The following document is the 2023 budget for the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a state-run complex of scientific research institutes and think tanks. CAS strives to enhance China’s overall S&T capabilities and to improve the country’s self-sufficiency in key technologies.

An archived version of the Chinese source text is available online at:    https://perma.cc/2Q4M-8GNJ

Chinese Academy of Sciences 2023 Budget

I. Basic information on the Chinese Academy of Sciences

(i)    Ministerial Responsibilities

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) was established in November 1949 as a public institution¹ directly under the State Council. CAS is a comprehensive state research institution established by the central people’s government. It is the nation’s highest academic institution for natural sciences, the highest advisory body for science and technology (S&T), and the highest integrated research and development (R&D) center for natural sciences and high technology. It is a national force for strategic S&T that combines scientific research institutes, academic departments, and educational institutions. Its main functions include:

1. To engage mainly in basic research, strategic high-tech research, and research relating to sustainable economic and social development; to lead China’s development by leaps and bounds (跨越发展) in S&T; to focus on solving major basic, strategic, and cutting-edge technical issues in China’s modernization; to strengthen national strategic S&T power; to play a central driving role in the national innovation system with Chinese characteristics; to boost China’s S&T self-reliance (自立自强); and to provide a scientific foundation and technological wellspring for China’s high-quality development.

2. To build itself into a national high-level S&T think tank, provide insights and deliberation on significant S&T issues, take on strategic research and consultation and evaluation tasks entrusted to it by the State, and to provide consulting advice and scientific evidence for the nation’s macro-level decision-making; and to abide by scientific ethics, regulate scientific behavior, and promote the progress of society and civilization while popularizing scientific knowledge throughout society, carrying forward the scientific spirit, disseminating scientific ideas, advocating the scientific method, and making scientific culture flourish.

3. To persist in the integration of science and education, simultaneous development of education, S&T, and talent work, to give equal emphasis to scientific research and education, and to the production of achievements and talents, to build itself into a national bastion of innovative talents, and to train and deliver high-level talents in S&T and innovation and entrepreneurship.

4. To persist in being a transparently run academy (开放办院), broadly carry out S&T collaboration and exchanges at home and abroad, actively integrate with global innovation networks, and build itself into a world-class scientific research institution.

5. To perform the duties of a public institution directly under the State Council, and take on other work entrusted to it by the State.

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1. Translator’s note: “Public institutions” (事业单位) are organizations created and led by Chinese government departments that provide social services. Unlike state-owned enterprises (SOEs), public institutions do not create material products and are non-profit. Public institutions are not considered government agencies, and their employees are not civil servants. Most public institutions are fully or partially government-funded, but some fully privately funded (but still government-led) public institutions exist. Public institutions typically provide services in areas such as education, science and technology, culture, health, and sanitation.