Provisions of Shanghai Municipality on Science and Technology Awards

(Promulgated in accordance with Decree No. 18 of Shanghai Municipal People's Government on August 2, 2019; amended in accordance with Decree No. 8 of Shanghai Municipal People's Government on December 13, 2023)

Article 1 (Purpose and Basis)

With a view to rewarding the individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions in the scientific and technological progress activities of this Municipality, mobilizing the enthusiasm and creativity of scientific and technological workers, promoting the development of the scientific and technological undertakings of this Municipality, and accelerating the construction of the science and technology innovation center with global influence, these Provisions are formulated in accordance with the State Regulations on Science and Technology Awards and the Regulations of Shanghai Municipality on Science and Technology Progress.

Article 2 (Establishment of Awards)

Shanghai Municipal People’s Government establishes the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Awards in a unified manner.

Article 3 (Award Orientation)

This Municipality shall deeply implement the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education, strengthening the country through talents, promote innovation driven  development, serve high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement, and increase awards for the first discoverer of scientific laws, the first creator of technological inventions, the first pioneer of innovative industries and the first practitioner of innovative ideas.

Article 4 (Principles of Awards)

Science and Technology Awards carry out the policy of "respecting labor, knowledge, talents and creation", and the evaluation and selection of awards follows the principle of "openness, fairness and justice".

Article 5 (Establishment and Functions of the Award Committee)

Shanghai Municipal People's Government establishes the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Award Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Award Committee), which shall be responsible for directing and administering the work of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Awards, and examining and selecting individual and organization winners of the Science and Technology Awards (hereinafter referred to as the winners).

Members of the Award Committee shall be nominated by the Municipal Administrative Department of Science and Technology, and reported to the Municipal People's Government for approval.

The Award Committee employs experts from relevant parties to form the Evaluation Committee and the Supervision Committee, which are respectively responsible for the evaluation and supervision of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Awards.

Article 6 (Municipal Administrative Department of Science and Technology)

The Municipal Administrative Department of Science and Technology shall be responsible for the formulation of the relevant rules for the nomination, evaluation and supervision of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Awards as well as the organization and service work of the evaluation activities.

Article 7 (Categories and Levels of Awards)

The Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Awards have seven categories:

1. Science and Technology Meritorious Worker Award;

2. Youth Outstanding Science and Technology Contribution Award;

3. Natural Science Award;

4. Technology Invention Award;

5. Science and Technology Progress Award;

6. Science and Technology Popularization Award; 

7. And International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Award.

The Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Awards shall be evaluated once a year.

The Science and Technology Meritorious Worker Award, Youth Outstanding Science and Technology Contribution Award, and International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Award are not graded. The Natural Science Award, Technology Invention Award, Science and Technology Progress Award and, Science and Technology Popularization Award are graded into two levels: first-class award and second-class award. Those who have made extraordinary significant contributions to scientific discovery, technological invention, science and technology progress and science and technology popularization may be granted special award.

The total number of the Natural Science Award, the Technology Invention Award, the Science and Technology Progress Award, and the Science and Technology Popularization Award shall not exceed 200 each time.

Article 8 (Conditions for the Granting of the Science and Technology Meritorious Worker Award)

The Science and Technology Meritorious Worker Award shall be conferred on the following science and technology workers:

1. those who have made a major breakthrough in contemporary frontier science and technology or made outstanding contributions in scientific and technological development; 

2. or those who have created enormous economic and social benefits or ecological and environmental benefits in science and technology innovations, transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and industrialization of high technologies.

The number of the Science and Technology Meritorious Worker Award shall not exceed 2 each time.

Article 9 (Conditions for the Granting of the Youth Outstanding Science and Technology Contribution Award)

The Youth Outstanding Science and Technology Contribution Award shall be conferred on the science and technology workers who are under 45 years old on January 1 of the year of the award nomination and meet one of the following conditions:

1. Basic research category: those who have made significant scientific discoveries in the basic research of natural science;

2. Technology development and industrialization category: those who have made major inventions or key technology breakthroughs in the research of applied technology and industrialization development, or have made outstanding contributions in science and technology popularization;

3. And enterprise innovation and entrepreneurship category: those who have made outstanding contributions in new high-tech enterprises' innovation and entrepreneurship in this Municipality and also created significant economic and social benefits.

The number of the Youth Outstanding Science and Technology Contribution Award shall not exceed 10 each time.

Article 10 (Conditions for the Granting of the Natural Science Award)

The Natural Science Award shall be conferred on the individuals or organizations that have expounded natural phenomena, features and laws, and made significant scientific discoveries in basic research and applied basic research.

The significant scientific discoveries mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall meet the following conditions at the same time:

1. having not yet been discovered or expounded by any predecessors;

2. having significant scientific value; 

3. and having been recognized by the scientific community at home and abroad.

Article 11 (Conditions for the Granting of the Technology Invention Award)

The Technology Invention Award shall be conferred on the individuals or organizations that have made significant technical inventions in products, technology, materials devices and systems by applying scientific and technological knowledge.

The significant technological inventions mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall meet the following conditions at the same time:

1. having not yet been discovered or disclosed by any predecessors;

2. having advanced, creative, practical and significant technical value; 

3. and having created significant economic and social benefits or ecological and environmental benefits after application and having broad application prospects.

Article 12 (Conditions for the Granting of the Science and Technology Progress Award)

The Science and Technology Progress Award shall be conferred on the following individuals or organizations that have completed, applied and promoted innovative scientific and technological achievements and have made outstanding contributions to promoting scientific and technological progress and economic and social development.

The innovative scientific and technological achievements mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall meet the following conditions at the same time:

1. having outstanding technological innovation and advanced technical and economic indicators;

2. having produced remarkable economic and social benefits or ecological and environmental benefits through application and promotion; 

3. and having made significant contributions in promoting an industry's scientific and technological advancement and improving people’s livelihood.

Article 13 (Conditions for the Granting of the Science and Technology Popularization Award)

The Science and Technology Popularization Award shall be conferred on the individuals and organizations that have made significant achievements in science popularization and have made important contributions to popularizing scientific and technological knowledge, advocating scientific methods, disseminating scientific ideas and promoting a scientific spirit.

The significant achievements in science popularization in the preceding Paragraph shall meet the following conditions at the same time:

1. having created an expressional form, a production method, etc. with innovative and promotional value;

2. having significantly promoted the popularization of the achievements in frontier, hot spots or other important scientific and technological fields; 

3. and having effectively improved the scientific and cultural quality of the public and have achieved remarkable social benefits.

Article 14 (Conditions for the Granting of the International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Award)

The International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Award shall be conferred on the following foreigners or foreign organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the scientific and technological undertakings in this Municipality:

1. those who have cooperated with individuals or organizations in this Municipality in carrying out the research and development, and have made major scientific and technological achievements;

2. those who have passed advanced science and technology on to individuals or organizations in this Municipality, or trained talents, and have obtained particularly remarkable achievements; 

3. or those who have made important contributions in promoting international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation between this Municipality and foreign nations.

Article 15 (The Nomination System)

The Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Award is conferred via a nomination system and self-recommendation is not accepted. Relevant candidate individuals and organizations (hereinafter collectively referred to as candidates) shall be nominated by the following units and individuals (hereinafter collectively referred to as nominators):

1. scientific and technical experts, enterprises and public institutions, social organizations, etc. that meet the nomination qualifications of this Municipality;

2. municipal government departments and district people's governments.

Provisions on the nomination qualification of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Award shall be formulated separately by the Municipal Administrative Department of Science and Technology.

Article 16 (Nominators' Responsibilities)

The nominators, when nominating candidates, shall fill in the nomination form in a unified format, provide true and reliable materials, and undertake corresponding responsibilities in giving oral examinations and handling objections.

Before nomination, the nominator shall review and confirm the scientificity, authenticity and compliance of the candidate project and the candidate’s compliance with laws and regulations, moral conduct and scientific research integrity.

Article 17 (Circumstances Not Allowed to Be Nominated or Awarded)

The Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Award shall not be nominated or awarded to the relevant individuals and organizations in any of the following circumstances in scientific and technological activities:

1. endangering national security, damaging public interests, endangering human health and violating ethics;

2. engaging in dishonest behavior in scientific research, and being prohibited from participating in Shanghai municipal science and technology awarding activities in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State and this Municipality;

3. and other circumstances prescribed by the Administrative Department of Science Technology of the State Council and the Municipal Administrative Department of Science and Technology.

Article 18 (Formal Examination)

The Municipal Administrative Department of Science and Technology shall conduct formal examination of the completeness and standardization of the candidate's nominating materials, and report the formal review to the Evaluation Committee.

Article 19 (Preliminary Evaluation and Re-evaluation)

The Evaluation Committee shall, in accordance with the relevant rules, organize the evaluation experts to conduct preliminary evaluation of the candidates that have passed the formal examination, and preliminarily screen out candidates who meet the award criteria.

After the preliminary evaluation, the Evaluation Committee shall set up evaluation groups according to disciplines and specialties. The evaluation groups shall re-evaluate the candidates who passed the preliminary evaluation, propose suggestions for the winners and levels of each award, and form the re-evaluation results.

Article 20 (Publication of the Re-evaluation Results and Handling of Objections)

The Municipal Administrative Department of Science and Technology shall publicize the re-evaluation results for a period of not less than 15 days. With regard to objections received during the publicity period, the Department shall carry out investigation and verification. If necessary, the Department may use such methods as forums or hearings to hear opinions from the parties concerned.

The Municipal Administrative Department of Science and Technology shall, within 30 days after the end of the publicity period, give the objection-handling results to the individuals or organizations that put forth the objection, and report the objection handling to the Evaluation Committee and the Supervision Committee.

Article 21 (Final Evaluation)

The Evaluation Committee shall, after the publication of the re-evaluation results and the handling of the objections, make a final evaluation according to the evaluation rules and propose the final award.

After the final evaluation, the Evaluation Committee shall report to the Award Committee the formal examination, the preliminary evaluation, the publication of the re-evaluation results, the handling of the objections, and the final award proposal.

Article 22 (Supervision by the Supervision Committee)

The Supervision Committee shall supervise the evaluation activities in all aspects including the nomination, formal examination, preliminary evaluation, re-evaluation and final evaluation of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Awards, and shall draft a report on its supervision work and submit it to the Award Committee.

Article 23 (Examination and Approval)

According to the reports of the Evaluation Committee and the Supervision Committee, the Award Committee shall examine and approve the awards and levels of the candidates.

Article 24 (Granting and Publication of the Awards)

Upon the Award Committee examines and approves the awards and levels of candidates, the Municipal Administrative Department of Science and Technology shall report the results to the Municipal People's Government for approval.

The Municipal People's Government shall publish the list of award-winners in the Gazette of Shanghai Municipal People's Government. It shall issue medals, certificates and prize-money to individuals who have won the Science and Technology Meritorious Worker Award and the Youth Outstanding Science and Technology Contribution Award; issue certificates and prize-money to individuals and organizations that have won the Natural Science Award, the Technology Invention Award, the Science and Technology Progress Award, and the Science and Technology Popularization Award; and issue medals and certificates to individuals and organizations that have won the International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Award.

Article 25 (Publicity)

This Municipality shall encourage publicity of individual and organization winners and their scientific and technological achievements in various forms, promote a healthy social trend of valuing science and encouraging innovation, and stimulate the innovation enthusiasm of the scientific and technological workers and the public.

Article 26 (Award Funds)

The amounts of prize money of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Awards shall be jointly proposed by the Municipal Administrative Department of Science and Technology and the Municipal Finance Department, and be reported to the Municipal People's Government for approval.

The prize money for the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Awards shall be reimbursed by the public finance.

Article 27 (Handling of Illegal Acts of Nominators)

In the case of nominators who provide false data and materials to help other people cheat the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Awards, the Municipal Administrative Department of Science and Technology shall criticize them in circular notices; and in a serious case, shall suspend or cancel their qualifications for nomination as well as investigate their relevant liability in accordance with law.

Article 28 (Handling of Illegal Acts of Candidates)

In the case of candidates conduct activities that may affect the fairness of the nomination and evaluation of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Awards, the Municipal Administrative Department of Science and Technology shall criticize them in circular notices, cancel their qualifications for evaluation, and investigate their relevant liability in accordance with law.

In the case of other individuals and organizations that may affect the fairness of the nomination and evaluation of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Awards, the Municipal Administrative Department of Science and Technology shall criticize them in circular notices; shall cancel the relevant candidates' qualifications for evaluation if they are held responsible, and; shall notify the relevant departments to investigate and deal with them in accordance with law if they are suspected to have violated other laws and rules.

Article 29 (Handling of Illegal Acts of Evaluation Experts)

In the case of evaluation experts who violate the evaluation discipline of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Awards, the Municipal Administrative Department of Science and Technology shall cancel their qualifications for evaluation, and investigate their relevant liability in accordance with law.

Article 30 (Handling of Illegal Acts of Winners)

In any of the following circumstances, the winners' award shall be revoked by the Municipal Administrative Department of Science and Technology and their medals, certificates and prize money shall be recovered, and they shall be punished by their units or relevant departments in accordance with law:

1. obtaining the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Award under the circumstances specified in the Article 17 of these Provisions;

2. obtaining the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Award by plagiarizing or infringing other people's discoveries, inventions or other scientific and technological achievements, or by other improper means.

Article 31 (Credit Management)

The Municipal Administrative Department of Science and Technology shall, include into this Municipality's public credit information catalogue the relevant information about the individuals and organizations that have been punished according to Articles 27, 28, 29 and 30 of these Provisions, and collect it to the municipal public credit information service platform for taking disciplinary measures in accordance with law.

Article 32 (Handling of Illegal Acts of Staff)

Where the Municipal Administrative Department of Science and Technology and its staff abuse their powers, neglect their duties, engage in malpractices for private benefit in the work of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Awards, the directly responsible person in charge and other directly responsible personnel shall be punished, and their relevant liability shall be investigated in accordance with law.

Other staff involved in the work of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Awards shall be investigated for their corresponding responsibilities in accordance with law if they commit illegal acts in carrying out evaluation, supervision, daily management and other activities.

Article 33 (Awards by Social Forces)

This Municipality shall encourage social forces to set up their science and technology awards.

The Municipal Administrative Department of Science and Technology shall guide, serve and supervise the science and technology award activities carried out by the social forces of this Municipality. The specific measures shall be separately formulated by the Municipal Administrative Department of Science and Technology.

Article 34 (Effective Date and Abolition Matter)

These Provisions shall be effective as of October 1, 2019.

The Provisions of Shanghai Municipality on Science and Technology Awards promulgated on March 22, 2001, amended for the first time according to the Decision of Shanghai Municipal People's Government on Amending the Provisions of Shanghai Municipality on Science and Technology Awards promulgated by Decree No. 67 of Shanghai Municipal People's Government on January 11, 2007, amended for the second time according the Decision of Shanghai Municipal People's Government on Amending the Provisions of Shanghai Municipality on Science and Technology Awards promulgated by Decree No. 95 of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government on December 7, 2012, shall be abolished at the same time.