裴瑞敏：基础科学全球遇冷，为何中国“升温”？

Core Insights - David Gross, a Nobel laureate, expressed concerns about the global reduction in basic science investment while recognizing China's strategic commitment to increasing its investment in this area [1][4] - The contrast between the global cooling of basic science and China's warming investment highlights a significant strategic choice made by China [1][4] Investment in Basic Science - China's investment in basic science is seen as essential for transitioning from a "big technology country" to a "strong technology country" [2] - The "14th Five-Year Plan" aims to increase the proportion of basic research in R&D funding to 8% [2] - The National Natural Science Foundation is increasing funding to promote original breakthroughs [2] Achievements in Basic Science - China has established several world-class research platforms, such as the 500-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope, supporting frontier scientific research [3] - The youth research workforce is becoming a driving force in innovation, with nearly 150,000 applications for the National Natural Science Foundation's youth projects in 2024 [3] - China is actively participating in major international scientific collaborations, contributing to projects like ITER and SKA [3] Challenges Ahead - China's basic science originality is characterized by strengths in areas like quantum physics, but weaknesses in foundational disciplines such as mathematics and theoretical physics [4] - The current project evaluation system favors applied research, necessitating a greater tolerance for the uncertainties of basic science exploration [4] - Despite leading in the number of publications, China still lacks Nobel-level achievements and theoretical influence in basic science [4] Strategic Importance - Investment in basic science is viewed as a strategic move for future technological positioning on the global stage [3][5] - The commitment to basic science reflects a nation's depth of civilization and historical perspective, as emphasized by Gross [4][5] - Long-term investment in basic science is crucial for breakthrough innovations and understanding the limits of human cognition [5]