Since the founding of New China, the development of science and technology has undergone four stages:

Beginning (1949-1965):

China had no more than 50,000 scientific and technological personnel in total in 1949 when New China was founded, of which, only some 500 were engaged specially in scientific research work. Special scientific institutes numbered over 40. Modern science and technology were almost non-existent except for some regional investigations into the sciences of geology, biology and meteorology and some scientific research work that did not require experimental equipment. The industrial technology was backward, and agriculture relied simply on several thousand-year-old production experience and backward tools.

New China faced countless difficulties and needed full-scale construction. The Party and the government paid great attention to the development of science and technology. The Common Program of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the basic law at the beginning of New China, stated that: "We should make great efforts to develop natural science to serve the construction of industry, agriculture, and national defense. We should also encourage and reward discoveries and inventions made in science and popularize scientific knowledge."

One month after the founding of New China, through reshuffling, rectification and enrichment, a concentrated research base for natural science in China, the China Academy of Sciences (CAS) was established on the basis of the old China Central Research Institute and the Peiping Research Institute. Afterwards, various industrial sectors and localities established their own research institutes. A large group of famous scientists and technological experts returned from overseas, and they became the backbone of science and technology in New China. By 1955, national science and technology research institutes had developed to 840, with scientific and technological personnel expanding to over 400,000. Scientific and technological forces played a positive role in the rehabilitation of the national economy and in the First Five-Year Plan period.

The year 1956 was a milestone in China's modern scientific and technological development. The State Council set up the Science Planning Commission. The SPC organized over 600 scientists and technological experts in the country to work on the first long-term science and technology plan--1956-67 National Science and Technology Long-Term Plan. Since then, China's scientific and technological cause has undergone large-scale development with long- and short-term plans under the unified leadership of the state.

The long-term target had played a guiding and stimulating role in the development of China's scientific research and the enhancement of the technological level of the national economic departments. The implementation of 57 projects connected to basic research, applied and development research has greatly promoted the development of a series of modern sciences, such as biological physics, molecular biology, electrical physiology, global chemistry and physics, global dynamics, oceanography, radio astronomy, perigee space, chemical physics, complex compound chemistry, catalytic power, cryophysics, and high-energy physics. By initiating urgent measures to develop computer technology, semi-conductor technology, and automatic, radio, nuclear and jet technologies, a series of new technologies have developed in China, and accordingly, many new industries and enterprises were born and rapidly expanded. In this period, various industrial departments established a group of large-scale and well-equipped research institutes with adequate scientific and technological backup. The institutions of higher learning also began to pay great attention to strengthening scientific research work.
The 1956-67 long-term plan was accomplished in 1962, five years ahead of schedule. The State Science & Technology Commission again worked out The 1963-72 Science and Technology Development Plan, which put stress on 374 scientific research projects, of which, 333 projects were in urgent need for the construction of the national economy and defense, with 41 basic research projects.

With the spirit of self-reliance and by working hard, the Chinese scientific and technological personnel guaranteed the smooth progress of major construction projects when China was hit by serious economic difficulties. In October 1964, China successfully conducted its first nuclear experiment, which demonstrated that China's science and technology had reached comparatively advanced levels in certain areas, and possessed the capability to conduct independent scientific research.

Recovery (1977-79)

When the 10 chaotic years ended, the Central Government quickly turned the focus of work to the construction of four modernizations, and put forward that in realizing the four modernizations, the key would be the modernization of science and technology. For this, a series of policies and measures were established.

First of all, a group of scientific and technological management organs, scientific research institutes and academies were restored or established within a short period of time. The State Science & Technology Commission (SSC) and local science and technology commissions were restored, so were some major scientific research institutes in departments and provinces.

Secondly, a large group of scientific and technological personnel returned to their original posts. The idea of "Respecting knowledge and talents" began to prevail.

New science and technology development plans were mapped out across the country. Presided over by the SSC, more than 20,000 scientists, experts and officials were organized for discussions which led to the 1978-85 Outline of Science and Technology Development. The draft plan made full arrangements for development in the 27 fields of natural resources, agriculture, industry, national defense, transportation, oceanic studies, environmental protection, medicine and public health, culture and education, finance and trade, and the research tasks in basic science and technological science, as well as 108 key state research projects.

Within the 27 fields and 108 key projects, eight comprehensive projects that had a significant impact on the whole plan were given priority. The eight key projects were connected to agriculture, energy, materials, electronic computers, lasers, space science, high-energy physics, and genetic engineering. The plan was later channeled into 38 state science and technology research projects in 1982.

In March 1978, over 6,000 delegates participated in the National Science Conference, which put forward a series of important issues and passed the 1978-86 Outline of National Science & Technology Development.

Deng Xiaoping delivered an important speech during the conference. The conference exerted a significant impact on China's scientific and technological development, and greatly enhanced the position of science and technology in the modernization construction of the socialist country. Since then rapid development has been made in various aspects of science and technology. According to statistics, in 1979, 31,270 scientific research results were made in the departments under the State Council and 29 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government, more than the total in the previous 10 years.

Rapid Development (1980--99)

Under the planned economy that had been the controlling system for a long period of time, science and technology had contributed greatly to national construction, but under that system, they were separated from the economy. In 1981, the former SPC put forward to the CPC Central Committee the Outlines of Report on the Principles Regarding Science and Technology Development in China, saying that new policies for developing science and technology in the new historic period should stress their service to the modernization construction and that progress of science and technology should go hand in hand with the economic and social development. China adopted a series of major measures to coordinate the development of science and technology with the economy, and marked results were made in economic, scientific and technological fields. The State Council set up the leading group of science & technology to macro-control the work in the country; a group of excellent scientific-minded officials were promoted to leading posts at various levels in provinces and units; and the trial reform of scientific and technological systems was conducted, with stress laid on the management of scientific research institutes and academic titles.

To guarantee the smooth reform of the scientific and technological system, the state promulgated a series of policies and regulations, opened up the technological market, strengthened the protection of intellectual property rights, improved the scientific award system, established the experimental facility supporting system, and encouraged the development of non-governmental science and technology institutes. Progress was made in developing and improving the scientific and technological system, making it more compatible with economic construction.

The state strategy for science and technology in 1986 covered three levels: serve national economic construction and social development, develop new and high technology and related industry, and strengthen basic research. The first level was actually the main task, with the other two forming the wings. To accomplish the task well, the state established six big programs, including the Spark, the "863," the Torch, the Scaling, Major Scientific Research and Major Achievements Promotion programs. A new pattern of scientific and technological work in the new period was formed. The 863 Program was approved by Deng Xiaoping in person in March 1986 for the development of new and hi-tech researches. Breakthroughs were made in key technologies with the implementation of the 863 Program. Through the efforts and hard work of scientists and technicians, related technologies were also promoted, greatly enhancing China's hi-tech level and international position. The 53 state new and hi-tech industrial development zones in the country, established in accordance with Deng's idea of "developing high technology to realize industrialization," have become the bases in China to commercialize, industrialize and globalize new and hi-tech achievements.

In May 1995, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council promulgated the Decision on Speeding up Science and Technology Progress, which initiated the strategy of developing the country through science and education to quicken scientific and technological progress. At the same time, the national conference on science and technology was held, which stressed the important position of science and technology in economic and social development, strengthening national scientific forces and the ability to transfer scientific achievements to products, and enhancing the scientific and cultural quality of all ethnic groups. The conference put emphasis on making economic construction rely on scientific progress and the improvement of laborers' quality to speed up the transformation of China into a powerful and prosperous country.

The 15th CPC National Congress again put forward the strategy of developing the country through science and education, and sustainable development, and made scientific progress a priority for economic and social development.

The achievements made by science and technology in this period were the fruits of the reform and opening policy over the past 20 years.