Scholars, industry insiders call for a responsible, scientific, credible think tank research system

Scholars and industry insiders gathered in Beijing on Saturday to discuss the importance of establishing a responsible, scientific and credible think tank research system in the new era, highlighting the double-edged sword role of artificial intelligence in this context.

"A new wave of scientific and technological revolution is accelerating, and China is in a crucial phase of national rejuvenation through its path to modernization, facing a more complex and uncertain decision-making environment. This situation demands unprecedentedly high standards for responsible think tank research to produce high-quality outputs," Pan Jiaofeng, president of the Institutes of Science and Development of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said.

Pan highlighted the important role of think tanks in modernizing the national governance system and enhancing governance capacity. They provide crucial support for scientific, democratic and law-based decision-making, making their research distinct from general academic research by emphasizing real-world situations and practical applicability.

He pointed out that responsible think tank research should serve the country's core tasks, respect scientific principles, and guide social expectations to promote national development and enhance people's well-being.

Chen Jiapeng, deputy director of the China Population and Development Research Center of the National Health Commission of China, echoed Pan's views, highlighting that think tank research should be people-centered.

Chen emphasized the importance of a comprehensive research approach to ensure that no one is left behind, even in remote and poor areas. This approach, while potentially involving significant investment and initially resulting in low service efficiency, is seen as essential for achieving common prosperity. However, due to limited resources, phased implementation and cooperation across multiple departments are crucial, he added.

Wang Zhenyu, deputy executive director of the Integrated Research Support Centers under the Academic Decisions of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that the Chinese Academy of Sciences proposed last year to establish a national high-level scientific and technological think tank by 2030 and rolled out a proposal this September for conducting responsible think tank research.

He said that this proposal, "both based on China's actual situation and absorbing international experience", aimed to standardize Chinese think tanks in their values and outcome management while addressing issues such as multiple reports on the same topic, confused authorship, and the use of artificial intelligence.

Wei Xinqiang, a senior economist at the Economic and Technology Research Institute of the China National Petroleum Co, underscored the importance of uniform working standards and behavioral norms for think tanks. "There should be clear requirements outlined for all processes, including quality, procedures, standards and confidentiality," he added.

Wei emphasized the substantial role of artificial intelligence in enhancing research efforts, particularly in information gathering and data analysis. However, he underscored that strategic planning and the presentation of insights should fundamentally rely on human intellect, rather than being overly dependent on technology.

He also warned about the challenges in verifying the authenticity of much open-source data, recommending the cross-validation of various datasets and the conducting of expert interviews to ensure the credibility of reports and the views they present.