China’s top science institute restructured to focus on research frontiers

Chinese Academy of Sciences undergoes organisational overhaul as Beijing pushes original innovation in bid to become tech superpower

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Robots perform at the 2023 World Robot Conference in Beijing last August. Chinese cities and provinces have ramped up development of new sectors such as artificial intelligence. Photo: Simon Song

Published: 3:04pm, 9 Jun 2024Updated: 2:31am, 11 Jul 2024

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the country’s top science institute, has undergone an organisational overhaul, with more focus on strengthening frontier and basic research capabilities.

New bureaus have been set up for frontier sciences and basic research, sustainable development research, and basic science and technology capacity, according to the CAS website.

These replaced previous departments that had also been responsible for education, science promotion and dissemination.

China has stepped up its push for innovation and tech breakthroughs by fixing flaws in the scientific research system and focusing on original innovation in a bid to counter hi-tech containment by the US and power economic growth through technology and high value-added manufacturing.

The new three bureaus will focus on research in fields such as life science, atmospheric and oceanic sciences, and interdisciplinary studies while leading and managing major scientific research programmes.

The frontier sciences and basic research bureau is in charge of planning and leading disciplines including mathematics, astronomy, life sciences, and fundamental interdisciplinary frontiers.