Accelerate the deep integration of Industry-University-Research and realize a virtuous circle of education, science and technology and talents.

Universities, especially "double-first-class" universities, must shoulder the political responsibility and historical mission bravely. As an important combination point of science and technology as the first productive force, talent as the first resource and innovation as the first driving force, they must actively participate in the deep integration of Industry-University-Research, and explore effective paths for effectively connecting and implementing the strategies of rejuvenating the country through science and education, strengthening the country through talents and innovation-driven development, and realizing the virtuous circle of education, science and technology and talents.

Industry-University-Research; Fusion; Education; Technology; talent

Report to the 20th CPC National Congress of the Party pointed out: "Education, science and technology and talents are the basic and strategic support for building a socialist modern country in an all-round way." This is the first time that education, science and technology, and talents are arranged in a "trinity" overall way and explained separately, which profoundly reflects the great importance attached by the CPC Central Committee to education and is a major innovation in the party’s theory and practice. In the new era and new journey, the basic, leading and overall position and role of education are more prominent. Colleges and universities, especially "double-class" universities, must shoulder political responsibilities and historical missions. As an important combination point of science and technology as the first productive force, talent as the first resource and innovation as the first driving force, they must actively participate in the deep integration of Industry-University-Research, in order to effectively connect and implement the strategies of rejuvenating the country through science and education, strengthening the country through talents and innovation-driven development.

Deeply grasp the profound connotation of the "Trinity" strategic deployment of the CPC Central Committee

At present, the great changes in the world that have never happened in a century are accelerating, and the changes in the world, the times and the history are unfolding in an unprecedented way. China’s development has entered a period in which strategic opportunities and risk challenges coexist, and uncertainties and unpredictable factors increase. Faced with such complicated and profound changes in the times, building a "double-first-class" university must grasp the decisive significance of "two establishments", strengthen "four consciousnesses", strengthen "four self-confidences", achieve "two maintenances", thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress, grasp the correct direction of the development of the times, accurately recognize changes and respond scientifically. Cultivate opportunities in the crisis, open up new opportunities in the changing situation, and fully fulfill the mission of high-level research universities in serving science and technology and self-reliance, and comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese modernization.

At present, the need for higher education, scientific knowledge and outstanding talents for the development of the cause of the party and the state is more urgent than ever. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China described the grand blueprint for comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese modernization. Report to the 20th CPC National Congress of the Party put forward: "We must adhere to the principle that science and technology are the primary productive force, talents are the primary resource and innovation is the primary driving force, thoroughly implement the strategies of rejuvenating the country through science and education, strengthening the country through talents and innovation-driven development, open up new fields and tracks for development, and constantly shape new kinetic energy and advantages for development." This strategic deployment reflects the higher requirements of high-quality development for education, science and technology and talents. We must deeply realize that the key to education is to improve the quality of independent training of talents and strengthen the supply of talents as the first resource; The goal of science and technology is to achieve high-level science and technology self-reliance and strengthen the primary productivity of science and technology; The essence of innovation drive is talent guidance, and the key is the introduction, cultivation and use of high-level talents to continuously enhance the first driving force of innovation. To build a "double-first-class" university, we must bravely stand at the forefront of the times, be mindful of "the country is the biggest", adhere to the "four orientations", give full play to the key role of the important combination of "three firsts", adhere to the priority development of education, self-reliance and self-reliance in science and technology, and be led by talents, so as to make due contributions to accelerating the construction of a strong country in education, science and technology and talents.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, important conferences such as the National Education Conference, the Symposium for Scientists, the Central Economic Work Conference and the Central Talent Work Conference have repeatedly stressed the need to strengthen the dominant position of enterprise innovation, accelerate the deep integration of Industry-University-Research, and implement the "double tutors" joint training of talents between schools and enterprises. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has been redeployed, emphasizing the need to "take the national strategic needs as the guide", "strengthen the deep integration of Industry-University-Research led by enterprises" and "promote the deep integration of capital chain and talent chain in innovation chain industrial chain". "Double-class" universities undertake the mission of educating people for the party and the country, are an important component of the national strategic scientific and technological strength, have the advantages of profound basic research and interdisciplinary integration, are the main force of basic research and the fresh force of major scientific and technological breakthroughs, and bear the responsibility of cultivating high-level talents and serving economic and social development. Enterprise is the carrier of productivity, the main body of the market and the main body of national scientific and technological innovation, and it also bears the responsibility of talent training. The CPC Central Committee has repeatedly stressed the need to speed up the construction of world-class enterprises and create a source of original technology. Solidly promoting the deep integration of Industry-University-Research is a key measure to implement the "trinity" of education, science and technology and talents. It is of great importance and far-reaching significance to form typical experience and effective path, which needs to be highly valued and accelerated to achieve breakthroughs.

In-depth analysis of the current challenges to promote deep integration in Industry-University-Research.

To accelerate the deep integration of Industry-University-Research led by enterprises, it is necessary to give full play to the respective advantages of universities and enterprises, and solve the problems of "what is led by enterprises, what is integrated between schools and enterprises, where to integrate and how to integrate deeply", so as to truly break through the pain points, blocking points and difficulties of deep integration and truly play the irreplaceable role of high-level research universities in promoting the "three strategies", opening up new fields and new tracks for development, and shaping new advantages for development. It must be noted that there are still some shortcomings in the current deep integration of Industry-University-Research, which are embodied in the following aspects:

First, different school-enterprise orientations need to enhance the integration power. We must mobilize the enthusiasm of universities and enterprises, which is not only reflected in the training of talents in school-enterprise cooperation, but also the inevitable requirement of deep integration in Industry-University-Research. Universities and enterprises have different evaluation orientations and different core demands. Enterprises are market-oriented and pursue high returns, low costs and competitiveness. Colleges and universities are results-oriented, and to a certain extent, there are still phenomena of "only papers, only titles, only academic qualifications and only awards", and the differences in demands lead to insufficient motivation for integration.

Second, the application and transformation of technological achievements in colleges and universities are not smooth, and it is necessary to deepen the integration elements. For a long time, universities and enterprises have formed the traditional simple school-enterprise cooperation mode of "Party A and Party B, one paper contract, one project and one sum of money". The scientific research in universities can’t match the research and development needs of enterprises well, the innovation chain, industrial chain, capital chain and policy chain are not coordinated enough, the scientific and technological achievements are not fully transformed, and the scientific research achievements in universities are still far from industrial application, which is prone to the phenomenon of "two skins".

Third, the differences in school-enterprise organizational models need to improve the integration mechanism. It is necessary to promote enterprises to become the main body of technological innovation decision-making, R&D investment, scientific research organization and achievement transformation. Compared with the organized and systematic scientific research organization mode of enterprises, the traditional scientific research in colleges and universities is mainly led by tutors, which is more suitable for the free and relaxed environment of free exploration and original innovation. There is a lack of control over the progress, quality and cost of R&D, and the organized R&D management process is relatively insufficient, which leads to the gap between the progress, quality and achievements of scientific research in colleges and universities and the needs of enterprises.

Fourth, the school-enterprise spatial dislocation needs to build a fusion platform. It is necessary to speed up the construction of an innovation consortium led by leading enterprises, supported by colleges and universities, and coordinated by various innovation subjects. At present, physical space is still a difficult problem that restricts school-enterprise cooperation. On the one hand, scientific researchers in colleges and universities cannot be stationed in enterprises in batches for a long time to carry out scientific research because of objective conditions; On the other hand, innovative resources such as scientific research platforms, instruments and equipment are hard to be used by enterprises, and the "where to integrate" between schools and enterprises puts both sides in a "dilemma", and the management and operation mechanism of enterprises entering colleges and universities needs to be improved.

Exploration on the Path of Promoting Industry-University-Research’s Deep Integration

Promoting the deep integration of Industry-University-Research must be led by enterprises. Enterprises are an important force closely combining science and technology with economy, and should become the main body of technological innovation decision-making, R&D investment, scientific research organization and achievement transformation. It is necessary to continuously improve the innovation ability of enterprises and realize the integrated layout from innovation chain to the industrial chain. It is necessary to give full play to the organizational role of the government in tackling key core technologies, so as to make enterprises the main body, the government the main driver, universities the initiative, talents the main force and the market the leading factor.

"Double first-class" university construction is an important part of the national strategic scientific and technological strength, and it is a gathering place of innovative resources for high-level personnel training, scientific research and social services. It is necessary to actively integrate into local economic and social development, deeply participate in the innovative ecology gathered by government policies, leading enterprises, financial services, research institutes and other resources, and promote the interactive integration of innovation chain, industrial chain, capital chain and policy chain. On the basis of enterprises as the main body of innovation decision-making, R&D investment, scientific research management and achievement transformation, we should jointly build universities, establish joint research institutes and R&D centers in or around the campus, give full play to the advantages of enterprises’ demand traction, R&D funding investment, organized R&D management and technological achievements transformation and incubation, form a joint team of "scientists and engineers", carry out organized R&D and jointly tackle key core technologies, and apply traction and objectives. For example, Xi ‘an Jiaotong University has focused on the needs of national and regional strategies in recent years, actively integrated into the construction of Qin Chuangyuan’s innovation-driven platform, and relied on the construction of science and technology of west china’s innovation port to gather innovative resources, meet industrial needs, introduce financial capital and cultivate innovative ecology. Carry out pragmatic cooperation with nearly 100 leading enterprises and research institutes, and establish 38 deep integration and innovation consortia between schools and enterprises. In the past two years, the school has undertaken more than 5,000 horizontal scientific research projects, transferred and licensed nearly 1,000 patents, and established 165 companies through empowerment. Help the high-quality development of regional economy and society,Strive to build an innovation engine to promote the development of the western region in the new era and form a new pattern.

To promote the deep integration of Industry-University-Research, we must highlight model innovation. Report to the 20th CPC National Congress of the Party emphasized: "Strengthen the deep integration of Industry-University-Research led by enterprises, strengthen the goal orientation, and improve the transformation and industrialization level of scientific and technological achievements." It not only emphasizes enterprise leadership, but also emphasizes deep integration. It is necessary to deploy innovation chain around the industrial chain and innovation chain around the industrial chain, and actively explore the establishment of a new model of deep integration of Industry-University-Research with "one center, one incubation, two surrounding and one sharing".

Establish a joint research and development center with "four subjects and one union" and deep integration of schools and enterprises; Introduce financial capital, seed funds and angel funds, and establish incubators for the transformation of technological achievements carried by large enterprises, so as to "mature and incubate a batch"; Give full play to the attraction of "double-first-class" universities to overseas high-end talents, explore the flexible talent introduction mode of "not for all, but for use", and establish a mechanism for introducing, cultivating and using overseas high-end talents through school recruitment, enterprise supply, government assistance and multi-win, so as to solve the problem of insufficient high-end scientific and technological R&D talents in enterprises.

At the same time, we should take the opportunity of building an innovation consortium to ensure that university teachers can lead students into the enterprise R&D environment to engage in joint R&D without leaving the campus, and at the same time provide students with an engineering innovation environment. Through the deep integration of schools and enterprises, relying on the cross-disciplinary advantages, focusing on problem-oriented ability training, we can truly realize the training of "scientist+engineer" double tutors or even multiple tutors, strengthen the application of traction basic research and basic discipline personnel training, thus building a "two-chain integration" talent training system, cultivating innovative talents in innovation, and effectively improving the quality of independent training of talents. Taking Xi ‘an Jiaotong University as an example, the school started the innovative project of "integration of production and education, collaborative education", further promoted the reform of personnel training mode, built a modern industrial college and a future technical college, formed a "scientist+engineer" team by participating in the construction of an innovative consortium led by leading enterprises, supported by colleges and universities, and coordinated by innovative subjects, implemented the "100 million excellent engineering talents training plan" jointly between schools and enterprises, and selected nearly 200 enterprise tutors. Really realize the integration of teaching and research, interdisciplinary, integration of production and education, collaborative education and joint research, cultivate innovative talents in the practice of scientific and technological innovation, and promote the deep integration of talent training into the national development strategy to meet the needs of the development of the party and the country.

To promote the deep integration of Industry-University-Research, we must improve the evaluation mechanism. To accelerate the realization of scientific and technological self-reliance, we should make good use of the baton of scientific and technological achievements evaluation, follow the law of scientific and technological innovation, adhere to the correct orientation of scientific and technological achievements evaluation, and stimulate the enthusiasm of scientific and technological personnel. Focus on whether to solve enterprise problems, whether to generate social benefits, mobilize the enthusiasm and creativity of scientific researchers in universities and enterprises, create a good research atmosphere, do a good job in all-round protection of talents, maximize the innovation vitality of talents, accelerate the transfer and transformation of achievements, and effectively promote the majority of scientific and technological workers to listen to the party’s command and follow the party, and write papers on the land of the motherland.

We must adhere to the "four orientations", adhere to the goal orientation and freely explore the "two-legged walk", and persist in combining the world’s scientific and technological frontier with the country’s major strategic needs and economic and social development goals. Focusing on the problems of "what to evaluate", "who will evaluate", "how to evaluate" and "how to use" of scientific and technological achievements, taking "breaking four standards" and "setting new standards" as the breakthrough points, the team building has been changed from "wearing a hat" to "pressing a burden", and the evaluation orientation centered on quality, performance and contribution has been adhered to, so as to comprehensively and accurately reflect the innovation level of achievements, transform application performance and actual contribution to economic and social development. Taking Xi ‘an Jiaotong University as an example, the school comprehensively promotes the innovation of system and mechanism, calibrates the direction of scientific research with "four aspects", and evaluates the reform of traction governance system with performance contribution. Aim at the forefront of world science and technology and key technical fields, deepen the reform of system and mechanism, integrate traditional subject resources, optimize the layout of disciplines, and break down the barriers of disciplines and specialties. Explore diversified ways of employing people, stress effectiveness, discuss contribution, break the four virtues and activate power. The school has innovated the introduction mechanism of overseas high-end talents, and has started the talent plan of "school recruitment sharing" with five enterprises and institutions. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has set up the China Western Overseas Postdoctoral Innovation Demonstration Center in Innovation Port, and established the "Experimental Zone for the Reform of Talent System and Mechanism" and the "Experimental Zone for the Reform of Talent Development" in conjunction with Shaanxi Province and Xi ‘an City, striving to build a "intellectual high point" and a distribution center for high-end talent training in the west, so as to form a large team, build a large platform, undertake large projects and produce great results.

Keep in mind the entrustment and speed up the construction of a world-class university with China characteristics

In April, 2020, General Secretary of the Supreme Leader came to Xi ‘an Jiaotong University during an inspection tour in Shaanxi, stressing that "the core of’ the spirit of moving westward’ is patriotism, and the essence is to listen to the party’s command and follow it, and share the same fate with the party and the country, the nation and the people, which has profound practical and historical significance. We must uphold the party’s overall leadership over the work of colleges and universities, adhere to the virtues of cultivating people, build a team of high-quality teachers, and strive to cultivate more first-class talents. " General Secretary of the Supreme Leader encouraged teachers and students to vigorously carry forward the "spirit of moving westward", seize new opportunities in the new era, make contributions where the motherland needs them most, and create historical achievements belonging to our generation on the new journey.

As a "double-class" university located in the west, Xi ‘an Jiaotong University has unswervingly "listened to the party’s command and followed the party" since it moved to the west for more than 60 years, creating a glorious "spirit of moving to the west" and becoming the great spirit of the first batch of the Communist Party of China (CPC) people’s spiritual pedigree. The school has always adhered to the orientation of "taking root in the west, serving the country and being world-class". Since moving to the school, it has trained nearly 300,000 talents of all kinds and created more than 30,000 scientific research achievements, of which 241 won the third national prize, resulting in hundreds of billions of economic and social benefits. It plays an important role in helping the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education, strengthening the country through talents, innovation-driven development strategy and promoting the development of the western region in the new era to form a new pattern and the "Belt and Road" initiative.

On the new journey, the school will unite more closely around the CPC Central Committee with the Supreme Leader as the core, adhere to the guidance of the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era, thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress, solidly carry out the education on the theme of studying and implementing the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era, firmly grasp the general requirements of "learning ideology, strengthening party spirit, emphasizing practice and building new achievements", and deeply understand that the development of the party and the country’s cause will promote the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education, strengthening the country through talents and accelerating the construction of a world with China characteristics. We should study, understand and practice the entrustment of the Supreme Leader General Secretary, contribute wisdom and strength to the development of the western region and national construction, give full play to the basic and strategic support of education, science and technology and talents, and comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese modernization.

[Author Lu Jianjun: Party Secretary of Xi ‘an Jiaotong University]

Originally published in the 11th issue of Higher Education in China in 2023.

Author: Lu Jianjun