Reward for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements is not "the more the better"

From no less than 20% to no less than 50%, since the 2015 revision of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Promoting the Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements, various regions have adjusted the proportion of rewards for those who have made important contributions to scientific and technological achievements and their transformation
.

It is reported that at present, most universities and research institutes give scientific research personnel 70% to 80% of awards for transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and some even reach more than 90%

“High rewards for scientific research personnel in the form of'labor competition' are not conducive to promoting the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and it does not conform to the law of achievement transformation, and may lead to a lack of sufficient financial support for subsequent scientific research and achievement transformation
.

" Han Jun, deputy chief appraiser of the Science and Technology Evaluation Center, spoke bluntly in an interview with "China Science News

Is the higher the proportion of rewards for technological achievements transformation, the better the effect? Does the "matchmaker" who promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements need to be rewarded? Is there any distinction between rewards inside and outside the system? To this end, "China Science News" interviewed relevant industry insiders and asked them to talk about how to divide the "cake" of scientific and technological achievements conversion income
.

Too high a reward may be an unfavorable stimulus

What are the motivations of scientific researchers for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements? In June 2020, an article published in "Management Science" pointed out that there is almost no correlation between researchers' interest in money and patent applications
.

Different disciplines have different motivations.

Qiu Fan (pseudonym), who has long been engaged in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in scientific research institutes, agrees with this: "When dealing with technical brokers, scientific researchers don’t mind talking about money, but very much mind only talking about money throughout the process
.

Technical brokers and The cooperation of scientific research personnel is more promoted from the perspective of doing good service and facilitating things

He believes that it is necessary to reward scientific researchers who have made important contributions to the transformation of scientific and technological achievements and increase the reward ratio to no less than 50%, and the upper limit of the reward should be determined by the market
.

But what worries Qiu Fan is that behind the successive increases in the reward ratios in various regions, what may be reflected may be the "comparison" of policies for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in some regions
.

The simple increase in the reward ratio was promoted as a policy breakthrough, and these regions that greatly increased the incentive ratio failed to achieve the expected efficiency of transformation of scientific and technological achievements

"Only rewards that balance the benefits and help all parties involved in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements can make the "cake" of scientific and technological achievements bigger and the most reasonable reward
.

" Qiu Fan said

Gao Wen, director of the Achievement Transformation Department of the Industrial Operation and Management Center of Capital Medical University, believes: "The transformation of scientific and technological achievements is a systematic project.
There are not only scientific research teams engaged in scientific research, but also service teams that carry out achievement transformation
.

At present, some regions or units are concerned about scientific research.

He also pointed out that the main business of scientific research personnel in universities and scientific research institutes is teaching and scientific research.
Excessive rewards for achievement transformation are not necessarily incentives, but may be unfavorable incentives that affect the work mentality of scientific researchers
.

Han Jun found in his research that some institutions and units from the Chinese Academy of Sciences used the method of awarding 50% of the net income of the transformation of scientific and technological achievements to the scientific research team.
Not only the effect of the transformation of the results is very good, but also the scientific research The personnel have no "complaints"
.

He suggested that at an appropriate time in the future, the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Promoting the Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements" should be further revised, and the proportion of rewards for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements should be determined as 50% instead of not less than 50%
.

"Matchmaker" is difficult to identify, difficult to reward

In recent years, China has gradually deepened its understanding of the "matchmaker" that promotes the transformation of scientific and technological achievements.
Policies issued in many regions have expanded the rewards of scientific and technological achievements from scientific researchers to "persons who have contributed to the transformation of scientific and technological achievements
.

" However, when the policy is implemented, not only is it difficult to identify “persons who have contributed to the transformation of results”, but it is also more difficult to allocate reward ratios

　　On June 2, Zhejiang Province issued the "Implementation Opinions on Strengthening the Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements of Colleges and Universities", encouraging and supporting colleges and universities to establish technology transfer offices, technology transfer centers and other institutions, or to cooperate with local governments and enterprises to establish technology development, The establishment of specialized technology transfer institutions, such as institutions for technology transfer and pilot maturation, as well as technology transfer companies and intellectual property management companies wholly-owned by colleges and universities
.

　　In Han Jun's view, among these technology transfer institutions, those who provide services for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements are the "matchmakers" who should be motivated
.
Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the construction of technology transfer talents, smooth career development and title promotion channels, encourage qualified universities to set up technology transfer teaching and research organizations, carry out technology transfer professional academic education, and cultivate practical professionals in the direction of technology transfer
.

　　Qiu Fan believes that scientific research managers who serve the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in universities and scientific research institutes should also be regarded as reward objects
.
"The quality of scientific research management is an important factor that affects the projects of colleges and universities, the level of scientific research, and the output of results.
Due to the unclear positioning of scientific research management personnel, insufficient numbers and lack of incentive mechanisms, scientific research management personnel seldom participate in depth.
Transformation of scientific and technological achievements
.
"

　　Although some universities and research institutes have included “persons who have contributed to the transformation of results” into the scope of rewards, Qiu Fan found that the rewards are mainly for people outside the system or third-party participants, and rarely can be implemented in scientific research within the system.
Management staff
.

　　Qiu Fan pointed out that the workload of the transformation of scientific and technological achievements is difficult to measure, and the unquantifiable contribution is an important reason for this phenomenon
.
"Regarding the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, which scientific research managers should be rewarded? How much is appropriate? Since universities and scientific research institutes are not clear, they should not be rewarded
.
"

　　In this regard, Qiu Fan believes that, on the one hand, the supporting management departments must be included in the scope of rewards.
This is a universal incentive and will help universities and research institutes to form an atmosphere that supports the transformation of scientific and technological achievements; Whether or not to reward important contributions and how much to reward can be determined by the scientific research personnel being served
.

　　In addition, Qiu Fan also pointed out that for scientific research managers, a clear title promotion and career development channels are more important than cash rewards
.
However, many universities and research institutes in China still lack corresponding promotion channels
.

　　He suggested that when formulating policies related to the transformation of results in the future, on the one hand, we must consider in advance the practical issues such as "can it be implemented, who will implement it, how to implement it, when to implement it, and how to better motivate implementation".
System solutions
.

　　Regarding the formulation and implementation of policies, Gao Wen found in actual operations that there are still conflicts between policies: "It conforms to the relevant laws of the country on the transformation of results, but does not necessarily comply with the specific regulations and systems of the financial, audit, and disciplinary inspection departments, and the results are transformed.
The legal boundaries of the country also urgently need to be clarified
.
"

　　Explore and try the benefit-sharing distribution mechanism

　　Han Jun used to be the Science and Technology Counselor of the Embassy in Israel, and he has studied the transformation models of foreign scientific and technological achievements for nearly 20 years
.
He told the China Science News that the awards given by European and American universities and research institutes for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements are generally based on the "333" distribution model, that is, 1/3 rewards the invention team, 1/3 rewards the department for follow-up research, 1/ 3 Reward technology transfer institutions or technology managers
.

　　According to Han Jun, Israeli universities and research institutes generally adopt the "442" distribution model, which means that 40% of the net income from the transformation of results will be awarded to researchers, 40% will be awarded to universities and research institutes for scientific research, and 20% will be awarded to technology.
Transfer institutions for its management and operation
.

　　“Foreign countries abide by the market-oriented science and technology achievement transformation law, and the proportion of rewards to scientific research teams is scientific and reasonable
.
” Han Jun also pointed out that although foreign reward models can be used for our study, but due to differences in national conditions, systems and mechanisms, we cannot copy them.
Copy foreign experience
.

　　At the two sessions this year, a number of NPC deputies from Shanghai jointly proposed to improve the “benefit sharing” distribution mechanism for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and allow the ministries and local institutes in Shanghai to extract a certain percentage of the net income from the transformation of scientific and technological achievements.
It is based on the capacity building and personnel incentives of scientific and technological achievements transformation and transfer institutions, and at the same time allows the technology transfer service team to receive a certain amount of remuneration in the form of similar technology intermediary services, and can hold a small amount of shares in the transformation project
.

　　At present, Beijing Institute of Technology has adopted the "7111" award distribution model for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, that is, 70% of the net income of achievement transformation is rewarded to scientific research teams, and schools, colleges and technology transfer companies each reserve 10% to support scientific research and achievement transformation
.
Han Jun believes: "This is a good exploration and experiment
.
"