The General Office of the Ministry of Finance ("MOF") has recently issued the Circular on Ensuring the Practical Implementation of Policy Documents Granting Scientific Research Institutes and Fellows More Considerable Autonomy (the "Circular").
The Circular reads that, policies and measures outlined in relevant policy documents shall be strictly implemented through conducting exhaustive and in-depth self-inspections, losing no time in modifying and improving relevant policies and measures, and improving the connection of policies. It is required to make clear in management rules the liability of scientific research institutes for the autonomy in undertaking research programs; also, the institutes are required to improve their internal management rules to provide clarity on relevant issues, particularly those sparking strong reaction among scientific research fellows, such as the difficulty in reimbursing them for expenses incurred for scientific research activities, and are enabled to practically have the autonomy and make proper use of their autonomy. Meanwhile, the Circular expressly states that, holding firm to the spirit of reform, authorities shall further the optimization of relevant administrative measures through optimizing service processes, innovating service manners and enhancing service effects, and explore more effective ways to shorten lists of requested information and documents, reform reviews of budgets for scientific research programs, better manage the execution of budget funds set aside for science and technology programs, streamline administrative procedures for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements into relevant State-owned assets, and prompt scientific research institutes to better exercise their autonomy.