The article focuses on the struggles faced by researchers in China, specifically highlighting the conflict between pursuing prestigious projects versus groundbreaking research. A researcher, Shen, describes spending less than a third of his time on actual research due to administrative duties and the overwhelming importance placed on reputation and connections over original ideas.
Shen's experience exemplifies a larger problem within China's research system, where a 'title-driven' approach prioritizes established reputations and connections over genuinely innovative work. This prioritization limits the time and resources dedicated to truly original research, potentially hindering China's drive for technological self-reliance and competitiveness with the United States.
Experts and authorities have expressed concerns that this flawed talent system could significantly threaten China's technological advancements. The article suggests that addressing this issue is crucial to maintaining China's competitive edge in the global tech landscape. The lack of time for genuine research stemming from administrative burden and emphasis on connections is a major concern.
Now, as an associate professor at an elite university in eastern China, Shen spends less than a third of his time on actual research, as other duties such as supervising student projects, keep cutting into time for his own projects.
“I had expected connections and reputation to matter,” said Shen, whose grant applications have repeatedly fallen through. “But they turned out to be even more important than I thought.”
“To pursue truly original ideas, you need to invest a huge amount of time and effort,” he said, declining to be identified by his full name. “But because of these practical constraints, I don’t really dare to go all in.”
Shen’s frustrations reflect a deeper concern.
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