Reflections and discussion on the construction of provincial laboratories

Provincial laboratories are the highest-level scientific research and innovation platforms at the provincial level. They focus on national strategic objectives and major regional industrial and technological innovation needs, integrate high-quality scientific and technological innovation resources, pursue breakthroughs in leading and disruptive core technologies, drive the transformation and industrialization of scientific achievements, and support high-quality regional economic and social development. With the steady advancement of their establishment, provincial laboratories have gradually shifted from a phase of rapid quantitative growth to one of qualitative improvement. The key question is how to ensure their effective construction and sustainable development after establishment. This requires further in-depth consideration and research on their development orientation, institutional mechanisms, operation modes, evaluation methods, and other related aspects.

Based on policy text analysis, this study examines and summarizes the characteristics of provincial laboratories from four perspectives: policy and institutional guarantees, the positioning of new-type research institutions, innovation in systems and mechanisms, and strengthening diversified investment. Taking the construction practices of the Shaanxi Aerospace Power Laboratory and the Shaanxi Energy Laboratory as case studies, it further analyzes their construction characteristics and effectiveness in aspects such as the transformation of scientific achievements, financial support, open sharing, and diversified investment through field investigations and in-depth interviews.

Based on the current status of provincial laboratories in Shaanxi, this study proposes pathways and recommendations for their transition from rapid quantitative growth to sustained qualitative improvement, focusing on the following four aspects: (1) Accurately defining positioning and development paths: Provincial laboratories should clearly define their roles and establish differentiated development paths distinct from other platforms and bases. On one hand, they should address major national strategic needs, conduct forward-looking, cutting-edge, and innovative research, and enhance their capacity for original innovation. On the other hand, they should closely focus on local economic development needs, select and prioritize key development directions and focus areas. (2) Encouraging innovation and streamlining various systems and mechanisms: This includes optimizing the operation of independent legal entities, cooperation among directors, the transformation of research achievements, and tolerance for mistakes and trial-and-error practices. It also involves establishing scientific research entities with clearly defined responsibilities, rights, and interests; ensuring independent overall allocation; and promoting standardized management and operations. It also requires properly handling the relationships between leading institutions and co-constructing units, particularly in areas such as profit distribution and intellectual property ownership, and exploring and adopting models such as “investment before equity” and “payment after use.” (3) Integrating development models and full-chain linkages: This involves refining models that integrate universities, enterprises, and research institutions, as well as full-chain linkages from basic research to industrial application. Such approaches aim to improve operational mechanisms characterized by multi-stakeholder collaboration, integrated resource allocation, full-chain connectivity, and all-around support. (4) Adhering to a results-oriented evaluation approach: Establishing an evaluation mechanism aligned with the research characteristics and operational rules of the provincial laboratories is essential. This includes exploring and establishing a phased and long-term performance evaluation system through a combination of annual reporting and regular assessments, and setting distinct evaluation indicators for the initial construction phase and the operational phase.