Provisional Regulations for the Management of National Major Science and Technology Projects

　　(Issued on August 11, 2008, by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Finance, Document No. [2008]453 of the National Science and Technology Development Bureau)

　　Chapter 1 General Provisions

　　Article 1: In order to implement the "National Medium- and Long-Term Program for Science and Technology Development (2006–2020)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Program Outline"), ensure the smooth implementation of the major national science and technology projects (hereinafter referred to as "Major Projects") identified in the "Program Outline," and strengthen the management of these Major Projects, these Provisions are hereby formulated in accordance with the "Notice of the General Office of the State Council on Issuing Several Working Rules for the Organization and Implementation of Major Science and Technology Projects."

　　Article 2: The Major Special Projects are strategically significant undertakings—major strategic products, key common technologies, and major engineering projects—that are carried out within a specified time frame through breakthroughs in core technologies and integration of resources, with the aim of achieving national goals. These projects represent the top priority of China’s scientific and technological development and are of great significance for enhancing China’s independent innovation capacity and building an innovative nation.

　　Article 3: The organization and implementation of major special projects shall be under the unified leadership of the State Council, with overall coordination, guidance, and oversight provided by the National Science and Technology Education Leading Group.

　　As the national authority responsible for science and technology, the Ministry of Science and Technology, together with relevant departments such as the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance, will carry out scheme feasibility studies, comprehensive balancing, evaluation and acceptance, and the formulation of supporting policies for the implementation of major special projects.

　　Article 4: Principles for the organization and management of major special projects:

　　(1) Clearly define objectives and highlight key priorities. Major special projects focus on critical areas and significant issues in national economic and social development, emphasizing the commitment to independent innovation, highlighting key priorities, and striving to achieve well-defined goals.

　　(2) Innovate mechanisms and coordinate resources. Integrate and optimize the allocation of scientific and technological resources across society, deepen institutional reforms, fully harness the initiative of various stakeholders—including government departments, local authorities, enterprises, research institutions, and higher education institutions—strengthen large-scale scientific and technological collaboration, effectively integrate superior scientific and technological resources, and promote the concentration of various innovation factors in enterprises.

　　(3) Clarify responsibilities and standardize management. In all stages—including the formulation of implementation plans for major special projects, their launch and implementation, supervision and management, acceptance, and application of results—adhere to scientific and democratic decision-making, and establish and improve management systems and mechanisms with clearly defined responsibilities and authorities.

　　(4) Conduct regular evaluations with a focus on outcomes. Establish and improve a robust supervision, evaluation, and dynamic adjustment mechanism for major special projects, and carry out ongoing monitoring and inspection of their implementation and effectiveness.

　　(5) Focus on talent and create a conducive environment. In conjunction with the implementation of major special projects, cultivate and attract a group of high-caliber talents who excel in innovation, entrepreneurship, and excellence, thereby building a science and technology team that integrates industry, academia, and research and boasts strong innovative capabilities. At the same time, refine supporting policies and foster a favorable environment that facilitate the successful implementation of these major special projects.

　　Article 5: The fundraising for major special funds shall adhere to the principle of diversification. The central government shall establish special funds to support the organization and implementation of major special projects, and shall also guide and encourage funding contributions from local governments, enterprises, financial institutions, and other relevant parties. For the implementation of major special projects, special funds shall be allocated in a scientific and rational manner, audit and oversight shall be strengthened, and the efficiency of fund utilization shall be enhanced.

　　Article 6: These Regulations apply to the major special projects related to civilian sectors as identified in the Outline Plan.

　　Chapter 2: Organizational Management and Responsibilities

　　Article 7: The Ministry of Science and Technology, together with the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance (hereinafter referred to as the “Three Departments”), shall establish a working mechanism among the Three Departments to study and resolve major issues arising in the implementation and management of major special projects. Each department shall perform its own duties and work jointly to promote the organization, implementation, and management of these major special projects. The main responsibilities include:

　　(1) Review and substantiate the implementation plans for specific projects;

　　(2) Study and formulate specific management regulations and standards;

　　(3) Conduct a comprehensive balance of the various special implementation plans, and provide feedback on the allocation of central funding and the reasonableness of expenditures for tasks assigned to units outside the leading organizing entity’s system.

　　(4) Organize special monitoring and evaluation, inspection and supervision, and summary and acceptance;

　　(5) Provide comments on major issues arising during the implementation of the special project, including opinions on significant adjustments involving project objectives, technical approaches, budgets, schedules, and other key aspects.

　　(6) Responsible for coordinating and integrating the major tasks involving overall strategic alignment, policy measures, and performance oversight among various major special projects.

　　(7) Responsible for coordinating and integrating major special projects with science and technology programs, national key projects, and existing scientific and technological resources.

　　Article 8: The Ministry of Science and Technology is responsible for coordinating the alignment between major special projects and science and technology programs; taking the lead in organizing research and formulating supporting science and technology policies related to the implementation of major special projects; compiling and summarizing various types of information on major special projects and setting forth unified requirements for information aggregation; reporting annual work plans and annual implementation status to the National Leading Group for Science, Technology, and Education and to the State Council; filing any adjustments to the content of major special project implementation plans or implementation schedules; and undertaking daily organizational coordination and liaison and communication tasks for major special projects.

　　The National Development and Reform Commission takes the lead in organizing research and formulating relevant industrial supporting policies for the implementation of major special projects; it is also responsible for coordinating the alignment between major special projects and national key engineering initiatives.

　　The Ministry of Finance is responsible for studying and formulating fiscal and tax support policies related to major special projects; for proposing requirements for the preparation of budget allocations for major special projects, reviewing and approving annual budget allocations for these projects; for overseeing the use of funds earmarked for major special projects; for reviewing budget adjustments made during the implementation of these special projects; and for putting forward requirements for aligning major special projects with related fiscal special allocations.

　　Article 9: The Leading Group for the Major Special Project bears leadership responsibility for the implementation of the project. It shall strengthen coordination and communication with the three relevant departments. It shall also enhance coordination and communication among members of the Leading Group itself; major issues must be jointly deliberated and decided upon by all member units of the Leading Group. Its primary responsibilities include:

　　(1) Organize the formulation of a specific implementation plan;

　　(2) Approve the Special Implementation Management Office and the Special Overall Group;

　　(3) Approve the special implementation management measures;

　　(4) Approve and submit the special implementation plan;

　　(5) Organize monitoring of the implementation status and process evaluation of the special initiative, and provide guidance and supervision for its implementation.

　　(6) Approve adjustments to the content of special implementation plans or implementation schedules; when major adjustments are involved, the three departments shall provide their opinions.

　　(7) Coordinate and resolve important issues among the leading organizing units for specific initiatives as well as during the implementation process;

　　(8) Approve the establishment of special projects (research topics);

　　(9) Review and submit special annual implementation reports, summary reports, acceptance reports, and the like. Based on the completion status of specific tasks, submit an application for acceptance.

　　(10) Responsible for providing guidance on the confidentiality work of this special project, among other duties.

　　Each special task leading group has an office under it, which is responsible for communication with the member units of the special task leading group, providing guidance on the implementation of the special task, submitting various types of information related to the special task, organizing and coordinating issues arising during the implementation of the special task, and handling matters assigned by the special task leading group.

　　Article 10: Under the leadership of the Special Project Leading Group, the leading organization responsible for a major special project is tasked with the specific implementation and organization of the project. It bears primary responsibility for ensuring the smooth implementation and achievement of the expected objectives of the major special project. The leading organizations involved in the same special project should strengthen communication, coordination, and cooperation among themselves. Their main responsibilities include:

　　(1) In coordination with relevant departments and units, establish a Major Special Project Implementation Management Office, which will be specifically responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project implementation. Also, set up a Major Special Project Overall Team.

　　(2) Responsible for formulating regulations and rules, such as special implementation management measures and confidentiality plans;

　　(3) Responsible for organizing the formulation of specific phased implementation plans and annual plans;

　　(4) Responsible for implementing the supporting conditions necessary for the special implementation;

　　(5) Organize and implement the alignment of special projects with science and technology programs, major national engineering projects, and other existing scientific and technological resources;

　　(6) Responsible for organizing and implementing the allocation of specific project (research topic) undertaking units, tasks, and funding.

　　(7) Organize supervision and inspection of special projects (research topics);

　　(8) Study and propose recommendations on specialized organizational management, supporting policies, and related measures;

　　(9) Propose recommendations for adjusting the implementation plan or scheme as needed;

　　(10) Regularly report on the progress of implementing the special initiative;

　　(11) Responsible for the management, supervision, and inspection of confidentiality work related to this specific project;

　　(12) Organize the acceptance and other related activities for special projects (research topics).

　　Article 11: Each major special project shall establish a Project Overall Team and designate a Chief Technical Officer. The Project Overall Team is the technical entity responsible for implementing the special project and shall work closely with the Special Project Implementation Management Office to ensure the effective organization and implementation of the project. The Chief Technical Officer shall be fully responsible for the work of the Project Overall Team; each special project may, as needed, appoint a Deputy Chief Technical Officer. The main responsibilities include:

　　(1) Responsible for specialized technical directions and integrated solution design, and ensuring overall project progress.

　　(2) Responsible for researching and proposing recommendations for phased implementation plans and annual plans;

　　(3) Responsible for coordination among special projects (research topics);

　　(4) Participate in the inspection, evaluation, and acceptance of special projects (research topics);

　　(5) Submit proposals to the Special Implementation Management Office regarding task adjustments or budget adjustments, etc.

　　The chief technical officer and deputy chief technical officer are required to be strategic scientists and leading figures in their respective specialized fields, capable of focusing their energy exclusively on the organization and implementation of this specific initiative. Members of the initiative’s overall team are expected to be outstanding, multi-disciplinary talents with expertise in technology, management, finance, and other relevant areas, able to devote their primary efforts to the concrete implementation of this initiative.

　　Article 12: The undertaking of major special projects shall be governed by a legal entity responsibility system. The legal entity is the primary responsible party for the implementation of the project (subject). The legal entity shall ensure proper overall coordination and the provision of supporting conditions necessary for the implementation of the project (subject); strictly comply with the relevant management regulations for major special projects; conscientiously fulfill contractual terms; accept guidance and inspections; and cooperate with evaluation and acceptance procedures.

　　Article 13: Strengthen the organizational and coordinating efforts for major national science and technology programs at the local level. Under the unified leadership of local governments and based on local conditions, establish a coordination mechanism involving science and technology, development and reform, finance, and other relevant departments to ensure the overall coordination of related major national science and technology programs as well as the implementation of supporting conditions. Mobilize resources to actively undertake research and development tasks under these programs. Ensure smooth alignment and integration between local science and technology projects (special programs) and major national science and technology programs. Maintain timely communication and liaison with the program’s leading group and the lead organizing entities.

　　Chapter 3: Implementation Approach and Implementation Plan

　　Article 14: The Implementation Plan serves as the basis for the organization, implementation, supervision and inspection, and evaluation and acceptance of major special projects. Based on the Implementation Plan for the major special project, an Implementation Schedule shall be prepared, including a phased implementation schedule (aligned with the five-year plan) and annual plans.

　　Article 15: The leading groups for each major special project shall organize the preparation of implementation plans in accordance with the "Notice on Requirements for Preparing and Demonstrating Implementation Plans for Major Special Projects," jointly issued by the three departments. The three departments shall be responsible for organizing a comprehensive demonstration of the implementation plans and, after submitting them to the State Council for review and approval, issuing official approval of the implementation plans.

　　Article 16: In accordance with the implementation plan approved by the State Council, the leading organizations of each major special project shall establish special implementation management offices and special overall groups. Based on the “Notice on Speeding Up the Launch and Implementation of Major Science and Technology Special Projects,” jointly issued by the three departments, they shall prepare phase-specific implementation plans and annual plans.

　　Article 17: The leading group for the major special project shall review the phase implementation plan and the annual plan, and submit them to the three departments for comprehensive balancing.

　　The main components of comprehensive balancing include: the consistency between the identified research tasks and the implementation plan; the alignment with existing national science and technology programs, major national projects, and other existing scientific and technological resources; the extent to which existing scientific and technological achievements and infrastructure are utilized; the reasonableness of the proportion of tasks and funding allocated to units outside the leading organizing entity’s system; and the reasonableness of the proposed funding allocation.

　　Article 18: The three departments will submit the comprehensive and balanced feedback to the special leading group.

　　Article 19: Based on the comprehensive balancing opinions, the leading organization of the major special project shall organize the revision and refinement of the phase implementation plan and the annual plan, compile a consolidated proposal for special budget allocation, and submit it to the Special Project Leading Group. The Special Project Leading Group will approve the initiation of special projects (research topics) and submit the proposed budget allocation plan to the Ministry of Finance, with a copy sent to the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Development and Reform Commission.

　　Article 20: The Ministry of Finance shall review the proposed allocation plans for special budgets and approve the annual budget control figures. In principle, these figures should be issued to the leading organizations responsible for the specific programs, with a copy sent to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the special program leading group.

　　The leading organizing unit shall, based on the budget control figures, prepare and submit annual budget proposals to the Ministry of Finance, with a copy sent to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the special leading group.

　　Article 21: The Ministry of Finance formally approves the annual budget for major special projects and sends a copy to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the leading group for the special project.

　　Chapter 4: Organization, Implementation, and Process Management

　　Article 22: Major special tasks are composed of projects and sub-projects. Projects are generally comprehensive and integrated in nature, such as the research and development and construction of a major product, a major (demonstration) project, or a system. Sub-projects are established to achieve the objectives and tasks of the corresponding project; they typically involve the research and development of critical core technologies. Several sub-projects derived from the same project should establish an organic integration and coordination mechanism between the project and its sub-projects, ensuring that the sub-projects provide effective support for the project and ultimately help achieve the project’s overall objectives.

　　Article 23: The implementation of major special tasks shall be premised on ensuring the achievement of the overall objectives. Adhering to the principles of fairness and impartiality, task-executing entities shall be selected through methods such as targeted entrustment, selective entrustment based on merit, and tendering.

　　Article 24: The leading organization of a major special project shall, based on the approval for the establishment of the project (subject), sign a “Task Contract for Major Special Project (Subject)” with the unit responsible for task implementation and affix the official seal designated for contracts of major special projects. If supporting conditions and financial inputs are required from local authorities (or relevant units), the relevant local departments or units shall affix their seals on the Task Contract for the project (subject). For projects (subjects) involving classified information, the leading organization of the special project shall carry out classification and confidentiality designation work in accordance with regulations and assign appropriate levels of classification. For classified projects (subjects), the Special Project Implementation and Management Office shall sign a confidentiality agreement with the unit undertaking the task.

　　Article 25: The Office for Implementation and Management of Major Special Projects shall, in accordance with the project (subject) task contracts, inspect and supervise the implementation of relevant supporting conditions for the projects (subjects), be responsible for daily management, and establish integrity files for the projects (subjects).

　　Article 26: The major special projects shall implement an annual reporting system. The leading organization responsible for each special project shall prepare an annual implementation report, which, after review by the special project’s leading group, shall be submitted to the three departments by November 10 of each year. The Ministry of Science and Technology will then compile these reports and submit them to the State Council.

　　Article 27: Projects (research topics) that require adjustment or cancellation shall have written opinions submitted by the leading organization of the special program, approved by the special program’s leading group, and filed with the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Finance.

　　Article 28: The leading group for major special projects shall organize personnel or entrust qualified third-party assessment agencies to supervise, inspect, and evaluate the implementation of specific project tasks, and establish a monitoring and evaluation mechanism.

　　Article 29: The three departments shall organize their own personnel or entrust qualified third-party assessment agencies to monitor and evaluate the overall implementation of the special program; generally, a phase evaluation will be conducted every 2-3 years. The evaluation results will serve as an important basis for adjusting the objectives, technical approaches, budget, schedule, and other aspects of the implementation plan and scheme. The three departments will report the results of the phase evaluations and adjustments to the State Council.

　　Chapter 5: Summary and Acceptance

　　Article 30: At the end of each five-year plan for each major special project, a phase summary shall be organized. The leading group for the special project shall prepare a report on the project’s implementation status for that phase and submit it to the three relevant departments. The Ministry of Science and Technology will compile the phase summaries along with the evaluation and supervision findings and submit them to the National Leading Group for Science and Technology Education and the State Council.

　　Article 31: Under the leadership of the leading organization for the major special project, the Special Project Implementation and Management Office is responsible for organizing the summary and acceptance of projects (research topics). The acceptance results shall be reported to the Special Project Leading Group.

　　Article 32: The Leading Group for Major Special Projects shall submit a request for acceptance based on the completion status of the major special project tasks. The three departments are responsible for organizing the acceptance of major special projects and shall report the acceptance results to the National Science and Technology Education Leading Group and the State Council.

　　Article 33: A system for holding accountable those responsible for the implementation of major special projects shall be established. For acts of negligence, dereliction of duty, falsification, misappropriation, diversion, or encroachment upon funds earmarked for major special projects during the course of project implementation, the relevant persons and entities shall be held accountable in accordance with applicable regulations; if such acts constitute a crime, criminal liability shall be pursued in accordance with the law.

　　Chapter 6: Fund Management

　　Article 34: Major special funds include investments from the central government finance, local government finance, enterprises and institutions, financial institutions’ financing, and other social funding sources.

　　Article 35: Coordinate the use of funds from all sources to enhance the efficiency of fund utilization. Special funds sourced from central and local governments shall be strictly managed in accordance with relevant regulations on national budget management and financial fund management. Funds from other sources shall be managed according to the principle of “whoever provides the funds shall also oversee them,” as well as applicable management regulations. Major special funds must be accounted for separately and used exclusively for their designated purposes, in strict compliance with relevant national regulations.

　　Article 36: For major special projects and their funding supported by central funds, a certain proportion of the resources should be allocated to entities outside the system led by the organizing unit of the major special project.

　　Article 37: The use of funds for major special projects shall be subject to special audits conducted strictly in accordance with relevant auditing regulations, ensuring that the funds are used in a standardized and effective manner.

　　Article 38: Specific requirements for the management of funds for major special projects shall be formulated separately, led by the Ministry of Finance.

　　Chapter 7: Outcomes, Intellectual Property, and Asset Management

　　Article 39: Each major special project shall establish a long-term mechanism for the protection and management of intellectual property rights, set forth clear intellectual property objectives, designate specialized agencies and personnel responsible for intellectual property work, monitor developments in intellectual property rights both domestically and internationally, prepare intellectual property research and analysis reports, and put forward relevant policy recommendations. Each special project shall also establish an intellectual property management and assessment system. If necessary, it may entrust professional intellectual property institutions to carry out related tasks.

　　Article 40: Under the leadership of the Leading Group for Major Special Projects, the Special Project Implementation Management Office shall be specifically responsible for managing the outcomes and intellectual property rights of the special project.

　　Article 41: The ownership and use of intellectual property rights generated by major special projects shall be governed in accordance with the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Progress in Science and Technology," the "National Intellectual Property Strategy Outline," and the "Several Provisions on the Management of Intellectual Property Rights for Research Outcomes of National Scientific Research Programs." Entities undertaking major special projects (or sub-projects) have the obligation to grant licenses—either for a fee or free of charge—to other domestic entities for the implementation of the intellectual property rights they have developed.

　　Article 42: The leading organizations of each major special project shall, prior to the commencement of tasks, reach an agreement with the task-executing units on matters such as ownership, use, and licensing of intellectual property rights, thereby facilitating the commercialization and application of research results and ensuring the achievement of the overall objectives of the special project.

　　Article 43: Each major special project shall take concrete measures to promote the transformation and industrialization of scientific and technological achievements. For achievements involving state secrets, management shall be conducted in accordance with the "Confidentiality Regulations for Implementing Major Science and Technology Special Projects."

　　Article 44: Intangible assets generated during the implementation of major special projects shall be managed and utilized by the entities undertaking these projects. The economic benefits derived from technology transfer and the use of intangible assets shall be governed by the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Promoting the Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements" and relevant national regulations.

　　Article 45: Fixed assets purchased and prototyped using special financial funds for major projects shall be considered state-owned assets, and their management shall be governed by relevant national regulations.

　　Chapter 8: Information, Archives, and Confidentiality Management

　　Article 46: The Ministry of Science and Technology is responsible for establishing a unified information management platform for major special projects. Each major special project shall set up a sub-platform for information management, which will be linked to the central management platform to ensure smooth information flow.

　　Article 47: Information content primarily includes details related to special implementation plans, implementation schedules, project (subject) approval, budget allocations, monitoring and evaluation, acceptance procedures, and outcomes.

　　Article 48: The database containing information on contracts for each major special project (subject), implementation status of ongoing projects (subjects), and acceptance and outcome information for completed projects (subjects) shall be submitted to the Ministry of Science and Technology together with the annual implementation report by November 10 each year, with a copy sent simultaneously to the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance.

　　Article 49: The management of archives for major special projects shall adopt a model of unified leadership and hierarchical management. Each special project shall formulate archive management measures in accordance with the "Regulations on the Management of Archives for National Major Science and Technology Special Projects" (see attachment) and ensure that relevant archives are properly filed and submitted.

　　Article 50: The organization and implementation of major special projects must strictly comply with the "Confidentiality Regulations for Implementing Major Science and Technology Special Projects" and relevant national confidentiality management regulations.

　　Article 51: The confidentiality management of major special projects shall implement a system of primary responsibility. Each major special project must establish a confidentiality responsibility system with clear hierarchical structure and well-defined responsibilities, ensuring that confidentiality duties for major special projects are assigned to specific individuals.

　　Article 52: During the implementation period of each major special project, the confidentiality management work shall be the responsibility of the leading organization of the project. Under the leadership of the leading organization of the project, the Office for Managing Major Special Projects shall perform the management, supervision, and inspection of the project’s confidentiality efforts, and strengthen publicity, education, and training on confidentiality.

　　Article 53: Strictly comply with the state’s regulations and requirements for strengthening information security. Confidential information and archives related to major special projects shall be managed in accordance with the state’s relevant laws and regulations on confidentiality.

　　Chapter Nine: International Cooperation

　　Article 54: To make full use of international resources, we must actively engage in international cooperation characterized by equality, mutual benefit, and win-win outcomes. In conjunction with major specialized project objectives, we should place emphasis on introducing, digesting, absorbing, and then re-innovating. We need to formulate systematic plans and measures for the introduction, digestion, absorption, and enhancement of our own innovation capabilities, and implement these plans only after rigorous scientific validation.

　　Article 55: The Office for the Implementation and Management of Major Special Projects is specifically responsible for international cooperation related to these major projects.

　　Article 56: Major international cooperation activities undertaken by the task-executing entity shall be approved by the Special Project Implementation and Management Office and endorsed by the leading organization of the special project.

　　Article 57: Major special international cooperation activities shall comply with relevant regulations on foreign affairs and confidentiality.

　　Chapter X: Supplementary Provisions

　　Article 58: Each major special project shall, in accordance with these Regulations and taking into account the specific characteristics of the project, formulate corresponding implementation and management measures and submit them for filing with the three departments.

　　Article 59: Major special projects led by the State Council may, by reference to these Provisions, formulate specific implementation management measures or supplementary provisions.

　　Article 60: These Regulations shall be interpreted by the three departments and shall take effect as of the date of their promulgation.

　　Attachment:

　　Regulations on the Management of Archives for National Key Science and Technology Projects

　　To implement the Outline of the National Medium- and Long-Term Plan for Science and Technology Development (2006–2020), ensure the security, authenticity, reliability, completeness, and usability of archival materials related to major special projects, and promote the long-term preservation and effective sharing of national scientific and technological information resources, these Regulations are hereby formulated in accordance with the Archives Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Several Working Rules for Organizing and Implementing Major Science and Technology Special Projects, the Interim Provisions for the Management of National Major Science and Technology Special Projects, and the Confidentiality Provisions for Implementing Major Science and Technology Special Projects.

　　Chapter 1 General Provisions

　　Article 1: The archives of major special projects refer to electronic documents, textual materials, audio-visual materials, photographs, charts, data information, and other materials generated during the implementation of these major special projects that possess archival value.

　　Article 2: The archives of major special projects are crucial scientific and technological resources and valuable assets of the nation. Proper management of these archives plays an important role in organizing the implementation of major special projects in an orderly and efficient manner, enhancing the management level of these projects, and strengthening overall coordination and synergy.

　　Article 3: The management of archives for major special projects is an essential component of their overall management and should run through the entire process—from the formulation and feasibility study of the project plan to its implementation, assessment, and acceptance.

　　Chapter 2: Organizational Leadership and Responsibilities

　　Article 4: The management of archives for major special projects shall follow the principle of unified leadership and hierarchical management. The management departments responsible for implementing each major special project must integrate archive management into the overall work of the project and strengthen leadership and management accordingly.

　　Article 5: The Ministry of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance, shall be responsible for the overall coordination and macro-guidance of major special project archival management, formulating relevant management rules, conducting supervision, inspection, and assessment, and providing guidance on establishing a unified platform for major special project archival management.

　　Article 6: The Leading Group for the Major Special Project is responsible for the overall coordination, deployment, management, supervision, and inspection of archival management work related to this special project. Archival management shall be incorporated into the implementation plan of the Major Special Project. When deploying, inspecting, summarizing, and accepting various tasks, archival management shall be simultaneously deployed, inspected, summarized, and accepted.

　　The primary responsibilities of the Leading Group for Major Special Projects are:

　　(1) Formulate policies and regulations for the management of major special archives in accordance with relevant national laws and regulations, as well as applicable standards and norms for archival management.

　　(2) Organize the formulation of standards, specifications, and working guidelines related to the management of archives for major special projects;

　　(3) Coordinate and clarify the division of responsibilities and information flow between the archival management departments for major special projects and the creators of scientific research achievements in the long-term preservation of digital resources.

　　(4) Ensure the long-term preservation of major special project archives and their digital resources, and carry out timely and appropriate handovers, appraisal and evaluation, as well as effective utilization.

　　Article 7: The leading groups and lead organizations of each major special project shall designate an archival management agency to assume full responsibility for the archival management of their respective projects, thereby ensuring the completeness and uniformity of archival management for these projects.

　　Article 8: The leading organizations and task-undertaking units of each major special project shall be responsible for the specific implementation of their respective archival management work. They must establish an archival management organization and a responsibility system that feature clear hierarchical structures and clearly defined responsibilities, implement a accountability system for project (subject) leaders, and ensure that responsibilities for the archival management of major special projects are assigned to specific individuals.

　　The primary responsibilities of the management departments at all levels for major special project archives are:

　　(1) Under the guidance of the Leading Group for Major Special Projects, implement the management of archives for major special projects.

　　(2) Ensure the generation of authentic and complete digital file information as stipulated by major special projects, and establish a major special project archival information system. Conduct efficient maintenance of digital information and digital equipment to prevent data loss and ensure timely handover.

　　(3) Provide a physical archive storage facility that is secure, reliable, and compliant with relevant national technical standards. Ensure the long-term preservation of archives for major special projects.

　　(4) In accordance with relevant national standards and specifications, conduct knowledge organization and knowledge mining on the archival materials of major special projects to promote the effective utilization of national resources.

　　Chapter 3: Scope of Archiving

　　Article 9: The scope of archival filing for major special projects primarily includes:

　　(1) Comprehensive Materials: Important documents, records of key speeches by leaders (audio recordings), meeting minutes, briefings, notices and announcements, chronicles of major events, published publications, visual and audio materials, etc.

　　(2) Implementation Plan Preparation Phase: Prepare the feasibility study report, the implementation plan, the list of members of the plan preparation team, the instructions for preparing the implementation plan, and the special confidentiality work plan, among other documents.

　　(3) Implementation Plan Justification Phase: List of the Justification Committee, special justification materials, work plan for justification, justification manual, review reports, and justification opinions, etc.

　　(4) Implementation Phase: Special implementation plans, special management measures, guidelines for special research topics, bidding documents, review and evaluation reports and expert opinions, task assignments, contracts and various agreements. Original records of experiments, tests, observations, surveys, and field investigations; comprehensive analytical materials; data compilation materials; physical objects such as prototypes, samples, and specimens. Summaries of the research work phase, reports on the implementation status of special projects (topics), annual reports, applications for adjustments to special projects (topics) and their approvals, and special project work reports, etc.

　　(5) Evaluation and Acceptance Phase: Research reports, development reports, technical reports, papers and monographs, patent documents, inspection and appraisal reports, evaluation outlines, evaluation reports, expert opinions, audit reports, complete acceptance documentation (including expert lists, meeting minutes, and acceptance comments), reports on the promotion and application of research outcomes, outcome registration forms, special summary reports, and other relevant materials.

　　(6) Other important materials that need to be filed.

　　Article 10: While establishing physical archives, digital archives should be simultaneously created for preservation and management.

　　Chapter 4: Process Management

　　Article 11: Major special projects shall strengthen the work of generating, collecting, and organizing archives. All documents and materials that fall within the scope of archival records must be transferred to the archive management department in accordance with regulations and placed under centralized, unified management. No one may refuse to submit such materials for archiving or appropriate them for personal use.

　　Article 12: The organization and management of archives—regardless of their form or medium—generated during the implementation of major special projects shall be carried out in accordance with relevant national regulations and applicable standards and specifications. The construction of digital archive systems shall adopt public standards to ensure the interoperability and compatibility of software, hardware, and systems.

　　Article 13: Scientific research activities and archival work during the implementation of major special projects shall be managed synchronously. When assigning specific project tasks, requirements for the archiving of scientific research documentation must be specified concurrently. During follow-up inspections, the status of archiving of scientific research documentation shall be checked simultaneously. At the time of evaluation and acceptance, the archives must be accepted first; without complete, accurate, and systematic scientific research archives, acceptance will not be granted. After project acceptance, the relevant archives shall be promptly transferred to the archival management platform for major special projects.

　　Article 14: Archive management departments at all levels shall strictly comply with the "Confidentiality Regulations for Implementing Major Science and Technology Special Projects" and implement classified management of confidential archives related to these major projects.

　　Article 15: The use of classified archives for major special projects, changes in classification levels and declassification procedures, as well as the procedures for assessing and destroying archival value, shall be handled in accordance with relevant national regulations.

　　Article 16: Without authorization, archive management departments at all levels shall not dispose of archives on their own.

　　Chapter 5: Borrowing and Use

　　Article 17: Management departments at all levels shall, while strictly complying with the "Confidentiality Regulations for Implementing Major Science and Technology Special Projects," formulate corresponding archive borrowing systems, establish mechanisms for sharing archive resources, and effectively strengthen the development and utilization of archives related to major special projects.

　　Article 18: In the management of major special projects—including supervision, inspection, evaluation, and acceptance—as well as in research activities, full use shall be made of the archival resources related to these major special projects. Archival management personnel at all levels shall provide effective cooperation and facilitate the necessary conditions.

　　Article 19: To access, excerpt, or photocopy archives related to major special projects, one must present valid identification and complete a registration form. If access to, excerpting from, or photocopying of confidential archives pertaining to major special projects is required, prior approval from the responsible leader in charge of the relevant major special project is necessary.

　　Article 20: For important and valuable archives and materials, the original documents generally shall not be provided for use. If there is a special need, approval must be obtained from the relevant leading officials in charge of the major special project.

　　Article 21: The development and utilization of archives related to major special projects shall not violate the state’s laws and regulations concerning the protection of intellectual property rights.

　　Chapter Six: Conditional Guarantees

　　Article 22: The leading organizing unit and the task-executing unit of major special projects shall designate a leader to oversee archival management work and assign dedicated personnel to ensure the implementation and execution of archival management tasks.

　　Article 23: During the implementation of major special projects, efforts should be strengthened to promote, educate, and train on archival management.

　　Article 24: Each major special project shall allocate certain funds for the procurement of archival management equipment, facilities, and infrastructure, as well as for the training and education of relevant personnel in archival management practices.

　　Article 25: The organizations responsible for implementing major special projects at all levels shall be equipped with the necessary advanced technological equipment and facilities, and shall handle and preserve archives in accordance with unified standards and specifications, thereby promoting the standardization and shared use of archives related to these major special projects. Special protective measures shall be adopted for important and valuable archives.

　　Chapter 7: Supervision, Inspection, and Assessment

　　Article 26: Strengthen supervision and inspection of the archival management work for major special projects. Establish a hierarchical oversight system involving the leading group for major special projects, the organizations serving as project leaders, and the units undertaking specific project tasks. Conduct regular assessments of archival management work at all levels.

　　Article 27: The Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Finance are responsible for supervising, inspecting, and assessing the archival work related to each major special project.

　　Article 28: In the event of a liability accident in the management of special project archives, legal accountability shall be pursued according to the respective levels of leadership responsibility, management responsibility, and direct responsibility in archive management.

　　Article 29: Relevant organizations shall commend and reward advanced collectives and individuals that have made outstanding contributions to the archival management of major special projects.

　　Chapter VIII: Supplementary Provisions

　　Article 30: Each major special project shall, in accordance with the relevant requirements of these Regulations, formulate specific management measures for the archival management of the major special project and submit them to the Ministry of Science and Technology for record.

　　Article 31: For the management of archives related to major special projects led by the State Council, the leading group for such major special projects may, based on actual work needs, issue specific or supplementary provisions.

　　Article 32: These Regulations shall take effect as of the date of their promulgation.