In recent years, our city has actively deepened reforms in the science and technology sector under the “streamlining administration, delegating power, and improving services” framework. We have successively introduced the “22 Measures for Science and Technology Reform,” the “Three-Year Action Plan for Deepening Science and Technology System Reform,” and the “Administrative Measures for Municipal Science and Technology Program Projects.” By prioritizing both burden reduction and incentives, as well as combining delegation of authority with service provision, we have achieved significant results. However, issues such as excessive project application materials, frequent evaluations and assessments, and heavy administrative burdens have not yet been fundamentally resolved.To ensure that researchers can devote their primary energy to scientific research and to stimulate their innovative vitality, in accordance with the requirements of documents such as the “Notice on Further Reducing the Burden on Researchers” (Su Ke Zheng Fa [2023] No. 152) issued by the Provincial Department of Science and Technology and six other departments, and in light of Yangzhou’s actual conditions, the following policy measures are hereby formulated:

I. Streamlining Research Administration. In the management of municipal-level science and technology programs, we will consolidate and streamline various forms and reports within project application materials, reducing the need for researchers and institutions to repeatedly submit basic information, expected project outcomes, and performance metrics.The functionality of the science and technology program management information platform will be enhanced, with optimization and upgrades focused on project application, review, acceptance, and supervision to minimize reporting requirements and workload. Electronic seals and signatures will be gradually implemented, and a pilot program for paperless applications for municipal science and technology projects will be launched, requiring only electronic application forms during the application phase, with paper materials to be submitted only after project approval. (Responsible Department: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau)

II. Reform Research Funding and Financial Management. Fully implement pilot reforms of the “lump-sum funding system” for municipal-level natural science foundation projects, soft science research projects, and relevant talent-related research projects. For projects under this pilot system, the preparation of project budgets will no longer be required; instead, a negative list approach to funding management will be adopted, allowing project leaders to independently decide on the use of project funds.Expand the autonomy of project leaders in managing funds for municipal science and technology programs. Project-hosting institutions may incorporate all indirect costs into performance evaluations to strengthen incentives for innovative talent and teams. Leverage the supporting role of host institutions for science and technology programs and innovation base platforms to increase the development of research financial assistant positions, providing specialized support services to researchers. The associated labor costs may be covered by the project-hosting institution through channels such as routine operational funds or research project funds.(Responsible Departments: Municipal Party Committee Organization Department (Talent Office), Municipal Education Bureau, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau)

III. Improve the Management of Research Project Inspections and Acceptance. Develop reasonable annual supervision and inspection plans for research projects. In principle, for municipal-level science and technology projects with an implementation cycle of two years or less, self-management by the project-bearing units shall be the primary approach, and process inspections shall generally not be conducted. Supervision and inspections shall be conducted only after a project has been in operation for one year, with no more than one inspection per project within a single calendar year; the results of such inspections may be shared and applied within the same calendar year.Establish an innovation liability exemption mechanism. For researchers undertaking highly exploratory and high-risk research projects who have performed their duties in accordance with the law and exercised due diligence but failed to achieve the expected objectives due to objective reasons, relevant liabilities shall be exempted in accordance with the law upon verification by the project-approving department, and this shall not affect their eligibility to continue benefiting from relevant science and technology policies in the future. (Responsible Departments: Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau, Municipal Audit Bureau)

IV. Optimize the professional title evaluation mechanism for researchers. Researchers who have made significant contributions to major basic research, breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies, or the resolution of major critical core and engineering technology issues may be directly recommended for senior professional title applications.Top-tier talents serving as chief scientists or chief technical officers who have undertaken and completed tasks within recognized major science and technology innovation platforms, major research projects, or key innovation or talent task forces may recommend one project team member who has made outstanding contributions for direct promotion to the next higher professional title. We will explore the establishment of a professional evaluation system for technology brokers, encourage social professional organizations to conduct professional title evaluations for technology managers in accordance with the law, facilitate career development pathways for technology transfer professionals, and cultivate a specialized workforce of technology transfer talent.For collaborative research projects between researchers and enterprises, where the actual funding received for a single project reaches 300,000 yuan or 500,000 yuan, such projects shall be treated as municipal-level science and technology programs and provincial-level science and technology programs, respectively, in the selection of various projects funded by the municipal government. Universities and research institutes in Yangzhou are encouraged to use these standards as a reference for performance evaluations and professional title appointments. (Responsible Departments: Municipal Party Committee Organization Department (Talent Office), Municipal Education Bureau, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau, Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau)

V. Innovating the Management of Researcher Positions. Establish and implement a “rotation pool” system for institutional positions for high-level talent. This will provide targeted support to research institutes that have reached their staffing limits and to innovation platforms undertaking major research tasks, enabling them to recruit urgently needed high-level talent, and ensure institutional positions are available for key research units to recruit high-level talent.Encourage universities and research institutes in Yangzhou to establish positions for scientific and technological project development, promotion and transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and scientific research social services based on innovation needs, optimize the structure and proportion of professional and technical positions, and conduct autonomous hiring. (Responsible Departments: Municipal Party Committee Organization Department (Talent Office), Municipal Party Committee Institutional Reform Office, Municipal Education Bureau, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau)

VI. Facilitating Innovation and Entrepreneurship by Foreign Talents in Yangzhou. Streamline procedures for foreign talents to work and reside in Yangzhou; encourage the establishment of integrated service windows for concurrent processing of work permits and work-related residence permits for foreigners; and accelerate the implementation of “one-stop online services.” For foreign experts who, due to special circumstances, find it difficult to sign employment contracts or agreements, a commitment letter from the hiring unit and relevant supporting materials may be used in lieu of such contracts or agreements when applying for municipal-level foreign expert projects.(Responsible Departments: Municipal Party Committee Organization Department (Talent Office), Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Public Security Bureau, Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau)

VII. Strengthening Incentives for Research Personnel.Launch a pilot program for allocating incentive funds from research budgets for knowledge-intensive projects and major science and technology innovation platforms. Provided that performance targets are met, pilot units are permitted to allocate up to 20% of the funds allocated by the government for the stable support of research projects as incentive funds, thereby stimulating the innovative vitality of research personnel. Universities and research institutions in Yangzhou undertaking “five-tech projects” (including technology transfer, technology licensing, technology development, technology consulting, and technology services) may withdraw and distribute incentive payments based on registered and certified technology contracts.Support universities and research institutes in Yangzhou in conducting pilot reforms on the granting of rights to scientific and technological achievements made in the course of employment. Grant ownership or long-term usage rights of such achievements to the individuals or teams responsible for their completion. At least 80% of the proceeds from the commercialization of these achievements shall be used to reward the R&D teams, and such entities shall enjoy tax incentives in accordance with the law. Researchers at pilot institutions may contribute surplus funds from horizontal research projects as cash capital to invest in technology-based enterprises, sharing the proceeds from commercialization with their institutions through a combination of “technology equity + cash equity.”(Responsible Departments: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau, Municipal Health Commission, Municipal Taxation Bureau)

VIII. Strengthen Support for Young Scientific and Technological Talents. The Municipal Natural Science Foundation will provide stable support for young scientific and technological talents under the age of 40 engaged in cutting-edge basic research. In municipal-university cooperation programs and soft science research projects, the proportion of young scientific and technological talents under 40 participating in applications shall be no less than 50%. Other science and technology and talent programs shall give priority to supporting young scientific and technological talents under 40 in participating in or undertaking projects.Each year, young scientific and technological talents will be selected to serve as “Science and Technology Innovation Navigation” special envoys, stationed in townships and industrial parks to provide industrial science and technology innovation services. Outstanding young scientific and technological talents will be actively invited to join the city’s various expert think tanks to participate in decision-making consultation and research. (Responsible Departments: Municipal Party Committee Organization Department (Talent Office), Municipal Party Committee Publicity Department, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau)

IX. Fostering a Better Research Environment. Strengthen publicity and outreach regarding science and technology policies, widely conduct promotional and guidance activities on such policies to help researchers understand and apply science and technology innovation policies, provide free access to public scientific literature resources for researchers, and offer convenient services in areas such as housing rental, healthcare, children’s education, and further training and education. Eliminate unreasonable regulations, address issues such as researchers having too many part-time jobs and attending too many meetings, and ensure that full-time researchers devote no less than four-fifths of their working hours to research.(Responsible Departments: Municipal Party Committee Organization Department (Talent Office), Municipal Education Bureau, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau, Municipal Health Commission)

All relevant departments must strengthen follow-up guidance on the burden-reduction efforts, establish communication and feedback channels, promptly solicit opinions from all parties, and study solutions to practical problems. Within three months of the policy’s issuance, they must formulate specific implementation rules, institutionalize proven effective outcomes into working systems and policy measures, and promote the institutionalization, long-term sustainability, and precision of burden-reduction efforts to ensure that the burden-reduction campaign achieves tangible results.