Issue Overhauling the national R&D system toward mission-oriented, basic and regional research

Summary

The report proposes a research culture in which researchers can take risks, with failure tolerated and challenging research encouraged, and evaluation that reflects long-term results, quality and social contribution rather than quantitative indicators. The national R&D system would be overhauled by raising the R&D share of total government spending, trimming duplicated ministry programmes and shifting to mission-oriented R&D around national strategic tasks. Reform of the project-based funding scheme at government research institutes and larger basic research grants would let researchers focus on medium and long-term work. Regional clusters would ease the concentration of R&D in the capital region, and social challenges such as climate, ageing and regional decline would become participatory national missions. Long-term basic science projects, packaged support for young scientists, recruitment of overseas talent and an open talent market with free circulation among academia, institutes and industry complete the package.