformation, and improve the international competitiveness of the US economy by accelerating the promotion and transformation of federally funded technological achievements.

7. Military Conversion, Reinvestment and Transition Assistance Act

(Defense Conversion, Reinvestment and Transition Assistance Act of 1992)

The law created a technology reinvestment plan to meet the needs of the civilian sector and the defense sector for technology development, technology deployment, and technology education and training through cooperation between agencies.

In addition to the above laws, relevant laws include:

National Cooperative Research (NationalcooperativeResearchActof1984), Federal Technology Transfer Act (FederalTechnologyTransferActof1986), Small Business Technology Transfer Act (smallBusinessTechnologyTransferActof1992)

“National Technology Transfer and Promotion Act” (NationalTransferandAdvancementActof1995)

“Federal Technology Transfer Commercialization Act” (FederalTechnologyTransferActof1997)

“Technology Transfer Commercialization Act” (TechnologyTransferCommercializationActof2000), etc.

However, as far as the editor knows, on February 26, 2016, the State Council issued the “Notice on Printing and Distributing Certain Provisions of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Promoting the Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements”. Although the domestic emphasis on the transformation of scientific and technological achievements is not strong, under the leadership of Xi Da, the country has gradually begun to attach importance to the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. The editor is still very pleased. I believe that in the near future, the rate of transformation of scientific and technological achievements in my country will be greatly increased. Boost! The speed is slow, it doesn’t matter, if you make a little progress every day, you will surely achieve a qualitative leap! Let us wait and see together!

Third, the information service system for scientific and technological achievements in the United States is also very complete and very rich .

Due to the United States’ requirements for the maximum dissemination and use of information on scientific and technological achievements, coupled with the strong support of national finance, the United States has formed a basic hierarchical structure of the information service industry after 200 years of construction. This hierarchical structure is not artificially planned, but is gradually formed with the development of material, economy, and science and technology.

The first level is the information service organizations that the US government supports, such as the Library of Congress, the National Agricultural Library, the National Library of Medicine, the National Library of Standards and Technology, the National Technical Information Service Center, the National Patent and Trademark Documentation Center, and various ministries Professional information center. They are all passed legislation, supported by the state budget and timely appropriations. They must complete the tasks stipulated by the legislation, and after the formed information products enter the market, their finances will implement “separate revenue and expenditure.”

The second level is information service agencies supported by the state government. For example, each state has a state library and some information centers and research centers, all of which are supported by the state government budget.

The third level is the information service organizations of the American education system, such as the libraries of American universities, the Institute of Information, the Information Center, and the Institute of Strategic Studies. These information service organizations are mainly engaged in information analysis and diversified budgets. Not only the federal government or the state government provides certain support, but also schools, private foundations or private individuals will also provide some support.

The fourth level is the information service organization to which the company belongs. In the United States, corporate information centers are mainly to ensure that their professional information needs and information exchange channels are unblocked. Their budgets are supported by their respective companies.

The fifth level is a variety of independent private information organizations. This kind of information organization can have a long or short lifespan, survive the fittest, and is very active.

Fourth, the evaluation of scientific and technological achievements in the United States

The United States has a diversified and sound scientific and technological evaluation organization structure. Legislation, administration, institutions of higher learning, and private non-profit scientific organizations examine the impact of American science and technology policies and the performance of scientific research from different perspectives.

The U.S. federal government’s technology assessment can basically be divided into three levels:

The first level is the White House decision-making body, including the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) and the President’s Council of Advisorson Science & Technology (PCAST), which mainly examine the national science and technology development strategy and technology The effects of policy implementation and existing problems;

The second level is the department responsible for implementing national science and technology development strategies, implementing federal science and technology policies, and managing national scientific research institutions (or funding scientific research activities of scientific research institutions);

The third level is the evaluation of scientific research institutions themselves. Each national scientific research institution or scientific program responsible department (person in charge) submits an annual performance report to the higher-level institution in accordance with the provisions of the Government Performance and Results Act.

In the United States, the National Academy of Science (NAS), the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the permanent institution of the three-the National Council for Scientific Research (National The National Academy Complex composed of the Research Council (NRC) is an extremely important part of the American science and technology evaluation system. NRC often only accepts commissions from Congress or the federal government to carry out evaluation activities for major scientific research projects. The science and technology evaluation report provided by the National Science Research Council has played an important role in the formulation of Congressional legislation and the formulation of science and technology policies by the federal government and related departments.

The evaluation procedures of American scientific and technological achievements are as follows:

①Technical experts and related risk analysis experts form a comprehensive assessment team;

②Each important evaluation project is assigned an experienced person to be responsible;

③Analyze the content to be evaluated, clarify the feasibility, and choose the main evaluation method;

④The evaluation team makes a work plan and survey outline;

⑤External technical experts and risk analysts have extensive contacts to obtain as much current information as possible;

⑥ Drafting and revising the evaluation report, submitting it to the Congress, holding a hearing, and issuing it through.

Fifth, American science and technology awards

The science and technology awards in the United States are mainly divided into national science and technology awards and departmental science and technology awards. The National Science Award, National Technology Award, Fermi Award, and President’s Outstanding Young Scholar Award are all national awards described below: the National Academy of Sciences Award, the American Academy of Engineering Award, and the American Physical Society (APS) Award are departmental awards.

1. National MedalofScience

The award is the highest scientific honor in the United States and is awarded by the President of the United States to scientists who have made outstanding achievements. It was formally established by the U.S. Congress in 1959 and awarded once a year. The award scope includes physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, engineering and other fields. In 1980, the U.S. Congress decided to expand the scope of the National Science Award to include the social sciences and behavioral sciences. The rewards are for American citizens or persons with permanent residency who have applied for American citizenship within 12 months. The National Science Foundation is responsible for organizing the daily work of the National Science Award evaluation

2. National MedalofTechnology

The award was passed by the United States Congress as the Stevenson Wyler Technology Innovation Act in 1980, and was awarded by the President of the United States for engineering and technical personnel or companies that have made outstanding achievements in promoting employment and improving the global competitiveness of American companies. It was selected in 1985 and reviewed once a year. The scope of awards includes product and process invention, technology transfer, advanced manufacturing technology, technology management, human resource development, environmental protection technology and other fields. The rewards are individuals or companies. The nominee must be a U.S. citizen, and can be an individual or a team of no more than 4 people; the nominated company can be for-profit or non-profit, but the company must be owned by the United States more than 50% of the shares or property. The U.S. Federal Department of Commerce is responsible for the daily work of the National Technology Award evaluation.

3. Enrico Fermi Award

The Fermi Award is a kind of presidential award, one of the oldest and most authoritative science and technology awards awarded by the US federal government. It rewards scientists who have made outstanding achievements in long-term research in the development, use and production of energy and enjoy a high international reputation. Awards are given in a wide range of fields, including scientific and technological achievements in nuclear energy, the interaction and influence of atoms, molecules and particles. The recipients of the Fermi Award include scientists, engineers and science policy makers who benefit mankind in energy science and technology research. Winners must be alive and not limited to U.S. citizens. The US Federal Department of Energy is responsible for the daily work of the review.

4. President’s Outstanding Young Scholar Award

(Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers)

The award, established in February 1996 by the then U.S. President Clinton, is the highest honor given by the U.S. government to young scholars in developing their own independent research career. It is selected once a year, and the winner can only be awarded once in their lifetime. The National Council for Science and Technology is responsible for coordinating relevant departments to implement the award review.

5. American Academy of Sciences Award

The American Academy of Sciences has oceanography, biology and medicine, aerospace engineering, marine design and engineering, applied mathematics, chemistry, neuroscience, molecular biology, microbiology, ecology, biophysics, astronomy, and the National Academy of Sciences Public Welfare Award 10 Multiple. These awards are all funded by different institutions, companies or individuals. The time of establishment is different, the management and evaluation institutions are different, the subjects accepted are different, and there is no unified regulation on the selection cycle and bonus amount, but there is only one purpose, and that is to commend. Winners’ outstanding achievements in different disciplines and outstanding contributions to society.

6. American Academy of Engineering Award

The American Academy of Engineering has established three awards: the Founders Award, the Arthur M. Bueche Award and the Charles Stark Draper Prize, which are the highest honors an engineer can obtain Professional awards. Among them, the Draper Award has been sponsored by Draper Laboratories, and has become one of the highest awards in the world.

7. American Physical Society Award

There are nearly 50 various awards from the American Physical Society. These awards cover almost every major in physics. Most of them are funded by companies, enterprises, national laboratories, news magazines and individuals. Different professional fields form their own expert review meetings.

Summary and inspiration

1. Improve the national science and technology system, formulate science and technology policies scientifically, and promote the development of science and technology

The U.S. becoming a world economic power has largely benefited from the important role played by the U.S. government in the development of science and technology. my country should also gradually improve the national science and technology system and carry out certain reforms in science and technology management institutions to promote effective and scientific decision-making. The more important point in improving the science and technology system is that we should gradually transform the current “state-led” type of my country’s science and technology system into “enterprise-led and state-led”. The state should formulate appropriate policies to guide enterprises and private funds to invest in innovative projects, encourage enterprise research and development, so that enterprises can truly become the main body of investment and implementation of research and development in our country, and government support for scientific and technological development should be more reflected In terms of legislation, rules and regulations, tax incentives, and research and development funding, enterprises can give full play to the role of social scientific research forces such as enterprises and establish their leading position in technological innovation.

2. Establish a legal system that encourages mutual cooperation between innovative entities, and regulate the government’s legal responsibilities in technological transformation

In terms of the legal system, the policy support of the US government has effectively promoted the development of science and technology and the promotion and transformation of achievements. Judging from the situation in the United States, China’s experience is worth learning from: ①Legal systems that encourage mutual cooperation among innovative entities, such as the “Federal Technology Transfer Act” promulgated by the United States to authorize federal scientific research institutions to conduct cooperative research with state governments and corporate scientific research institutions. The bill not only encourages the cooperation of domestic scientific research forces at all levels, but also encourages international cooperation in high and new technology; ②The government’s statutory responsibilities in technology transformation, such as the “Technology Innovation Act” passed by the US Congress clearly states that the federal government’s research and investment in the country The transformation of development achievements is responsible and requires government departments to promote the transfer of high-tech supported by the federal government to local governments and enterprises. Therefore, our country should improve the legal system that encourages the mutual cooperation of innovation entities, and clarify the government’s statutory responsibilities in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, so as to promote the development of science and technology and the promotion and transformation of achievements more quickly.

3. Promote the socialization of scientific and technological information and strengthen the construction of information networks and databases to maximize value

The information service of American scientific and technological achievements is also relatively complete. The laws and policies of the United States require the spread and use of government information to the greatest extent, so that the information can achieve the greatest value for the entire society. Information service institutions at different levels provide convenient conditions for the disclosure and transformation of scientific and technological achievements. In our country, government departments have more than 80% of valuable social information resources and thousands of very valuable databases. Government information is accurate, comprehensive, and authoritative. However, the concept of “state-owned information resources” has not been clearly put forward in our country, and there is a lack of fair mechanisms for data production and data consumption, especially for compulsory laws and policies. Therefore, it is necessary to take effective measures to “live” this part of information and realize the market value of government information resources. Government information should be urged to serve the society as much as possible, open to the outside world (except confidential information), and truly realize the information exchange between various government departments and between the government and all sectors of society. Create an environment conducive to the development of the information service industry, thereby driving the development of the entire social productivity.

In addition, to improve the management of scientific and technological achievements, especially the efficiency of transformation, it is very important to strengthen the construction of information networks and databases. my country should learn from the experience of the United States and improve the high-speed information network of scientific and technological achievements. The information network should be complete and easy to use. It can not only be used by universities, research and development institutions, and other researchers to use the information to formulate research and development directions and negotiate cooperative research matters before scientific research projects, but also provide unimpeded transmission, diffusion and exchange of scientific and technological achievements. The network environment and abundant and complete information resources support.

4. Ensuring scientific and technological evaluation work by improving legislation

The science and technology assessment in the United States is protected by legislation, and the functions, rights, and responsibilities of relevant science and technology assessment agencies at the Congress level are determined by clear legal provisions. The new scientific research project will be fixed in legal form once approved. At present, my country’s science and technology assessment has no clear legal support. Only the “Interim Measures for the Administration of Science and Technology Assessment” promulgated by the Ministry of Science and Technology has specified specific regulations in terms of assessment type and scope, management, assessment institutions and personnel, assessment procedures, and legal responsibilities. In this regard, my country can learn from the experience and practices of the United States, and through perfect legislation, combine the work of scientific and technological evaluation with the performance monitoring of government expenditures, so that the work of scientific and technological evaluation can be institutionalized, standardized, and regularized.

5. Add pure spiritual rewards to affirm the contributions of scientists

American science and technology awards pay more attention to honor. National awards such as the National Science Award, National Technology Award, and Fermi Award have no bonuses. In our country, with the continuous deepening of the reform process, we have gone from one misunderstanding to another. Pure spiritual rewards are gradually replaced by material rewards. Although this reflects the progress of my country’s science and technology reward system from one aspect, it also loses the original implication of science and technology rewards on the other hand. For scientists, money is not the most important thing, the most important thing is the recognition and honor for their contributions. As long as the rewards are appropriate, pure spiritual rewards can also achieve the desired effect. Therefore, it is also necessary to retain or add some pure spiritual rewards with greater impact. A purely spiritual reward that works well and has a high reputation may have a greater incentive and promotion effect on scientific researchers. The successful practice in the United States is a good example. In a sense, purely spiritual scientific and technological rewards are indispensable in a modern civilized society.

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