On February 1986 and February 14, the State Council approved the establishment of the National Natural Science Foundation Committee, which is directly affiliated to the management of the National Natural Science Foundation of the State Council. According to the national guidelines, policies and plans for the development of science and technology, the National Natural Science Foundation of China effectively utilized the National Natural Science Foundation, supported basic research, persisted in free exploration, played a guiding role, discovered and trained scientific and technological talents, promoted scientific and technological progress and coordinated economic and social development, and gradually formed and developed a scientific and technological foundation. Adhere to the construction of innovation ability as the main line, to cultivate and bring up a large number of innovative talents as the core, to focus on the construction of innovative environment, and to ensure the innovation of mechanism and system, and constantly improve the country's independent innovation ability and build an innovative country.
The National Natural Science Foundation of China is a directly affiliated institution of the State Council, which manages the National Natural Science Foundation. Since its establishment, under the care of the CPC Central Committee, under the correct leadership of the State Council, and with the support of relevant departments in the State Council and scientists all over the country, the work of science foundation has broken through the traditional management mode of scientific research funds relying on administrative appropriations under the planned economy system, introduced and implemented advanced scientific research funding models and management concepts in an all-round way, and established the evaluation principles of "relying on experts, promoting democracy, supporting the excellent and strengthening the strong, and being fair and reasonable". The operation mechanism of "scientific democracy, equal competition and encouragement of innovation" has been established, and the management system of scientific funds with decision-making, execution, supervision and coordination has been established and improved, and the Committee style of "justice, dedication, unity and innovation" has been formed, giving full play to the "guidance, stability and encouragement" functions of the Natural Science Foundation of China in basic research, and constantly developing and perfecting the value evaluation and performance evaluation based on the discipline system. At the same time, according to the principles, guidelines and ideas of China's scientific and technological work in the new period, according to the strategic needs of building a well-off society in an all-round way, and starting from the overall deployment of the national innovation system, the strategic positioning of the Natural Science Fund in the national innovation system is determined: "Support basic research, adhere to free exploration, and play a guiding role."
The Natural Science Foundation insists on supporting basic research, and gradually forms and develops a funding pattern consisting of three series of research projects, talent projects and environmental conditions projects. We have established a series of multi-level funded projects, such as general, key and major projects, major research plans, joint funding funds and substantive international cooperation research. Through the implementation of the strategy of scientific and technological talents, a relatively perfect funding system for talent training has been established, including the national basic science talent training fund, the youth science fund, the regional science fund, the national outstanding youth science fund and the innovative research group science fund. The environmental conditions project system consisting of basic research on scientific instruments, international cooperation and exchange projects and popular science projects has been improved. With the increasing investment of national finance in basic research, the natural science fund increased from 80 million yuan in 1986 to 4.33 billion yuan in 2007, which greatly improved the funding environment for basic research and steadily increased the project funding intensity. At the same time, the work of the Science Fund has launched a series of new measures closely around the implementation of the source innovation strategy, the science and technology talent strategy, the innovation environment strategy and the excellent management strategy, and achieved new results in the practice of perfecting and developing the Science Fund system.
In the past twenty years, the National Natural Science Foundation of China has made great achievements in promoting the development of basic research of natural sciences in China, promoting the construction of basic disciplines, and discovering and cultivating outstanding scientific and technological talents. In order to improve the innovation ability of basic research, we have made useful explorations and accumulated valuable experience, which has made positive contributions to the development of basic research and the improvement of the overall level in China.
The first 20 years of this century is an important period of strategic opportunities for China's economic and social development, as well as for China's scientific and technological development. Under the guidance of the spirit of the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, NSFC will hold high the great banner of Socialism with Chinese characteristics, firmly grasp the period of strategic opportunities, establish and implement the Scientific Outlook on Development, further implement the regulations of the National Natural Science Foundation, and carry forward the fine tradition of NSFC's work. In accordance with the working principle of "respecting science, promoting democracy, advocating competition, promoting cooperation, encouraging innovation and leading the future", we will continue to implement the three strategies of rejuvenating the country through science and education, strengthening the country through talents and sustainable development, carry forward the spirit of seeking truth and being pragmatic, adhere to the main line of innovation capacity building, focus on cultivating a large number of innovative talents, focus on innovative environment construction, and constantly improve and develop the science fund system with the guarantee of mechanism innovation and system innovation. Strive to improve the management level of science funds, and make due contributions to rapidly improving China's independent innovation ability, promoting the construction of an innovative country, and realizing the goal of building a well-off society in an all-round way.