In 2024, the field of national science and technology infrastructure in China is abuzz with anticipation.
At a depth of 700 meters underground, the Jiangmen Neutrino Experiment project is nearing completion; at an altitude of 5250 meters, the Ali Primordial Gravitational Wave Detection Experiment is about to see its first light; at an altitude of over 600 kilometers, the Sino-French cooperative space telescope satellite is set to be launched and put into operation...
In Beijing's Huairou District, the China Fourth Generation Synchrotron Radiation Facility will produce its first beam of light; in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, construction is set to begin on the second phase of the China Spallation Neutron Source and the Advanced Attosecond Laser Facility; the second phase of the Space Environment Ground-based Comprehensive Monitoring Network covering the entire China is nearing completion...
"This year, we'll hear plenty of good news. However, I still have significant concerns about the prospects," said Wang Yifang, a National People's Congress delegate, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and director of the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in an interview with China Science Daily.
With so many facilities, how do we systematize their layout?
China has already constructed many major national scientific and technological infrastructure projects, with over 30 already completed and operational. This year, the government work report proposed accelerating the systematic layout of major scientific and technological infrastructure and promoting the construction of common technology platforms and pilot verification platforms.
"For cutting-edge basic research, large scientific facilities are indispensable tools. Their relationship with basic research is not just a simple promotion; sometimes it's a matter of existence or non-existence. With them, you can conduct research; without them, you can't," Wang Yifang explained.
In his view, behind the prosperity lies hidden concerns. "In recent years, while there has been increased emphasis on large scientific facilities, there have also been some incorrect expectations that these facilities can immediately lead to technology transfer or bring other practical value."
He also observed that some of the large scientific facility projects approved by the state in recent years, "strictly speaking, are not large scientific facilities but rather large technical facilities." "Currently, many of the large scientific facility projects under construction or in operation were approved during the '12th Five-Year Plan' period. From the '13th Five-Year Plan' to the '14th Five-Year Plan' period, the focus of state-approved major scientific and technological infrastructure has shifted to technology, such as common technology platforms, pilot verification platforms, etc., with decreasing attention and emphasis on basic science."
Wang Yifang believes that large scientific facilities are facilities for conducting basic scientific research, while large technical facilities are facilities for obtaining technical parameters through research on the facilities themselves. "In the future, China needs to make a conceptual distinction between large scientific facilities and large technical facilities and balance their layout accordingly."
Equally concerned about the systematic layout of large scientific facilities is another National People's Congress delegate, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and director of the National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wang Chi.
"The number and variety of major national scientific and technological infrastructure projects are increasing. Local governments and universities now attach great importance to this aspect, requiring the state to further strengthen systematic layout and classified management," Wang Chi said.
In his view, for facilities targeting the forefront of world science and technology and addressing major national needs, it is recommended that they be led by the state with the goal of enhancing China's original innovation capabilities and seizing the commanding heights of science and technology. For facilities exploring common technologies, it is suggested that they be led by local governments and enterprises to further stimulate innovation vitality and develop new quality productive forces. Moreover, the evaluation of the operation status and output of different types of facilities also needs to be conducted separately.
With such large-scale facilities, how do we build and utilize them effectively?
Large scientific facilities are large in scale and require significant investment. At this year's Two Sessions, many delegates discussed how to utilize these facilities to promote institutionalized basic scientific research and make the most of them.
In Wang Chi's view, China has made great progress in the construction and operation of large scientific facilities, but to better promote institutionalized basic research relying on these facilities, certain constraints need to be addressed.
"Firstly, we need to strengthen the strength of top scientific teams," Wang Chi said. "In the past, we mainly followed others, but now we need to run alongside and even lead, which requires top scientists to accurately identify major cutting-edge scientific directions and grasp the pulse of technological development."
Wang Chi believes that top scientists should be able to raise questions at the forefront of world science and accurately identify the scientific problems behind major national needs, and then make good use of large scientific facilities.
Furthermore, he emphasized that whether it is the construction and operation of large scientific facilities or the conduct of scientific research using these facilities, better integration of construction, operation, and research teams is needed to achieve cooperation and data sharing.
Wang Chi told China Science Daily that the second phase of the national major scientific and technological infrastructure project, the Subhengheng Project, has basically completed construction and joint testing tasks and is currently undergoing trial operation. It is expected to complete acceptance and all process tests in May this year. Last year, the landmark device of the second phase of the Subhengheng Project, the Daocheng Circular Array Solar Radio Imaging Telescope, was completed, leading the world in observational capabilities. To "yield results early, yield more results, yield good results, and yield significant results," the National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chengdu Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have established the π Center in Chengdu to fully utilize the Daocheng Circular Array Solar Radio Imaging Telescope for scientific research.
"We use the π Center as a platform to, on the one hand, organize research teams to focus on the core responsibilities of space weather, conduct solar radio detection, and study the impact of solar activity on Earth's space weather. On the other hand, we collaborate with scientists from other facilities and research institutions, especially with facilities such as the 'Chinese Eye,' to carry out joint detection and strengthen interdisciplinary research in space astronomy and other disciplines, fully tapping into the innovative potential of circular arrays and maximizing their efficiency," Wang Chi said.
With such long project cycles, how do we maintain confidence?
The construction of the Ali Primordial Gravitational Wave Detection Experiment project has taken seven years, and now it is about to see its first light. From the project plan proposed in 2014 to the present, Zhang Xinmin, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the project's chief scientist, has never dared to relax.
"At the beginning of 2017, the project started construction, and over the past seven years, the entire team has overcome various difficulties caused by the plateau and the epidemic," Zhang Xinmin said.
During these seven years, besides advancing the project construction progress, the most headache-inducing problem for him has been "how to retain young talent." "The characteristic of large scientific projects is their long duration, and the biggest problem brought by the long duration is the development of young talent," Zhang Xinmin said.
During the project construction process, issues such as how young researchers can write and publish papers, and how to During the annual National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference sessions, Zhang Xinmin often hears a lot of talk about "overly bureaucratic procedures that need to be corrected." He knows that solving this issue won't be easy. He just hopes that some of the bureaucratic hurdles, which are still difficult to reduce, can tilt a bit towards young people involved in major scientific projects and organized research teams, enabling them to stay and ensuring the smooth implementation of projects.
Over the past seven years, he has also experienced the agony caused by factors such as the epidemic leading to delays in project completion. "While the management mechanisms for large scientific facilities have improved significantly compared to the past, there are still many regulations and constraints. Unlike engineering projects, large scientific projects involve innovation and exploration, with many aspects lacking any precedents. In the process of exploration, various uncertainties exist," Zhang Xinmin said.
He suggests that the roles of chief scientists and project management departments in large scientific projects should be fully utilized, granting them greater decision-making power in areas such as budget management.
Now, as the Ali Primordial Gravitational Wave Detection Experiment project is nearing completion, Zhang Xinmin is once again considering the funding needed for its operation. "Once completed, the Ali Primordial Gravitational Wave Detection Experiment will become the only high-altitude primordial gravitational wave detection device in the northern celestial hemisphere. We have a dedicated management department overseeing operations, as well as a capable research team. However, there is now an issue with operational funding. The funding for the first year is not a big problem, but for the second year and beyond, we will have to apply for funding again and scramble for resources," he said.
He hopes that one day the country will allocate stable operational funding for large scientific facilities, allowing scientists to truly focus their energy on research.
