The State Council approved the establishment of the National Natural Science Foundation Committee in February 1986, 14. According to the principles, policies and plans of national science and technology development, the National Natural Science Foundation of China has effectively utilized the National Natural Science Foundation, supported basic research, insisted on free exploration, played a guiding role, discovered and trained scientific and technological talents, and promoted scientific and technological progress and coordinated economic and social development, and gradually formed and developed three series of research projects, talent projects and environmental conditions projects. 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.

In the early 1980s, in order to promote the reform of China's science and technology system and change the allocation mode of scientific research funds, 89 academicians of China Academy of Sciences wrote to the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, suggesting the establishment of a national natural science fund, which was approved by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council.