从R&D投入的视角来看，基础研究一直被应用研究压倒，这一观点被科学家们向政府反复提及甚至警醒。我们从科技政策的视角来分析中国中央政府在科技活动中的重点工作，研究发现，中国中央政府一直重视应用研究远胜于基础研究；但近年来，基础研究的受重视程度有所上升。这项研究从科技政策的视角印证了“基础研究被应用研究压倒”的观点。中国政府一直重视应用研究源于80年代初的经济体制改革，随后的科技体制改革旨在为经济体制改革服务。因此，在“以经济建设为中心”的指导方针下，经济收益不明显的基础研究一直未得到重视。

       论文发表在Scientometrics（SSCI收录）：http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11192-013-1199-x。附论文标题与摘要：

Basic research is overshadowed by applied research in China: a policy perspective

This paper demonstrates that basic research has been overshadowed by applied research in China for decades, from the perspective of S&T policy. The data involves 4,707 Chinese S&T policies during the period between 1949 and 2010, which are grouped into five phases, based on the process of S&T system reform in China. We also found that S&T policies in China are leaning more towards basic research, and the gap between basic research and applied research is shrinking.