Discussions about M anagement of Scientific Research Projects in Agricultural Research Institutes：A Case Study of EPPI of CATAS

Xiaoqiang CHU，Hanchun QIN，Guoyan SHAN，Peiqun LIN，Guixiu HUANG

Environment and Plant Protection Institute，Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences，Haikou 571101，China

Agricultural scientific research institutes are mainstay of China's agricultural scientific research and major entities of national agricultural sci-tech innovation system［1］.Agricultural scientific research management is core work of agricultural scientific research institutes，and scientific research projectmanagement is themost important task in agricultural scientific researchmanagement.Improving scientific research projectmanagement level is of great significance for promoting development of agricultural scientific research institutes and enhancing sci-tech innovation ability［2］.In recent years，China increased the input to agricultural science and technology，both the number and total fund amount of scientific research projects undertaken by agricultural scientific research institutes are increasing.How to bring into play function of scientific research project management，realize optimum allocation of scitech resources，and ensure smooth realization of project targetsare issues urgently to be solved in the scientific research projectmanagement of agricultural scientific research institutions［3-4］.The Environment and Plant Protection Institute of Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences（hereafter referred to as EPPI of CATAS）is a national level non-profit scientific research institution.It ismainly engaged inmonitor and control ofmain tropical crops such asnatural rubber，cassava，banana，mongo，litchiand areca，agricultural environment protection and pollution control，leading technology application and general technology research，etc.In this study，we introducedmajor experience and practice in management of scientific research projects，analyzed existing problems，and came up with improvement recommendations，to provide reference for strengthening scientific research projectmanagement of agricultural scientific research institutions.

1 Scientific research performance of EPPI of CATAS

In recent years，the EPPIof CATASconstantly regulates and optimizes scientific research projectmanagement.All of the quantity of application projects，level，and subsidy efforts，and achievements has considerable growth.Since the Twelfth Five-Year Plan period，it applied more than 453 scientific research projects，and 327 projectswere established，including217 provincial andministerial projects，2 public welfare scientific research projects，and 30 national natural science foundation projects.The total fund amount for established projects reached 110 million yuan，two times that of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan period.Besides，it made great achievements in both quantity and quality of scientific research projects，appraised and accepted 36 scientific research projects，issued 771 scientific and technological papers，including 153 indexed by SCI／EI／ISTP，26 monographs，and 36 state patents（29 patents for invention），21 agricultural standards，6 software copyrights，and one disk copyright.32 projectswere praised at provincial or ministerial level or above，accounting for 1／4 of thewhole academy，3 times the number of awards in the Eleventh Five-Year Plan period.Since the Twelfth Five-Year Plan period，the EPPI of CATAS was approved for establishing 2 ministerial level platforms and 3 provincial level platforms，and established EPPIand CTAHR Cooperative Research Center for Tropical Plant Protection（ECCRCTPP）in cooperation with College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources in University of Hawaii.Besides，the EPPI is also an affiliate ofmany societies and associations，such as Plant Protection Commission of China's Tropical Crop Society，Tropical Crop PlantDisease and Insect Pest Prevention and Control Commission of China Society of Plant Protection，and Ecological Environment Commission of Tropical Crop Society.In addition，it has established sci-tech cooperation and exchange relationship with scientific research institutionsand higher colleges and universitiesof the USA，Germany，Australia，Canada，India，Colombia and Malaysia.

2 Experience and major practice of the EPPI in scientific research projectmanagement

2.1 Enhancing construction of scientific research project databaseBuilding scientific research project database is an essentialmeasure for promoting agricultural scientific research institutions to transform sci-tech developmentmode，raising scientific research level and social service capacity，and improving sci-tech innovation ability［5］.To promptly and accurately grasp sci-tech innovation trend and demands，optimize sci-tech resources，condense scientific objectives， and find sci-tech propositions，strengthen sci-tech project declaration reserve，and improve quality and competitiveness of sci-tech project declaration，the EPPI built the scientific research project database in accordance with the Twelfth Five-Year Scientific and Technological Development Plan.From 2011，the EPPIhas issued Project Database Management Methods and Project Database Construction Scheme.Construction of project databasemainly adopts classifiedmanagement，priority selection，and unified management.Through construction of project database，it improves declaration quality of EPPI projects.Taking the national natural science foundation project as example，the quantity of declaration，approved projects and total fund amount of the EPPI rank the first place in the CATAS.

2.2 Strengthening scientific research project planningScientific research project planning refers to scientific research institutions organizing scientific researchers to apply projects to competent authorities and local scientific and technological authorities［6-7］.The EPPIestablished＂scientific and technological personnel+scientific researchmanagement personnel combined action+communication with competent authorities of scientific research＂.Major practice isas follows.（i）Encouraging solving urgent problems and promptly reporting to competent authorities on the basis of carefully grasping national，provincial and ministerial sci-tech policiesand scientific researchmanagementpolicies.（ii）Actively communicating with the Ministry of Agriculture，Ministry of Science and Technology，national natural science foundation committee，and Department of Science and Technology，Department of Agriculture，and Department of Forestry of Hainan Provincewith cooperation and guidance of the Department of Science and Technology of the Academy，to promptly grasp spirit of scientific and technological plan，feed back information to scientific research personnel，and organize scientific research personnel to carefully prepare projectapplication documents.（iii）Bringing into full play various forces，integrating relevant superior forces in the unit，and cooperatingwith brother units tomake joint application.（iv）Providing guidance for scientific research personnel，organizing scientific research personnel to prepare application documents，and inviting externalexperts tomake in-depth demonstration，to improve competitiveness of the project.In recent years，the EPPIhas obtained 3 special projects for agricultural scientific research and one national sci-tech support project and one key project of Hainan Province in Aleurodicus disperses Russell，Brontispa longissima，banana fusarium wilt，and arecanut yellow leaf disease prevention and control，farmland soil properties，soil fertility，soilmoisture content change rules and monitoring fields in hot zones，fully manifesting promotion of＂scientific and technological personnel+scientific research management personnel combined action+communication with competent authorities of scientific research＂for scientific research projects，especially planning and establishment of key scientific research projects.

2.3 Reinforcing construction of scientific research management talent teamManagement level of scientific researchers plays an essential role in scientific researches（Wang Xiuhua）.The EPPIalways attaches importance to construction of scientific research management team.Scientific research office is the pivot of scientific research management.For several years，there are about4 workers in the scientific research office.Discipline distribution ofworkers basically coversmajor fields of plant protection and environmental protection.In routine work，management personnel should strengthen communication with other workers.（i）Enhancing communication with superior department and management personnel of relevant departments，learning and getting familiar with businesses in the communication，and grasping the latest project application information in the communication.（ii）Strengthening communication with scientific researchers，getting familiar with research fields of every scientific researcher，getting to know trend of scientific research work，providing services and assistance asmuch as possible，to obtain support and understanding of scientific researchers，and create favorableworking environment.（iii）Reinforcing communication with internal financial，personnel，condition and developmentmanagement personnel，to ensure smooth implementation of projects.（iv）Selecting and appointing scientific researchers to practice for a short period，to make them rapidly and comprehensively know wholemanagement process of scientific research project，and enhancing communication and understanding with management personnel，to lay excellent foundation for smooth implementation of scientific researches.

2.4 Bringing into play functions of academ ic comm itteeAn academic committee isamajor carrier of scientific research institute exercising academic rightand the highestacademicmanagement organization of scientific research institute making discussion，evaluation，consultation，supervision and decisions［8］.The EPPIvalues bringing into play functions of the academic committee.In the routinemanagement，it delivers construction of scientific research project database，key project planning，limit amount declaration project determination，basic scientific research business fund evaluation and establishment，inspection，and acceptance to the academic committee，to guarantee success rate of scientific research projects.For example，in the declaration process of national natural science foundation projects of the EPPI，academic committee plays an essential role.（i）Academic committee invites experienced experts and management personnel to explain writing skills.（ii）Formulating detailed declaration scheme，and requiring all scientific researchers to complete first draft in the beginning of every year.（iii）After receiving the first draftof appli-cation，the academic committee will hold a special meeting，to make evaluation and revision of theapplication.（iv）After receiving the revised draft，the academic committee will organize externalexperts tomake another evaluation of the application.（v）The applicantmakes revision of suggestions of external experts，and the academic committee makes another evaluation of the application.Only those approved projectsmay be submitted to the scientific research office.Through the above procedure，it increases the success rate of declaration of national natural science foundation.In 2011，the EPPIwon 25 national natural science foundation projects，the success rate isup to23%，higher than the average level of the academy.

2.5 Improving scientific researchmanagement systemScientific research management system is the basis and guarantee of scientific research institutes carrying out research work［9］.The EPPIhas formulated and revised Interim Procedure for Management of Scientific and Technological Projects，Interim Procedure for Management of Scientific and Technological Achievements，Detailed Rules for Implementing Special Funds of Basic Scientific Research Projects，Scheme for Construction of Project Database，Methods for Management of Project Database，Methods for Management of Use of Scientific Research Funds，etc，to improve institutional and standardization level of scientific research project management.Besides，it also has formulated incentive and examination system，including Interim Procedure for Scientific and Technological Rewards，Interim Methods for Implementation of Funds for Key Scitech Achievement Planning，and Interim Methods for Performance Evaluation，to stimulate enthusiasm of scientific researchers and lay solid foundation and comprehensive system guarantee for successful application of scientific research projects.

3 Existing problems of the EPPI in management of scientific research projects

3.1 Interim management effort to be strengthenedDue to imperfectmanagementmechanism，agricultural scientific research institutions value both ends（project declaration and closure acceptance）but despise the middle part（project implementation）in themanagement of scientific research project［3］.There is also such problem in the scientific research projectmanagement of the EPPI.Some project responsible persons pay little attention to project implementation；the formulation of scientific research planning is not prompt；expense budget preparation is not reasonable；scientific research management personnel have limited energy in tracking and inspecting all projects.As a result，some projectsadvance slowly，fund use efficiency is not high，and output fails to reach expected target.Some projects even influence final closure and acceptance.

3.2 Overall quality of management personnel to be improvedAgricultural scientific researchmanagement is horizontal and comprehensive.It needs scientific research management personnel to understand management，get familiar with professional science，and become specialized and general［1］.The EPPI is mainly engaged in scientific research of tropical agricultural plant protection and environmental protection.Therefore，management personnel should get familiar with management，and also familiar with specialized knowledge of plant protection and environmental protection.Workers in the EPPIare specialized in plant protection and environmental protection，but they do not have rich professional knowledge.Therefore，they lack advanced management knowledge and experience，and need constant learning and self improvement.

3.3 Personnel evaluation and incentivemechanism to be improvedThe EPPIhas formulated Interim Procedure for Scientific and Technological Rewards and Interim Methods for Performance Evaluation to stimulate enthusiasm of scientific researchers for declaring projects and publishing achievements.However，existing systems focus on project and fund obtaining，and evaluation indicators and scoring criteria are extensive，scientific researchers pay attention to striving for projects but belittle project implementation.They care about quantity of achievements but neglect transformation and application of scientific research achievements.As a result，it reduces utilization efficiency of scientific research expenses.Besides，the existingmanagement system limits engagement of scientific research management personnel in specialized projects，while academic title and wage of scientific researchers are closely linked with scientific research achievements.Management personnel are busy with routinematters and have no time to do researches.

4 Recommendations for strengthening scientific research projectmanagement

4.1 Strengthening processmanagement of scientific research projects（i）Guarding a pass for project establishment.For established projects，supervision responsible person should promptly formulate feasible plan and reasonable fund budget，and ask the academic committee tomake evaluation，to ensure clear idea，definite targetand orderly progress of projects，and facilitate tracking and inspection of scientific researchmanagement department.

（ii） Enhancing management of project implementation process.Scientific researchmanagement personnel should actively go deep into project team，get to know project progress，and solve problems in the project implementation process.Besides，organizing phase reportmeeting or academic report is favorable for academic exchange and realizing the purpose of inspection.In addition，it is recommended to organize the academic committee to make periodic and casual inspection，grasp advance of project researches，find outand solve problems，and ensure smooth and ontime completion of project.Scientific researchmanagement and financial departments can cooperate with each other to enhance inspection and supervision of project funds，ensure implementation of project on schedule.

（iii）Attaching importance to closure and acceptance and subsequentmanagement.After completion of project，it is recommended to promptly urge and organize project team tomake clo-sure work，actively communicate with superior competent authorities to carry outacceptance and review of the project.For key projects，before formalacceptance，it is recommended to organize the academic committee to carry out preliminary acceptance.For projectswith high social，economic and ecological benefits，it is recommended to carry out application of rewards，development and popularization and achievement transformation in cooperation with the project team.

4.2 Cultivating high quality scientific research management team（i）It is recommended to enhance learning of scientific researchmanagement personnel about science and technology，management and policy knowledge，arrangemanagement personnel to conduct specialized training and visit and exchange，and constantly improve knowledge and management ability ofmanagement personnel.Through holding scientific research management work meeting，special seminar，and experience exchangemeeting，it is expected to provide opportunities for learning and exchange for scientific research management personnel，introduce scientific managementmethods，and improve overall quality of scientific research management personnel，to adapt to demands of agricultural scientific research management in the new period.

（ii）It is recommended to actively supportand encourage scientific research management personnel to apply related management projects.For those excellent projects that are not funded，it is allowed to allocate some funds from basic scientific research funds to support preliminary research，so as to improve theoretic level of management，improve achievements，and increase their opportunities for obtaining academic title and post promotion.

（iii）It is recommended to encourage scientific research management personnel to go deep into the forefrontof scientific researches，enhance knowledge ofmanagement personnel about related fields，raise level of professional knowledge，facilitate grasping project implementation，and promptly find out and solve problems.

（iv）It is recommended to establish the competition and flow mechanism of＂setting posts according to demands，engaging workers according to posts，making dynamic management，and reasonable flow＂，stimulate enthusiasm of scientific researchmanagement personnel，and optimize the team structure.

（v）It is recommended to improve the team structure and overall quality of the team through introducing specializedmanagement personnel.

4.3 Improving personnel incentive mechanismScientific incentivemechanism is the key point for stimulating enthusiasm and initiative of scientific research and management personnel，and promoting healthy and sustainable development of scientific research undertakings，and also a powerful force for building the first rate institute［10］.We recommend improving the personnel incentivemechanism from following aspects.

（i）It is recommended to improve existing evaluation system，and increase the proportion ofweak parts in the project implementation，fund use and expected output.（ii）It is recommended to increase the proportion of patentand software copyright in academic title evaluation and performance evaluation，and increase the achievement transformation benefit.（iii）It is recommended to give closer attention and greater support to projectswith higher exploration and creativity，to encourage scientific researchers to make deep exploration.（iv）It is recommended to take effective measures to narrow the gap in treatment between scientific researchmanagement personnel and scientific researchers，establish perfect examination system，to link the academic title and post promotion of scientific research management personnel not with scientific research achievements，but with working ability，efficiency，sense of responsibility，and comments of scientific researchers.

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