Scientific instruments have become necessary tools to seize the strategic heights of science and technology

“The international financial crisis has spawned a new round of scientific and technological revolutions. Governments of various countries have taken measures to seize the commanding heights in the strategic position of science and technology, and scientific instruments and equipment have become necessary means to seize this commanding height.” Wu Xue, Deputy Director of Scientific Research Conditions and Finance Department, Ministry of Science and Technology Ladder said at the recently held instrumentation and green economy summit forum. The forum was held during the 21st Multinational Instrumentation Conference and Exhibition.

In the report titled "Thoughts on the Independent Innovation and Development of National Scientific Instruments and Equipment during the Twelfth Five-Year Plan", Wu Xueti said that original scientific instruments and equipment will often open up new disciplines, bring forth new research results and expand. The ability of human beings to understand the world and transform the world - the invention of the Hubble Telescope unveiled the prelude to human galaxy research; the birth of biological mass spectrometry gave birth to the revolution in life sciences such as proteomics; in February 2010, the ion trap Mass spectrometry accurately measures the quality of element 117, making it possible to obtain long-lived, super-heavy elements. Continuous innovation in scientific instruments has also boosted the efficiency and quality of gene sequencing research.

Wu Xueti proposed that the independent research and development level of scientific instruments and equipment has often become one of the important indicators of a country’s ability to innovate. However, in terms of commercialized scientific instruments and equipment with major impacts, China’s contribution to the world is basically zero; China’s equipment used for scientific research is basically dependent on imports, especially the “tricks” in the hands of independent innovation first-line researchers. The "developed commodities" of developed countries. Therefore, it is difficult to imagine how difficult it is to seize the commanding heights of the strategy for science and technology.

Wu Xueti emphasized that the scientific equipment and equipment industry is a national strategic industry. Scientific instruments and equipment are the integration and crystallization of various high and new technologies in the fields of optics, mechanics, electronics, computers, physics, chemistry, biology, etc. They are typical technology-intensive strategic industries; they involve major scientific and technological frontiers, national defense and other sensitive fields. The major scientific instruments and equipment, whose core technology cannot be purchased, determine that the scientific instrument and equipment industry is a strategic industry of a country.

Wu Xueti said that in recent years, China’s demand for scientific instruments and equipment has increased year by year. According to statistics, China’s annual investment in fixed assets of trillions of yuan in equipment and equipment is dependent on imports. More than 60% of China’s R&D investment (hundreds of billions of yuan) is used to purchase scientific instruments and equipment; other industries such as quality inspection, environmental protection, and health In the areas such as agriculture and agriculture, the demand for scientific instruments and equipment has also gradually increased. The Chinese market has become a competition for multinational instrument companies.

"In the important historical period of the world's industrial restructuring and great innovation brought about by the post-financial crisis, placing independent innovations of scientific instruments in a prominent position ahead of schedule will be of great significance to strengthening a country's scientific and technological strength and leading economic development."

Wu Xueti pointed out that during the "12th Five-Year Plan" period, China will place independent innovations in scientific instruments and equipment that lead and support the development of science and technology in the priority development position.

First, cutting-edge scientific instruments and equipment. Based on China's strategic deployment in the new round of scientific and technological revolution in the world, it will research and develop a number of major scientific instruments and equipment with leading international standards, which will effectively support China's development of world-class scientific research, characteristic scientific research and the development of high-tech industries.

Second, high-end general-purpose scientific equipment. It will concentrate its efforts on breaking through a batch of scientific instruments and equipment with large demand in China, heavily relying on imports, and high prices, conquering certain core technologies and key components of scientific instruments and equipment, and promoting the overall level of scientific instruments and equipment in important fields to increase the level of foreign monopoly.

Third, conventional general scientific equipment. Strengthen the role of the scientific and technological department in overall planning, select from the various existing scientific and technological plans (special projects, funds) or scientific instruments and equipment developed by free funds, adopt application demonstrations, implement subsidies, etc., so that domestically produced high-quality scientific instruments and equipment are widely used. , The market share has increased substantially, and the country’s scientific instrument and equipment industry has grown.