In today's world, establishing and implementing interdisciplinary mega international programs of science research has become an important measure of advancing scientific and technological development. These programs, with their advanced and authoritative scientific nature, attract the participation of scientists from all of the world, win financial support and launch cooperative research through various channels, thereby giving rise to leapfrog scientific development in corresponding areas.

Determined by scientific development and national strength, these mega programs are usually put forward by scientists in developed countries in the west, implemented by international program offices based in these countries and they decide on major questions like the research direction and program enactment. By far, participation by developing countries in these mega programs has been insignificant. Under many circumstances scientists in developing countries are also invited to some activities out of the need of site surveying and obtaining data, but more often than not they have no substantive right to speak.

The international program office is an institution of real power in organizing and implementing mega programs of science research. Having to provide for operation outlays and work environment the host country nevertheless gains much more than what it puts in.

The benefits of setting up international program offices are:

First, bigger say. Through participating in the enactment and management of research direction and implementation plan it can integrate the ideas of domestic scientists with international programs more closely, better giving play to its dominant role in the program.

Second, absorbing international funds to support the implementation of the program, that is, making use of international financial resources to promote domestic development in that area while promoting international scientific development.

Third, providing rich personnel resources for the host country while absorbing international outstanding scientists in service of the program.

Fourth, obtaining the latest information and research results in the speediest way.

Admittedly, China's scientific and technological development is still a long way from that of developed countries. But today's China has made considerable economic progress. With growing national strength China has laid down sound foundation in certain scientific areas and acquired the capability to lead high-level international scientific cooperation. Chinese scientists have the ability to play a leading role in some strong areas, that is, to advance and organize some front-line mega international science programs by relying on domestic scientific ideas and drawing participation by worldwide scientists.

Independently proposing and presiding over mega international science programs will greatly raise China's status on the international science stage as well as possibly turn around the direction of talent flow. It can attract not only a great many Chinese scholars lingering abroad to make contributions but also outstanding foreign scientists in service of the program implementation, so as to further consolidate and boost China's position in these areas. In the meantime, the fruits of these mega programs will inevitably provide scientific and technological foundation for China's social and economic development,

Apart from supporting the research with a series of projects, presiding over mega international science programs also demands the establishment of international program office. A program office needs about $300,000 for operation each year, which is secured by relevant departments in the host country. By far China has no such kind of financing channels.

We believe we should fully recognize the role of mega international science research programs in advancing scientific development, independently propose and support a batch of mega international science programs in selected strong areas according to national needs and existing research achievement.

Therefore, we suggest that the national finance explore special financing channels and set up special support for implementation of this kind of programs. There may not be many such programs and the central government will not need to put much into them. However, this kind of mega international science research programs have an very important role in advancing development in relevant areas, boosting independent innovation and raising China's status in international scientific areas.

This article by Ye Duzheng and Fu Congbin, academicians with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is carried on the front page of People's Daily Overseas Edition, Jan.10, and is translated by People's Daily Online