Authoritative explanation from Xinhua News Agency丨Six Highlights in the Reform of Central Fiscal Funds for Scientific Research Project
2016-11-24
Are you still worried about looking for invoices for remuneration of scientific researches? Are you still racking your brains to prepare appropriation budgets and programs? Are you still worried about how to spend your money if the funds are not spent out at the end of a year?
In recent days, Opinions on Further Improving the Fund Management of Research Projects Supported by Central Finance was issued by General Office of the Central Committee and General Office of the State Council. The Opinion proposed a series of "loose + incentive" measures from the aspects of appropriation proportion, expenditure range, subject setting, etc., to motivate the innovation energy of researchers.
The journalist interviewed responsible persons of Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education and State Development and Reform Commission to learn about the six highlights of the Opinion in detail.
Highlight 1 The purpose of scientific research project funds can be adjusted properly
The management of this project fund is too "meticulous and strict", which is a significant challenge confronted by the researchers. As put it by professor Tan Jieqing in Department of Mathematics of Hefei University of Technology, all items of budgeting for this project are required to be listed several years advance, which is difficult to be adjusted if there are any changes during the practical operation.
One of the highlights of the Opinion is to simplify the budgeting entries and items, transfer the adjustment power to a lower level, and to consolidate some "same entries and items". The Opinion indicates that the conference expense, travel expense and international cooperation and communication expense under the direct expenses will be consolidated into one entry.
Related responsible persons of the four ministries notes that if the total consolidated expenses do not exceed 10% of direct expenses, the calculation basis of budget will not be provided, and it is no need to provide specific frequencies of conference and traveling. Meanwhile, transfer the budget adjustment power for a scientific research project to a lower level. The total project budget remains unchanged, while many entries under the direct expenses can be adjusted independently by the unit undertaking a project. "The budget purpose can be adjusted properly".
Highlight 2 Increase incentive strength to researchers
The scientific research project fund is classified into direct expenses and indirect expenses. The direct expenses generally include about 10 kinds of expense entries such as equipment expense, travel expense, conference expense, international cooperation and communication expense, labor expense, etc.; The indirect expenses are mainly used to cover costs of the unit undertaking a project and for performance incentives of researchers.
Compared with other countries such as America, the indirect expenses for the scientific research project of our country is relatively low. To further improve the compensation mechanism of indirect cost, the Opinion increases the proportion of indirect expenses, and the verified proportion can be raised to the proportion of direct expenses deducting equipment procurement costs: The funds under RMB 5 million account for 20%, RMB 5 million - 10 million account for 15%, and RMB 10 million above account for 13%.
The four ministries disclose that to increase incentive strength to researchers, the Opinion cancels the restriction on the proportion of performance expenses, define that the unit undertaking a project can arrange the performance expenses within the range of verified proportion of indirect expenses, and link up with the actual contribution of researchers in the project.
Highlight 3 Restriction for "intangible" labor expenses will be cancelled
Some researchers reflect that the "personnel cost" of scientific research project of America or other countries is relatively higher than that of our country.
A researcher of Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine Wu Aiping thinks that the labor expenses in the current scientific research funds account for a relatively lower proportion, and there are many restrictions for use of personnel cost. The associate professor of Beijing Language and Culture University Chen Mo said that the largest difficulty in the implementation of scientific research project is the remuneration of personnel cost. Labor expenses must be paid to students who do experiments for the project, but such expenses are difficult to be reimbursed.
The Opinion defines the range and standard of labor expenses, and reiterates that no proportion restriction will be set. Postgraduates, postdoctoral, visiting scholars participating in project research and researchers, assistants and other persons employed for the project must be paid by the labor expenses.
The responsible persons of four ministries express that there is no restriction on the proportion of labor expenses on the current system level. However, some researchers reflect there is still "intangible" restriction on it during the practical declaration procedure of the project. For this problem, the related departments will devote more efforts in propaganda and training, and require related accrediting and validating agencies to further standardize the reviews.
Highlight 4 Annual surplus funds can be carried forward the next year
The project funds are generally received at the second half year, and must use them up at the end of a year, or the funds left will be taken back. The surplus funds withdrawal system of scientific research project complained by many researchers is significantly reformed this time.
The Opinion notes that during the implementation of a scientific research project, the annual surplus funds can be carried forward into the next year, and will not be taken back anymore. After the task goals of a project are finished and accepted, the surplus funds will be reserved by the unit undertaking a project, and can be used for direct expenses within 2 years. The funds not used up after 2 years will be taken back.
Highlight 5 Transfer the management right of travel and conference expenses to a lower level
In the scientific research project funds of colleges and universities and scientific research institutions, one of the most important parts is the travel and conference expenses. One of the highlights of the Opinion is to transfer the above expenses to a lower level, which gives more autonomy to colleges and universities and scientific research institutions.
As introduced by the four ministries, the Opinion reasonably defines the vehicle level and accommodation standard of teaching researchers. For the conditions when invoices for accommodation expenses are difficult to be obtained, the central colleges and universities and scientific research institutions should reimburse transportation fee between cities and issue food subsidies and local transportation fee on the premise of ensuring the reality. Thus, the problems are solved.
For conference expenses, the frequency, days and number of participants of business conference, as well as the range and standard, etc. can be determined independently by the unit. The transportation fee between cities and international travel fee actually generated by inviting domestic or oversea experts, scholars and related personnel to participate in a conference due to work demands can be reimbursed by the organizer as conference expenses or other expenses.
The Opinion requires central colleges and universities and scientific research institutions to formulate and issue internal management methods for travel and conference expenses before September 9, 2016.
Highlight 6 Set the position of "scientific research financial assistant" to release burdens of researchers
The reimbursement formality and procedure for scientific research funds are complex and time-consuming. Many university professors and scientists and other researchers are forced to be "accountants" because of many problems about reimbursement when they obtain the project funds, which distracts them from scientific researches.
The Opinion requires that the unit undertaking a project should establish and improve a financial assistant system for scientific research to provide professional services to researchers in preparation and adjustment of project budget, funds expenditure, financial final cost and acceptance and other aspects. This requirement aims to release researchers from tedious affairs and "let them focus on scientific researches".
As introduced by the four ministries, the Opinion demands related departments and units to improve their services to release the burdens of researchers and make the funds actually serve for creative activities. On the one hand, reduce the burdens of units and researchers from inspection and review. On the other hand, create a good environment for researchers to engage in scientific research from service mode. (Source: Xinhua News Agency)
