By Long Haibo, Research Team on “Autonomy Reform of National Scientific and Academic Research Institutes in the Public Institution System”, Department of Innovation and Development, DRC

Research Report, No.168, 2019 (Total 5668) 2019-9-23

Abstract: It is a common practice in developed countries for national scientific and academic research institutes to implement legislated management, which is conducive to the stable operation in accordance with the law of scientific innovation. At present, there are mainly three types of legal person management systems based on different national conditions and institutional requirements. First, scientific and academic research institutes under the management of government departments, represented by the United States; Second, special legal person scientific and academic research institutes represented by Japan; Third, non-profit scientific and academic research institutes represented by Germany. Despite the different types of national scientific and academic research institutes and varied governance models in the world, seen from the scope of their responsibility and rights as well as specific affairs, scientific and academic research institutes’ autonomy generally includes personnel autonomy, financial autonomy, remuneration autonomy, and management autonomy. The four aspects have a certain relevance internally and they must be comprehensively considered in the model of corporate governance. We need to learn from the operation mechanism of national scientific and academic research institutes in developed countries to find the autonomy that suits our own national conditions and conforms to the common characteristics of scientific and academic research institutes. First, we need to clarify their institutional positioning and missions through the form of legislation. Second, we need to promote the autonomy reform of scientific and academic research institutes with certain priorities. Third, we need to further improve the performance evaluation and management system.

Key words: national scientific and academic research institutes, corporate governance, autonomy, international experience