This year marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of postdoctoral system in China and 2,146 mobile postdoctoral research centers as well as 2,158 postdoctoral stations in China have been established as of 2010, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.
The postdoctoral research centers and stations have cultivated over 80,000 postdoctoral researchers. Plenty of high-quality postdoctoral talents have been cultivated following the establishment of the postdoctoral system.
Many postdoctoral researchers have become the backbone of scientific research and academic leaders in various areas. Twenty-four postdoctoral researchers have been elected as academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences or the Chinese Academy of Engineering. About 20 percent of participants in major talent and scientific research programs such as Cheung Kong Scholars Program and 100 Talents Program are postdoctoral researchers.
Over the past 25 years, postdoctoral researchers have led or participated in a batch of national-level major research projects and accomplished many first-class scientific research achievements in economics, science, technology, military and other areas.
The system has advanced the utilization of scientific research achievements and the proper flow of talents, as well as helped firms become key players of technological innovation, with about 12 percent of postdoctoral talents working in firms. Furthermore, the postdoctoral system has promoted the formation of a flexible talent selection mechanism and explored new ways for personnel system reforms.
Tsung-Dao Lee, a Chinese-born world-renowned physicist, wrote two letters to the Chinese leadership in 1983 and 1984, suggesting China should establish centers for postdoctoral studies and develop a sound postdoctoral system.
China's first batch of centers for postdoctoral studies were established at Peking University, Tsinghua University, Fudan University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences at the end of 1985, and the National Postdoctoral Management Committee was created at the same time.
Hong Zhiliang, China's first postdoctoral researcher, started his career at the center for postdoctoral electronics and communications studies at Fudan University in 1986 after completing his doctorate in Switzerland.
China began developing the postdoctoral system in companies in 1994, with Shanghai Baosteel Group Corporation being the first company to establish a postdoctoral research station. China began establishing postdoctoral research stations in the military in 2000 in order to meet the needs of defense-related science and technology.
By People's Daily Online