Article | Li Yanrong (Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Secretary of the Party Committee of Northwestern Polytechnical University)
Scientific research activities can be broadly divided into three types: original basic research from 0 to 1, application-driven amplification research from 1 to 100, and reverse application-based basic research from 1 to 0.The first type is the precious few who embark on free exploration out of interest. The second type is the main driving force for most researchers, who conduct extended application research based on the discoveries and inventions of others, according to their own circumstances and various application scenarios. The third type is goal-oriented and urgent, where researchers overcome challenges, break through core indicators, and achieve equipment application. Afterwards, they return to a process of thorough digestion, similar to the rumination process of ruminant animals such as cows and sheep.The third type of research activity is highly meaningful but often overlooked and underestimated. It is a critical step in transforming China's scientific and technological development from decades of simple chasing and imitation to running side by side or even taking the lead. It is also an important step in the high-quality development of the economy and the construction of a scientifically and technologically strong country.In recent years, the Party and the state have made clear requirements to accelerate the construction of a scientifically and technologically strong country and achieve high-level technological self-reliance. I believe that universities and research institutions should organize more forces to focus on solving the problems from 1 to 0 that arise from the system and complete machines.Generally speaking, a product or a technology often needs to go through three iterations to achieve a leading position. The first is to catch up. Although it may be a sweaty process, it is an indispensable learning experience. The second is to identify the problems from 1 to 0 after catching up and reaching similar key parameters. It is important to understand the reasons behind the applications rather than rely solely on application scenarios. It is crucial to timely recover any missed opportunities, just like picking up "watermelons" and "sesame" that were overlooked during the catch-up phase, and especially to pull out the "big radishes" buried underground. After going through this process, it is possible to achieve running side by side or partial leading. Finally, there is the stage of taking the lead. To achieve overall leadership, it is necessary to have the secrets of know-how in technology or to make new discoveries and inventions based on new principles, phenomena, and processes. Through these three upgrade iterations, a product or technology can achieve innovative development and independent controllability.So, how can we achieve the transformation from 1 to 0?First, organized scientific research is required. Without organization, directional basic research becomes fragmented, and it is difficult to persist through independent efforts. A large team often starts with applications and continuously accumulates strengths. To overcome the reverse basic challenges, it is crucial for the team leader's pursuit and vision to play a decisive role. This behavior is not a self-initiated action, nor can it be solved simply by advocating for interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary cooperation.Currently, Northwestern Polytechnical University is conducting organized research from 1 to 0 in more than ten large research teams at the institutional level. For a long time, the university has had strong research capabilities in systems, complete machines, and models, which has laid a good foundation for identifying key problems from 1 to 0.Second, encourage those who specialize in engineering systems to become clients (customer side) and serve as problem posers and reviewers, as posing questions is more important than solving them. At the same time, encourage those who excel in basic research to become contractors (supplier side), boldly taking the lead and providing comprehensive and accurate answers.Finally, it is essential to integrate individuals skilled in "digging down to the root" with those who are adept at "breaking through barriers." The goal is to achieve bidirectional cooperation, with top-down demand propelling technical advancement and bottom-up technology driving, rather than neglecting one or the other. Otherwise, the pain in engineering applications will be ignored by basic research, and the progress achieved in basic research will be of little help to engineering technology. Only through alignment, synergy, and performance optimization can universities and research institutions better serve as strategic scientific and technological forces for the country.China Science Daily (1st edition, January 25, 2024)Editor | Zhao LuTypesetting | Zhi HaiPlease scan the QR code below for 3 seconds
