Science needs fund formula

Fury is the word the minister of science and technology used on the weekend to describe his feelings about the rampant misappropriation of scientific research funds. We know why he was furious: how will the country catch up with developed counterparts in science and technology if funding for research remains a source of spending for non-research purposes?

Thirty-nine auditing reports show misappropriation of scientific research funds in the five years from 2007 to 2012 nationwide. The auditing reveals that research funds totaling 943 million yuan ($154 million) in 13 colleges in a province were listed as being spent on irrelevant commodities and services. The Ministry of Transport has used 186 million yuan from such funds as wages and subsidies for employees. Such funds have also been spent on purchasing vehicles, refurbishing offices and even banquets.

It was quite common for scientists to complain about the lack of money for scientific research a decade ago when the input in this sector was about 0.64 percent of the country's total gross domestic product. Input increased to 1,024 billion yuan, or 1.97 percent of GDP, in 2012.