The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) have jointly released the Interim Measures for National Key Research and Development Programs (the "Measures").
According to the Measures, the national key research and development (R&D) programs shall be subject to key special project management and hierarchy project management. Key special projects are the carrier for the organization and implementation of national key R&D programs, focusing on major national strategic tasks. Projects, as the basic units for the organization and implementation of key special projects, shall contribute to the goals of key special projects and may be subdivided into a certain number of subjects. Meanwhile, the Measures specify that the entire process of national key R&D programs is incorporated into a unified national science and technology management information system, which covers guide release, review and project approval, fund use, process management, comprehensive performance assessment, achievement transformation and application, among others. The Measures clarify that the motions for key special projects will be provided by institutions, localities, enterprises, and other parties upon study. The MOST will formulate the proposal for a project to be established upon organizing demonstration and making comprehensive considerations in accordance with the project establishment regulations, and submit it for approval as per relevant procedures. For motions with urgent needs, the "case-by-case deliberation" approach will be adopted to speed up the launch on the basis of rapid response and flexible deployment.