Current Situations of Competitive Scientific Research Projects for Agri-scientific Research Institutions：A Case Study of Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute of Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences

Haiyan LUO，Qingqun YAO，Lizhen CHEN，Yu ZHENG

Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute of Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences，Danzhou 571737，China

1 Introduction

Scientific research activities of scientific research institutions are mainly manifested with scientific research projects as objects［1］.Scientific research projects are center of scientific researches，embodiment of vitality of scientific research institutions［2］，and also important sources of scientific research funds.Competitive scientific research projects of the Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute（TCGRI）of Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences（CATAS）mainly come from foundation committees，Ministry of Science and Technology，Ministry of Agriculture，and Hainan Province，accounting for more than 80%of total scientific research funds.We collected and arranged competitive scientific research projects undertaken by Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute of Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences in 2003－2014.Through statistical analysis on quantity of projects，funded amount，age of person responsible，professional title of person responsible，academic degree of person responsible，research object，we discussed relevant characteristics and rules.Finally，we came up with pertinent measures and recommendations，in the hope of providing services for decision-making and scientific and technological management.

2 Data source

Through consulting electronic data and science and technology files of the Department of Science and Technology of TCGRI，we collected 552 competitive scientific research projects approved by Ministry of Science and Technology，Ministry of Agriculture，and Hainan Province and horizontal projects.Wemade a statistical analysis on quantity of projects，funded amount，age of person responsible，professional title of person responsible，academic degree of person responsible，research object.

3 Results and analyses

3.1 Statistics of general data of project fundingIn 2003－2014，TCGRI obtained 552 competitive scientific research projects，the funding amount reached 248.321 million yuan，including 42 projects from Ministry of Science and Technology，accounting for 7.61%of total projects，obtained funding amount of 63.2378 million yuan，accounting for 25.47%of total funding amount；248 projects from Ministry of Agriculture，accounting for 44.9%of total projects，obtained funding amount of118.939million yuan，accounting for47.9%of total funding amount，and 103 horizontal projects，accounting for 18.66%of total projects and obtained funding amount of 38.6043 million yuan，accounting for 15.55%of total funding amount；obtained 131 provincial level projects，accounting for23.73%of total projects，funding amount of18.5087 million yuan，accounting for 7.45%of total funding amount，as shown in Fig.1 and Fig.2.

Generally，most projects of TCGRI come from Ministry of Agriculture，Hainan Province，and horizontal projects，few projects come from Ministry of Science and Technology，foundation committee，and other ministries and committees. As to funding amount，the funding amount was mainly from Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Science and Technology，44.9%and 47.9%respectively.It is to be specially noted that the quantity of projects from Ministry of Science and Technology accounts only for7.61%of total projects，while the funding amount accounts for25.47%of total funding amount，the funds of Hainan Province and horizontal projects are relatively separate.

From Fig.3，it can be known that the quantity of projects and funding amount put in place in TCGRI since 2003 take on a rising trend.The quantity of projects increased from 25 in 2003 to 88 in 2014，and the funding amount rose from 10.703million yuan to 34.0182million yuan，showing great improvement of both scientific research level and scientific research competitive power of TCGRI.In the beginning and end year of every Five Year Plan period，both the quantity of projects and funding amount put in place are relatively low，mainly because many projects remain closing and acceptance stage and new projects remain at the stage of application.For example in2010 and 2011，scientific and technological support plan，special scientific research projects for public welfare industry，and 948 program of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan remained closing and acceptance stages and the projects of Twelfth Five-Year Plan were not launched yet，so both the quantity of projects and funding amount declined slightly.

Table 2 Quantity of projects and funding amount put in p lace in 2003－2014（104 Yuan）

3.2 Academic degree of person responsible for projects

From Fig.4，from 2003 to 2014，scientific research personnel in TCGRI hold higher and higher academic degrees，especially scientific research personnel with doctorate are becoming major scientific research force of TCGRI.In all projects，the quantity of projects obtained by researchers with doctorate increased from 8.00%to 42.05%，while that obtained by bachelor degree or below dropped from 88%to 23.86%.From Fig.5，it can be known that for different projects，the person responsible holds different academic degrees，and the person with bachelor degree takes up a larger portion in project source（43.12%）.In the project approved by foundation committee，only one person with bachelor degree obtained funding，while researchers with doctorate take up certain portion in all projects.Changes in academic degree of person responsible are closely related to rapid development of education of postgraduates in recent years.

Table 3 Academic degree of person responsible for projects 104 Yuan

3.3 Professional title of person responsible for projectsResearchers with senior professional title are the largest group obtaining projects，accounting for 42.03%of total projects，researchers with intermediate and below professional title account for 20.11%of total projects.As shown in Table 4，researchers with senior professional title obtain projects mainly from Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Agriculture，and the proportion of funding amount reached 93.43%；researchers with intermediate professional title obtain projects mainly from provincial level，and funding is relatively separate and the proportion of funding amount is only 6.57%.

Table 4 Professional title of person responsible for projects 104 Yuan

As shown in Fig.6 and Fig.7，person responsible for differ-ent sources of projects is mainly researcher with senior professional title，because those researchers with intermediate or below professional title do not have practical experience and it is difficult for them to undertake scientific research projects independently；statistics of different years indicate that most researchers responsible for projects hold senior and associate senior professional title.

3.4 Age of person responsible for projectsResearchers of TCGRI become younger and younger.This can be reflected in projects of recent years.As shown in Fig.8 and Fig.9，in both project sources and different years，age of person responsible for projects approved for TCGRI is mainly 31－40 and 41－50，accounting for 86.52%，and 30 years old person responsible for projects takes up 9.55%，and 51 years old person responsible for projects accounts for 3.92%.

Table 5 Age of person responsible for projects 104 Yuan

3.5 Research objects and fundsThe TCGRI is mainly engaged in researches of tropical fruit tree，cassava，tropical forage grass，tropical flower，and south China medicine，and other tropical industrial crops.These fields take up majority part.Tropical livestock and poultry and tropical winter melons and vegetables start late，so there are few projects.Other projects are common researches of collection，storage and breeding of tropical crop germ plasm resources.As shown in Fig.10，research objects are mainly projects of Ministry of Agriculture，while flowers and vegetable projects are mainly provincial level projects.

Table 10 Quantity of projects of research objects and funds 104 Yuan

4 Discussions and recommendations

Both the quantity and quality of scientific research projects are essential indicators for measuring comprehensive strength，activeness，and overall science and technology level of a scientific research institution［3］.Since 2003，both quantity and funds of scientific research projects in TCGRI take on wavy growth，reflecting fluctuation of scientific research activeness which basically conforms to periodical rules of scientific researches of tropical crops.It also reflects that the inclined policies of the state towards agricultural researches.In recent years，TCGRI recruited a lot of young talents with high academic degrees，realizing constant optimization of academic degree and age structure of the entire research team，and constant increase of scientific research strength of TCGRI.Nevertheless，there are still some problems.Especially，in the context of new scientific research system reform，scientific research projects are different in application，establishment and closing.On the basis of the above analysis，we came up with following recommendations：

4.1 Strengthening communication and cooperation，and actively applying projectsA distinctive characteristic of scientific and technological development is cross of disciplines and rapid change of science and technology［4］.These require scientific and technological communication and cooperation of different disciplines，fields and objects，to improve scientific and technological strength jointly.After reform of new scientific research system，various projects will be consolidated and project sources will become less.Therefore，it is recommended to strengthen communication and cooperation between committees and ministries，scientific research management departments of nine provinces in South China and scientific education institutions of each province，to participate in more competitive scientific and technological projects，to strive for project establishment and funding.

4.2 Strengthening project process management and ensuring completion of projects in high quality and on time

Whether projects can be completed in high quality and on time will exert influence on person responsible for projects，butalso influence reputation of the institution［5］.Therefore，after the project is approved and established，it is recommended to reinforce project implementation，implement the project from person responsible for the project，project team，and research institute，to guar-antee completion of projects in time and in high quality，and ensure reputation and credit of the research institute，to lay solid foundation for future project application.

4.3 Improving personnel quality and optimizing personnel structureThe key of scientific and technological innovation lies in cultivation and containment of talents.Without well structured innovation team and without excellent discipline leaders，achievement will be an empty talk.Therefore，the primary task at present is to strengthen talent cultivation，formulate a set of feasible and practical measure and method，stabilize scientific and technological innovation team，create atmosphere favorable for talent growth，and hold existing talents.In the meantime，it is recommended to create conditions to introduce，cultivate and use high level leaders.Besides，it is recommended to change tendency towards stressing things but neglecting people in scientific and technological management，and take finding，cultivation，and holding of excellent scientific and technological talents as primary tasks of scientific and technological works.

4.4 Combining research objects and implementing frontier fundamental researchesThe TCGRI is engaged in application and fundamental researches of tropical crops for a long term.Few researches involve frontier fundamental application，while fundamental application is the basis of application research.Both complement each other and rapidly generate scientific research achievements.In recent years，introduction of high academic degree young talents greatly improves strength of TCGRI in fundamental researches.It is recommended to widen research fields，extend vertical research chain，such as proteome，bioinformatics，and cytology，to make them become cooperative power of application researches［4］.

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