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.

A Reporter from Economic Daily｜Zhang Huaishui Editor from Economic Daily｜Dong Xingsheng

On March 30, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment held its March regular press conference, focusing on hot topics such as scientific and technological innovation in the field of ecological and environmental protection, industry matchmaking, and the transformation of scientific and technological innovation achievements. The main persons in charge of relevant departments and bureaus responded.

Journalists from The Economic Daily (《每日经济新闻》) learned at the press conference that in 2025, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, together with 15 other departments, issued the Implementation Opinions on Strengthening Scientific and Technological Innovation in the Field of Ecological and Environmental Protection to Promote the Building of a Beautiful China (hereinafter referred to as the “Opinions”), which sets out 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 significant 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 a Strategy for Strengthening the Country through Science and Technology, and for the mid-level perspective for the year 2035, is intended to gather strength from all sides, jointly promote scientific and technological development in the field of ecological and environmental protection, and provide a basis and guidance for local governments, relevant research institutes, universities, and enterprises to advance scientific and technological innovation in the field of ecological and environmental protection.

Building a high-level scientific think tank for ecological and environmental engineering

Speaking about specific implementation progress, Wang Zhibin said, “More than a year after the implementation of the ‘Opinions,’ we have actively planned and promoted the landing of related tasks. In summary, this can be characterized as 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 (’Fifteen Five’) for ecological and environmental science and technology innovation. According to the relevant arrangements of the “Opinions,” it is planned to focus on refining and deploying more than 20 key tasks, such as multi-component cross-media system treatment technologies for air pollutants, and more than 80 priority directions during the ‘Fifteen Five’ period. We also organize research on medium- and long-term development strategies for science and technology in the field of ecological and environmental protection, further break down key tasks into 27 sub-fields such as green and low-carbon technologies in key industries, conduct research and discussions one by one, and produce a series of special research reports and a general report—turning the “Opinions” into concrete, executable construction blueprints.

The second “have” is that major actions are advanced in an orderly manner. Focusing on the needs of major national strategies, we steadily advance the predetermined tasks specified in the “Opinions.” For example, we further strengthen the frontier layout of basic research and tackling of key core technologies, organize the formulation and refinement of major scientific and technological needs such as new pollutants, system governance of environmental pollution, and nuclear and radiation safety, develop special proposals, and deeply promote the organization and implementation of major national science and technology projects.

We formulated and issued the Guiding Opinions on Further Regulating and Promoting the Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements in Ecological and Environmental Protection, and we further deepened the construction of the national integrated service platform for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in ecological and environmental protection. We accelerated the application of the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and jointly with the Chinese Academy of Engineering established the China Academy of Ecological and Environmental Engineering Technology Development Strategy Research Institute, conducted research on major engineering technology development strategy issues, and established a high-level scientific think tank for ecological and environmental engineering.

The third “have” is that institutional and mechanism support is in place. We actively explore diversified funding mechanisms for science and technology in the field of ecological and environmental protection. We promote in-depth docking between more than 10 financial institutions and entities undertaking major national science and technology projects, establish diversified financing channels for investment, 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 also strengthen cooperation between central and local governments. By adopting a coordinated, multi-department approach—where the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Ministry of Science and Technology coordinate with the Guangxi Department of Ecology and Environment and the Department of Science and Technology—we use a central-local joint mechanism. In response to major scientific and technological needs in typical areas such as heavy metal pollution in the Hechi region, we systematically deploy project clusters and carry out centralized efforts and demonstrations.

Focusing on key considerations and deployment arrangements during the ‘Fifteen Five’ period, Wang Zhibin said: first, we closely follow a single main line. That is, supporting management and guiding cutting-edge frontiers as the main line. According to the tasks and deployments set out in the “Opinions” and the ‘Fifteen Five’ ecological and environmental science and technology innovation plan, we will firmly抓重点领域和方向技术研究 (i.e., focus hard on research into key fields and direction technologies).

Second, we clarify a single orientation. That is, aiming at standardized, efficient operation and transformation-oriented application. We will deeply advance the organization and implementation of major national science and technology projects, ensure that organization is more efficient, achievements are more effective, and applications deliver greater real results, and promote deep integration of science and technology innovation and industry innovation.

Third, we seize a single focus. That is, focusing on filling shortfalls and optimizing and upgrading. We will strengthen the construction of scientific research innovation platforms and basic capabilities, and continuously improve the support and service capabilities of platforms, bases, and talent in building ecological civilization.

Fourth, we grasp a single direction. That is, focusing on whole-chain and systematic innovation. We will optimize the system of rules and institutions for scientific and technological innovation, and give full play to the incentive and guiding role of mechanism and policy for scientific and technological innovation.

Achieving effective alignment from the “lab” to the “production line”

Regarding how to promote deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industry innovation, Wang Zhibin said that first, in terms of front-end scientific and technological innovation, we will focus on deepening reform of scientific research management, promote changing the mindset of “first achievements, then transformation,” and ensure that innovation starts from the source by targeting industrial needs and national strategic needs. This will truly achieve integrated planning, integrated deployment, and integrated promotion of both scientific and technological innovation and industry innovation.

For example, in organizing and implementing major national science and technology projects, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment widely collects needs from user units such as relevant departments, local governments, and enterprises in related industries, and uses these as an important reference for deploying R&D tasks. At the same time, we also establish an approval and assessment mechanism of “the market sets the questions, researchers answer, and industry reviews,” ensuring that research directions and industry needs resonate at the same frequency, thereby achieving effective alignment from the “lab” to the “production line.”

Second, we stimulate innovation vitality in the intermediate stage. “Enterprises are the point where the innovation chain and the industrial chain connect. We support more enterprises to put forward science and technology needs, undertake tackling tasks, and participate in project acceptance and verification, further strengthening the direct landing and application of achievements, promoting green and low-carbon development among enterprises, and forming new quality productive forces. For example, in the major national science and technology projects for which the Ministry of Ecology and Environment is the primary responsible agency, the number of enterprises participating in the projects is as many as over 300, accounting for more than half of the total number of project undertaking entities. Meanwhile, we also, for common problems in key industries, commission leading enterprises in the industry to take the lead in organizing technical R&D, so as to help solve industry-wide challenges.”

Meanwhile, in terms of industry innovation on the back end, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment adheres to combining “a government that can act effectively” with “an effective market.” We strengthen policy and financial support to help cultivate environmental protection industries with core competitiveness. In March this year, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the Application Guide for the Declaration of New Technology Promotion and Application Projects in the Field of Ecological and Environmental Protection (Trial). Central ecological and environmental funds support the promotion and application of new technologies, including seven categories of treatment technologies such as ultra-low emission for multiple pollutants, and four categories of monitoring and supervision technologies such as comprehensive three-dimensional monitoring of air pollution. These measures help cultivate real application scenarios for advanced technologies, enable good technologies to find good markets, and help good projects obtain good support—thereby accelerating iteration and upgrading of environmental governance and monitoring and supervision technologies.

Regarding plans for the next step, Wang Zhibin pointed out that we will firmly implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the deployments in the ‘Fifteen Five’ planning outline, continue to deepen 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, we will promote 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 people and nature coexist harmoniously.

Cover image source: Economic Daily Media Resources Database