Science, Technology and Innovation
The Chinese government attaches great importance to science, technology and innovation, which it sees as a primary driver of development. National medium- and long-term plans for the development of science and technology have been rolled out with a focus on innovation in developing nuclear energy. Major projects include a national project for building large advanced PWR and HTGR plants, and CNNC's Longteng 2020. Significant achievements have been made in a number of important areas such as nuclear power, nuclear fuel, and non-power nuclear applications.
The establishment of national key laboratories, national centers for engineering and technology research, CAEA's centers for innovation (R&D) and national R&D (experimental) centers for energy sources has helped shape a multi-tiered, multidisciplinary network of nuclear science, technology and innovation to enhance research capabilities in support of the development of China's nuclear industry.
The hardware built for research purposes has played a prominent role in boosting innovation, especially the early deployment of cutting-edge technologies as well as basic research. Key players include the China Advanced Research Reactor (CARR), the High Flux Engineering Test Reactor (HFETR), the High Temperature Gas-cooled Experimental Reactor (HTGR), the China Experimental Fast Reactor (CEFR), the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider (BEPC) and its second phase construction project (BEPC II), the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS), and the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST).
Institutional reform, enhanced policy guidance, and increased R&D investment have facilitated human resources development, spurred new innovation, and provided a strong basis for continued development of China's nuclear industry.
科技创新体系
中国政府高度重视科技创新工作，坚持把创新作为引领发展的第一动力。通过制定国家中长期科技发展规划纲要、能源技术创新规划、核能开发科研规划，实施大型先进压水堆及高温气冷堆核电站重大科技专项、中核集团龙腾2020科技创新计划等，在核电、核燃料、核技术应用等多个重要领域开展科研攻关，突破了一批重大关键技术。
通过建立国家重点实验室、国家工程技术研究中心、国家原子能机构创新（研发）中心、国家能源研发（实验）中心，形成多领域、多层次的核科技创新中心，提升了中国核工业科技支撑能力。
通过建设重大科技基础设施，例如中国先进研究堆、高通量工程试验堆、高温气冷实验堆、中国实验快堆、北京正负电子对撞机及重大改造工程、中国散裂中子源、东方超环等，超前部署前沿技术和基础研究，打造新的科技创新平台，提高了中国核工业持续创新能力。
通过深化体制改革，完善政策措施，增加科技投入，加强人才队伍建设，推进核工业创新体系建设，为中国核工业创新发展提供了保障。