How to promote the implementation of technological innovations in ecological and environmental protection? Ministry of Ecology and Environment: Establish diversified financing channels and strengthen central-local cooperation.

Our Daily Reporter | Zhang Huaishui    Our Daily Editor | Dong Xingsheng

On March 30, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment held its March routine press conference, focusing on hot topics in the field of ecological and environmental science and technology, including technological innovation, industry matchmaking, and the transformation of scientific and technological innovation achievements. The main heads of relevant departments responded.

Reporters from Our Daily Economic News learned at the press conference that in 2025, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, jointly with 15 departments, issued the Implementation Opinions on Strengthening Scientific and Technological Innovation in the Field of Ecological and Environmental Protection and Promoting the Building of a Beautiful China (hereinafter referred to as the “Opinions”), which clarified the tasks and goals for scientific and technological innovation in the field of ecological and environmental protection for the year 2035. The implementation and progress of the “Opinions” have attracted widespread attention.

In response, Wang Zhibin, Director of the Science and Technology and Finance Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said that the “Opinions,” as a guiding document for implementing the building of a Beautiful China and strengthening China as a country strong in science and technology, and for the mid-level aspects for 2035, are intended to pool efforts from all sides, jointly advance the development of science and technology in the field of ecological and environmental protection, and provide a basis and guidance for local governments, relevant scientific research institutes, universities, and enterprises to advance scientific and technological innovation in the field of ecological and environmental protection.

Establish a high-level science and technology think tank for ecological and environmental engineering

Regarding the specific implementation progress, Wang Zhibin introduced: “Since the ‘Opinions’ have been implemented for more than a year, we have actively planned and promoted the landing of related tasks. We can mainly summarize it into three ‘haves.’”

The first “have” is that key tasks are effectively broken down. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment is organizing the drafting of the “15th Five-Year Plan” plan for ecological and environmental science and technology innovation. In accordance with the relevant arrangements of the “Opinions,” it is planned to focus on, during the 15th Five-Year Period, further refining and deploying more than 20 key tasks such as multi-component cross-media system governance technologies for atmospheric pollutants, and more than 80 priority directions. We will carry out research on mid- to long-term development strategies for science and technology in the field of ecological and environmental protection. We will further decompose key tasks into 27 sub-domains such as green and low-carbon technologies in key industries. We will hold detailed discussions one by one, and form a series of special research reports and a general report, breaking down the “Opinions” into concrete, executable blueprints.

The second “have” is that major actions are advanced in an orderly manner. Focusing on the major national strategic needs, we will steadily advance the pre-set tasks specified in the “Opinions.” For example, we will further strengthen the layout of frontiers in basic research and tackle key core technology. We will organize the distillation of major science and technology needs such as new pollutants, system governance of environmental pollution, and nuclear and radiation safety. We will formulate special proposals and deeply promote the organization and implementation of major national science and technology projects.

We will formulate and issue the Guiding Opinions on Further Standardizing and Promoting the Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements in the Field of Ecological and Environmental Protection, deepen the construction of the national comprehensive service platform for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in ecological and environmental protection, accelerate the application and transformation of scientific and technological achievements, jointly build the China Ecological and Environmental Engineering Science and Technology Development Strategy Research Institute with the Chinese Academy of Engineering, carry out research on strategic issues for the development of major engineering projects, and establish a high-level science and technology think tank for ecological and environmental engineering.

The third “have” is that institutional and mechanism guarantees are in place. We will actively explore diversified funding mechanisms for science and technology in the field of ecological and environmental protection, promote in-depth docking between more than ten financial institutions and the units undertaking major national science and technology projects, establish diversified financing channels, deepen cooperation with the National Natural Science Foundation of China, promote the establishment of an ecological and environmental joint fund, and strengthen basic research in the field of ecological and environmental protection. In addition, we will further strengthen central-local cooperation. By adopting a multi-department coordinated approach involving the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Guangxi Department of Ecology and Environment and the Department of Science and Technology, we will adopt a central-local linkage model. For major science and technology needs in typical areas such as heavy metal pollution in Hechi, we will systematically deploy a cluster of projects, carry out centralized tackling and demonstration.

Focusing on key considerations and deployment arrangements during the 15th Five-Year Period, Wang Zhibin said: first, tightly follow one main line. That is, supporting management and leading the frontiers, and according to the tasks and deployments set out in the “Opinions” and the 15th Five-Year Period plan for ecological and environmental science and technology innovation, we will focus on and intensively carry out research on technologies in key fields and directions.

Second, clarify one guiding orientation. That is, guided by standardization, efficiency, and transformation-focused application. We will deeply advance the organization and implementation of major national science and technology projects, ensuring that organization is more efficient, outcomes are more effective, and applications are more fruitful—thereby promoting deep integration between technological innovation and industrial innovation.

Third, seize one key focus. That is, focusing on addressing weaknesses and optimizing and upgrading, we will strengthen the construction of scientific research and innovation platforms and basic capabilities, and continuously enhance the support and service capabilities of platforms, bases, and talent in ecological civilization development.

Fourth, grasp one direction. That is, focusing on whole-chain and systemic innovation, we will optimize the institutional system for scientific and technological innovation, and fully play the incentive and guiding role of mechanisms and policies for scientific and technological innovation.

Achieve effective connection from the “lab” to the “production line”

Regarding how to promote deep integration between technological innovation and industrial innovation, Wang Zhibin said that first, in terms of front-end technological innovation, we will focus on deepening reforms in scientific research management, promote a shift away from the mindset of “first achievements and then transformation,” so that innovation starts at the source and truly targets industry needs and national strategic needs from the outset. We will truly achieve integrated planning, integrated deployment, and integrated advancement of both technological innovation and industrial innovation.

For example, in organizing and implementing major national science and technology projects, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment has widely collected needs from user units such as relevant departments, local governments, and industry-related enterprises, using them as an important reference for deploying R&D tasks. At the same time, we have also established an approval and assessment mechanism of “putting questions to the market, having research answer the questions, and letting industry grade the answers,” ensuring that research directions and industry needs resonate at the same frequency, so as to achieve an effective connection from the “lab” to the “production line.”

Second, energize innovation in the intermediate link. “Enterprises are the junction point of the innovation chain and the industrial chain. We support more enterprises to put forward technology needs, take on breakthrough tasks, participate in project acceptance, and further strengthen the direct landing and application of achievements. We will promote enterprises’ green and low-carbon development and form new quality productive forces. For example, in major national science and technology projects led by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the number of participating enterprises is more than 300, accounting for more than half of the total number of project undertaking units. Meanwhile, we also, for common problems in key industries, entrust leading industry enterprises to take the lead in organizing technical R&D, to help solve the tough problems facing the industry.”

At the same time, in terms of industrial innovation in the back end, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment adheres to combining a “capable government” with an “effective market,” strengthens policy and funding support, and helps cultivate environmental protection industries with core competitiveness. This March, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the Application Guidelines for Project Declarations for the Promotion and Application of New Technologies in the Field of Ecological and Environmental Protection (Trial). Central ecological and environmental funds will support the promotion and application of new technologies, including 7 categories of governance technologies such as ultra-low-emission treatment for multiple pollutants, as well as 4 categories of monitoring and regulatory technologies such as comprehensive three-dimensional atmospheric pollutant monitoring. This is to cultivate real application scenarios for advanced technologies, so that good technologies can find good markets and good projects can receive good support—thereby accelerating the iterative upgrade of environmental governance and monitoring and regulatory technologies.

Regarding its next-step plan, Wang Zhibin pointed out that it will firmly implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the deployments of the “15th Five-Year Plan” outline, continuously deepen the reform of the science and technology system in the field of ecological and environmental protection, and focus on building a market-oriented green technology innovation system. With greater efforts, it will promote the deep integration of the innovation chain and the industrial chain, accelerate the formation of new quality productive forces in the field of ecological and environmental protection, and provide strong scientific and technological impetus for building a Beautiful China where humanity and nature coexist in harmony.

Cover image source: Our Daily Media Resources Database