The trajectory set by Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) efforts to reinvent itself through the "Knowledge Innovation Program" (KIP) helps ensure a central role for CAS in China's emergence as a major player in international research and innovation, observes a group of US researchers recently.

Partially supported by US National Science Foundation, Prof. Richard P. Sutttmeier, an expert in political science from the University of Oregon, and his two co-workers from State University of New York carried out studies on KIP at CAS in 2004 and 2005. Based on their interviews with senior officials at CAS headquarters and visits to CAS institutes across China, they wrote an article entitled "Knowledge Innovation" and CAS in the April 7 issue of Science.

Since the initiation of KIP in 1998, the article notes, CAS has managed to reduce it organizational duplication and redefine its orientations and missions. Revitalization of the human resources in the Academy has been approached by recruitment of talented people and laboratory leaders from scientists working abroad and from young researchers in China. New evaluation system has been introduced. There are also a major investment in upgrading facilities and equipment. As a result, CAS research outputs have increased by more than an order of magnitude.

However, the article is quick to pinpoint some of the challenges CAS might face in the future. For instance, imposition of excessive top-down requirements on the research community could discourage creativity and bottom-up innovation, the articles warns. It also worries that multiple functions that CAS assumes can threaten maintenance of clear organizational focus. According to the paper, other questions that CAS might have to deal with in its third phase of KIP include: How to encourage the development of a culture of creativity where risk-taking, initiative, and new ideas are supported and rewarded? How should CAS set priorities related to its stakeholders and develop an organizational structure that fits diverse needs?