Gov't plans to streamline science funding application

China's Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang on Wednesday revealed authorities' plan to more efficiently deploy funding for scientific research, as part of reforms to improve government support for science.

Wan said at a press conference that there will be an "integration" of different platforms through which scientists apply for research and development funding to improve efficiency.[Special coverage]

There are currently about 40 government departments in charge of approving funding for science programs, and nearly 100 channels for application and management, said Wan.

This has made the research funding application process fragmented and inefficient, said Wan.

The minister said the evaluation and approval of science project funds should be carried out by professional institutes, and the government should not intervene in the process.

Experts said effective management of funds is essential for advancing scientific research in China.

"An integrated platform to unify all application channels will make the management more effective. But it is important to define the role of this new platform, whether it is a government agency or a non-governmental agency," Dong Jielin, an expert on science and innovation with Soochow University, told the Global Times.

A lack of transparency in the approval process has also given rise to extensive embezzlement of scientific research funding in academia, Dong said.

The Chinese government spent 1 trillion yuan ($162 billion) on research and development in 2012, about 1.97 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), reported the Xinhua News Agency.

The Ministry of Science and Technology announced plans to launch an internal inspection, targeting the embezzlement of scientific research funds in September 2014.