Page 83 - Contributed Paper Session (CPS) - Volume 3

CPS1951 Zhu Y. et al.

Comparative analysis of R&D statistical systems
between China and major developed countries
1
2
Zhu Yingchun , Liu Huifeng , Sun Yunjie , Wu Da
1
1
1 Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development, Beijing, China
2 Tianjin Research Centre for Statistics and Science and& Technology Development, Tianjin,
China

Abstract
This article discusses the R&D statistical system of China, including its
statistical structure, objects, scope and methodologies; in addition, it also
analyses the main features of organizational systems of R&D statistics of major
developed countries, such as, the U.S., Japan, Germany and the U.K. Compared
to these countries, China is quite close to them in terms of levels of statistical
training and data auditing, albeit only a short history of 30 years of its R&D
statistics. Nevertheless, China should reference the experience of developed
countries, using methods like, estimations and sampling to conduct R&D
surveys in a flexible and diverse manner.

Keywords
R&D statistical systems; scope of statistics; statistical methodologies

1. Overviews and features of China’s R&D statistical system
1.1 Evolution of China’s R&D statistical system
In the 1970s, Chinese experts and scholars began to engage in relevant
research on science and technology (S&T) statistical methodologies. In 1978,
the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the State Commission for Science and
Technology (SCST) and other two departments jointly organized what was
called, “General Survey of Employees Working in Natural Science and
Technology in China”, through which to gasp the basic situation of personnel
working in the field of natural science and technology. In 1985, SCST along
with NBS and other related government agencies introduced for the first time
ever relevant definitions on indicators and standards of classification from
UNESCO’s Manual for Statistics on Science and Technology Activities, and they
co-implemented the “General Survey on Science and Technology in China”.
Since then, the S&T, education and statistics authorities in China have set up
three independent S&T statistics systems respectively for government
research institutes, higher education institutions, and medium and large
industrial enterprises, with the establishment of level-by-level survey systems
on the regional basis. And this survey became the cornerstone of S&T statistics
in China. In 1988, SCST organized experts to revise the S&T statistics indicators
and carried out a nation-wide R&D investment sample survey, through which

72 | I S I W S C 2 0 1 9