Abstract: This paper attempts to figure out the current structure of the U.S. basic research system and explore its main characteristics. The federal government has always been the largest investor in the U.S. basic research system, and the higher education is the major performer. The proportion of capital investment and implementation of the federal government in the basic research system is gradually decreasing, while business and non-profit organizations assume more and more important responsibilities in the basic research activities, and the proportion of capital investment and implementation in the basic research system keeps increasing. To some extent, it shows that the federal government has played a desirable role in guiding and leveraging basic research fundings in the basic research system. Federal agencies mainly provide funds for portfolios in various fields consistent with their missions, so as to reduce the overlap of funding fields and avoid unnecessary waste of resources. The federal government increasingly emphasizes accelerating the transformation from basic research to industrial practical application, and attracts all innovation sectors to jointly promote the research spectrum spanning from basic research to product commercialization. All sectors of the U.S. basic research system attach great importance to the integration of research and talent training, and take international talents as a valuable resource for the country. This paper systematically summarizes the basic stucture and main characteristics of the U.S. basic research system, which offers useful reference for China to further optimize and adjust the governance mechanism, the allocation mode of basic research fundings, and measures of transfer and transformation of the basic research achievements as well as talent training and attraction.

摘要： 文章从美国基础研究体系的基本框架出发，探讨美国基础研究体系的主要特征。联邦政府是美国基础研究体系最大的资金投入主体，高等教育机构则是最大的执行主体。联邦政府在基础研究体系中的资金投入和执行占比在逐渐减少，而企业和非营利机构在基础研究中承担越来越重要的责任，在基础研究体系中的资金投入和执行占比均在增加。美国联邦政府在基础研究体系中积极拓展政府保障责任，发挥了政府投资基础研究的引领、撬动和催化作用。各个联邦机构主要为与其使命相一致的科学领域提供资金，以减少资助领域的重叠，避免资源不必要的浪费。联邦政府越来越强调加速基础研究向产业实际应用的转化，吸引各创新主体联合推进全创新链条的研究。美国基础研究体系的各主体均非常重视研究与人才培养的完全结合，并将国际人才作为重要的资源。本文剖析了我国基础研究体系存在的问题，基于美国基础研究体系基本框架和主要特征的经验启示，对我国基础研究经费配置方式、治理机制、成果转移转化以及人才培养和引进模式等方面提出了进一步优化和调整的建议。