Construction and Establishment of Sci-tech Platform for Agricultural Scientific Research Institutions：A Case Study of Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute of Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences

Lizhen CHEN，Yu ZHENG，Haiyan LUO，Qingqun YAO

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

1 Introduction

With the advent of knowledge economy and globalization times，sci-tech foundation supporting innovation activities gradually becomes important strategic resources.It is an integral part of sciinnovation system，an essential carrier and core force supporting innovation activities of the whole society，and plays an important role in regional sci-tech and economic development.Agricultural sci-tech innovation platform is core force of agricultural scientific research institutions and universities organizing scientific research，is important means of effective allocation and comprehensive integration of sci-tech resources，is essential carrier of autonomous innovation and personnel training，is necessary material condition for improving sci-tech innovation ability，and plays an important role and has significant function in agr-scientific innovation［1］.Besides，it is foundation for agricultural scientific research institutions undertaking major sci-tech projects，making high level sci-tech achievement，cultivating innovation talents，and building innovation teams，and also key carrier for improving innovation capability of agricultural scientific research institutions.Therefore，how to manifest strategy，science，reasonableness and effect in the construction and management of sci-tech platform has become a common concern.

2 Current situation of sci-tech innovation platform

2.1 Existing sci-tech innovation platformAs essential carrier and core force of supporting social innovation activities，the scitech innovation platform plays an important role in regional scitech and economic development.Faced with intense international sci-tech and economic competition，major developed countries in the world take construction of first-rate sci-tech innovation platform as priority selection of supporting innovation activity and strategic measure for realizing great-leap-forward development［2］.According toOutline for Platform Construction of National Sci-tech Fundamental Condition2004-2010 issued in 2004 and theEleventh Five-Year Plan for Sci-tech Innovation Platform of Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences，TCGRI of CATAS determined key issues and objectives of sci-tech innovation platform.Withmany years of effort，TCGRIof CATAShas made outstanding achievement in construction of the sci-tech innovation platform.Now，it has 23 sci-tech platforms，including 11 ministerial level，7 provincial level，and 5 academy level platforms.

The ministerial level sci-tech platforms include Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Enhancement in Southern China，Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Cassava Genetic Resources，Supervision and Testing Center for Tropical Crop Seed and Seedling Quality，CATAS／Danzhou DUS Testing Station of New Variety of Plants，Danzhou Mango Germplasm Nursery，Danzhou Tropical Forage Germplasm Nursery，Danzhou Cassava Germplasm Nursery，Danzhou Tropical Medical Plant Germplasm Nursery，Ledong Cashew Nut Germplasm Nursery，Wild Gene Resource Evaluation Center，and National Tropical Fruit Variety Improvement Center.

The provincial level sci-tech platforms include Key Laboratory of Tropical Crops Resources Germplasm Genetic Improvement and Innovation of Hainan Province，Tropical Fruit Tree Cultivation Engineering Research Center of Hainan Province，Tropical Grass Engineering Research Center of Hainan Province，Blumea balsamifera Engineering Research Center of Hainan Province，Technological Innovation Alliance for Tropical Flower Industry of Hainan Province，and Hainan Agricultural Science and Technology 110 Danzhou Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Service Station，and Hainan-ASEAN Sci-tech Cooperation Base（for Tropical Crops）.

Academy level sci-tech platforms include Winter Melon and Vegetable Research Center，Rice Research Center，Animal Husbandry Research Center，Horseradish Tree Research Center，and Forage Crop Research Center of Chinese Academy of Tropical Ag-ricultural Sciences.

2.2 Effect in construction of sci-tech platforms（including projects，achievements，and talents）In recent years，TCGRI of CATASannually inputs considerable amount of funds to operate various platforms，so as to support innovative researches relied on these platforms.With many years of continuous support，the platform construction is excellent，and scientific research projects，funds and achievements（including patents，papers and awards）obtained with the platform as carrier are generally rising.Now，there are 14 national level excellent experts，16 provincial and ministerial level excellent experts，1 chief scientist of national modern agricultural industrial technological system，4 post scientists，and 2 heads of test stations.In the comprehensive ability evaluation of whole agricultural scientific research institutes in the period of the Tenth Five-Year Plan and Eleventh Five-Year Plan，TCGRIof CATAS ranked the 12.In recent 10 years，TCGRI of CATASwon 61 items／times of provincial and ministerial level awards，including 2 second prize for scientific and technological progress，increase of 449 scientific research projects and 25.069 million yuan scientific research funds，granted 30 patens，issue of 1183 scientific research papers（411 national level core periodicals，78 were included into SCI，17 were included into EI，and 6 were included into ISTP），46 items of appraisal of scientific research achievements，170 acceptance projects，publication or participating edition of74monographs，approval（or confirmation）of 30 new varieties，and R＆D of 26 new products.

Table 1 Effect of platform construction of TCGRI of CATAS（2004-2013）

3 Main existing problems

3.1 Agricultural sci-tech management system and platform management system are imperfect Formulation，promulgation，implementation，and modification of platform management system are equally important as the construction of platform.At present，management mechanism of scientific research institutions has problem of overlapping management，block segmentation，and crossing and repetition，which are not favorable for resource integration，mutual complementation of advantages，close combination of science and technology with economy，leading to failure to guide and support innovation platform.To strengthenmanagement of sci-tech platform，TCGRI of CATAS formulated some management rules in line with platform construction，such as management method for construction of sci-tech platform，and management method for operation of public laboratory.However，there is still no management method for operating funds of sci-tech platform，management method for operation evaluation of sci-tech platform，and incentive method for construction of sci-tech platform.Lack of management system of sci-tech platform construction will influence overall development of sci-tech platform and impair construction and development of sci-tech platform.

3.2 It lacks special funds for operation and the platform operation is difficult Due to managementmechanism of sci-tech platform construction，there are problems of valuing construction and neglecting operation in the construction of sci-tech platform.After completion of construction，many sci-tech platforms fail to obtain support of daily operation funds.As a result，many large instruments and machine shave difficulty in operation and the utilization ratio of instruments and machines is low.For example，operation of large instrument and machine sharing center of TCGRI of CATAS depends on fund support，personnel wage，water and electricity，office，operation and maintenance of instruments and machines can not do without fund support.Nevertheless，due to lack of operation funds，the center has to raise funds by itself.The operation is very difficult and many instruments and machine shave problems of aging and frequent occurrence of faults.Since construction of sci-tech platform is special，instruments and machines need unified purchase by government.But financial input of the state is limited，so scientific research instruments and equipments of TCGRI of CATAS are relatively backward，which seriously restricts improvement of innovation and service ability of TCGRI of CATAS.

3.3 Structural distribution is improper and it lackshigh level sci-tech innovation platformSci-tech platforms can be divided into national level，provincial and ministerial level，and academy level platforms.According to service content and functions，sci-tech platforms can be divided into agricultural sci-tech innovation platform，agricultural sci-tech achievement conversion platform，agricultural sci-tech service platform，and agricultural sci-tech demonstration platform［3］.Agricultural sci-tech innova-ti on platform mainly refers to various key open laboratories；agricultural sci-tech achievement conversion platform mainly refers to crop breeding and improvement center；agricultural sci-tech service platform mainly refers to field monitoring station，germ plasm resource nursery，and inspection and testing center；agricultural sci-tech demonstration platform mainly refers to various demonstration parks and bases.Number of sci-tech platforms of TCGRI of CATAS is insufficient，construction scale is small，frontier science and technology are weak，innovation ability is low，and original academic research and frontier research force are obviously insufficient.At present，there is still no national level key laboratory in TCGRI of CATAS.In addition，provincial level key laboratories and provincial engineering research centers are mainly single discipline，lack discipline cross，and fail to make reasonable overall distribution in tropical agricultural scientific and technological field.Specifically，there are many provincial and ministerial level platforms but few agricultural sci-tech innovation platforms.In 18 provincial and ministerial level sci-tech platforms of TCGRI of CATAS，there are only3 provincial level key laboratories，accounting for 16.67%of total provincial and ministerial level sci-tech platforms，15 agricultural sci-tech service and agricultural sci-tech achievement conversion platforms，accounting for 83.33%of total provincial and ministerial level sci-tech platforms.

4 Recommendations for construction and development of sci-tech innovation platforms

4.1 Improving operation and management mechanism of sci-tech platformsAs superstructure，the manage ment system is kernel and soul of platform，and is core of platform construction and operation［4］.Innovation of the platform management mechanism is vitality and key of building sci-tech platforms for agricultural scientific research institutions.With development of sci-tech platforms of agricultural scientific research institutions，number and type of sci-tech platforms be come more and more，and existing management mode and operation mechanism become unsuitable，thus it is required to implement open，orderly，standardized and reasonable organization and management system.In line with construction and management of sci-tech innovation platforms，China Agricultural University came up with management idea of＂open and flow，fair competition，competitive selection，contractual restriction，strict assessment，and clear awards and penalties＂，completely applied scientific research post management system，appointment system for the entire personnel and contractual management system，and established＂tower type personnel structure＂with＂academic leaders，core experts，and backbone researchers＂as subjects with projects as link and academy as center with out administrative level［5］.Innovation of management system is important guarantee for building high levelsci-tech platforms for agricultural scientific research institutions.Sci-tech platforms should implement level administration and classified guidance，establish clear achievement benefit sharing mechanism，form stable platform fund input security，establish dynamic personnel flowing and cooperation mechanism，set up special technological post，improve equipment and facility sharing management system，and implement strict performance management system，to bring into full play enthusiasm and creativity of scientific research teams and jointly promote normal operation and long-term development of sci-tech platforms.

4.2 Introducing high level talents to establish well structured innovation scientific research teamsThe key to building high level sci-tech platforms lies in talents.Outstanding talents and innovation teams are soul of innovation sci-tech platforms and also important guarantee for bringing into play sci-tech innovation of agricultural scientific research institutions.Gufu from John F.Kennedy School of Government，Harvard Kennedy School，said that it is no doubt that selecting excellent researchers is an essential part of conducting researches［6］.Withouthigh level talents，it is difficult to establish high level scientific research innovation team and difficult to make high quality scientific research achievements.First rate platform must have support of first rate leaders and teams.Therefore，in the construction of sci-tech platforms，agricultural scientific research institutions should fully consider the relationship between platform construction and team construction，and realize that discipline leaders and team construction are the point for making breakthrough in platform construction.Teams are established with long time of scientific research cooperation，thus have certain research foundation and strength.Team members have advantages of bringing into play their intelligence.Generation of key and major sci-tech achievements，cohesion and cross of disciplines，and incubation of new disciplines depend on excellent construction of teams.In return，high level innovation platforms create favorable environment for stability and introduction of talents，and provide necessary conditions，such as infrastructure，experimental environment，and project practice，for growth of high level talents.Besides，in the construction of platforms，it is recommended to strive for consolidating resources in cooperation with agricultural universities，and realize complementation of various resources through combination of production，learning and study［7］.Universities are also major force of technological innovation［8］.Therefore，in cooperation with universities，it is able to use talents of universities，to promote sustainable development of sci-tech platforms.

4.3 Apply funds in many channels to promote platform construction with projectsIn line with shortage of operation funds for sci-tech platforms，it is recommended to apply project funds in many channels，to promote platform construction with projects.Apart from applying project support to the Ministry of Agriculture，it is possible to apply fund support to Ministry of Science and Technology，Ministry of Commerce，National Development and Reform Commission，and Department of Science and Technology of Hainan Province.In addition，it is recommended towidely absorb social science and technology resource and force，and combine production，learning and research，to strive for social funds to themaximum extent.With support of project funds，it is re-quired to strengthen organization and planning of key and major projects，actively strive for national and local scientific and technological plan，and take advantage of key project investment to improve platform facilities，and to drive platform construction.

4.4 Consolidating resources，building resource sharing platforms，and enhancing overall scientific research strength of teamsSci-tech platforms can gather advanced instrument and equipment，attract and exercise excellent scientific research talents，cultivate outstanding innovation team，implement excellent scientific research projects，and form scientific and effective operation andmanagementmechanism，and open and orderly academic atmosphere，to provide irreplaceable superior conditions for fostering scientific inspiration and generating original achievements［9］.Through building high level sci-tech platforms，it is expected to change small and separate research mode between scientific research institutions，departmentsand project teams，promote disciplinary cross and integration，resource sharing，complementation of advantages，improve original innovation ability，and integration innovation ability.Thus，the construction of sci-tech platforms is of great significance to comprehensively raising scientific research ability andmanagement level，and is an effective approach for improving sci-tech innovation ability.

5 Conclusions

The construction of sci-tech platforms is a key part of autonomous innovation and sci-tech achievement conversion，and should be valued and accelerated［10］.In agricultural scientific research institutions，the construction of sci-tech platforms is favorable for integrating resources，avoiding repetitive construction，and realizing resource sharing.Through establishing trans-organization，trans department，trans-discipline，and trans-seminar sci-tech innovation platforms，it is expected to realize effective allocation of existing resources，avoid repetitive construction，gather fund input，and improve basic conditions of scientific research.Furthermore，it is favorable for bringing into full play functions of large instrument and equipment in scientific research，increasing utilization ratio of instrument and equipment，creating excellent environment for scientific research；it is helpful for enhancing overall scientific research strength and favorable for overall planning and great-leap for ward development of scientific research institutions.

［1］Strategic Research Group in Agriculture.Development strategy research report of state key laboratory in agriculture during the twelfth five-year plan period［R］.2009：1-33.（in Chinese）

［2］Davila T'Eptein MJ，Shehon R.Making innovation work：how to manage it，measure it，and profit from it［M］.New York：Pearson Press.2006.

［3］CAIYH，LIU P，LISB，et al.Analysis on the effect of agricultural science and technology institutions platform construction in China［J］.Management of Agriculture Science and Technology，2012，31（4）：18-21.（in Chinese）.

［4］LIU YT.Correctly understand the innovation of science fundamental condition platform so as to promote healthy development of scientific and technological platform［J］.Taiyuan Science and Technology，2006（7）：13-14.（in Chinese）.

［5］China Agricultural University.Open up，innovation and scientific programming；entirely promote the university to develop in respective fields［J］.Higher Agricultural Education，2004（5）：3-5.（in Chinese）.

［6］WANG XM，CAICF.American research institutions and the reasons for its success［J］.Journal of Peking University（Humanities and Social Sciences），2001，38（1）：87-95.（in Chinese）.

［7］Derek Watling.University business schools business：The changing dynamics of the corporate education market［J］.Strategic Change，2003（12）：241-249.

［8］Edwin Mansfield.Academic research underlying industrial innovations：Sources，characters and financing［J］.The Review of Economics and Statistics，1995（25）：55-65.

［9］LIU B.Promote the scientific and technological innovation ability of university through establishment of research institutes［J］.Fudan Education Forum，2004，2（6）：36-40.（in Chinese）.

［10］MAO J.Speeding up S＆T platform construction，prompting the independent innovation and achievements conversion［J］.Scientific Consult，2010（4）：26，51.（in Chinese）.