Revised Regulations for the Management of Key Research and Development Plans in Shandong Province Released, Creating an Innovation Ecosystem with Clear Rewards and Punishments and Tolerance for Failure.

The Department of Science and Technology of Shandong Province recently revised and issued the "Management Measures for Shandong Province Key R&D Programs". The provincial key R&D program will establish an embedded monitoring and evaluation mechanism throughout the process. The results of the monitoring and evaluation will serve as important basis for project adjustment, cancellation or termination, financial fund allocation, performance evaluation, and subsequent project support. An innovation incentive mechanism will be established, whereby units and individuals with outstanding performance in project organization and implementation can be used as important references for project rolling support, selective entrustment selection, etc.; an error-tolerant and accountability-free mechanism will be established, whereby diligent and responsible individuals who fail to achieve the predetermined project goals due to errors in technical route selection, market risk impacts, or other unforeseen reasons will not be held accountable for research failures; an accountability mechanism will be established for those who do not perform well in project execution, which will be investigated and dealt with by the Department of Science and Technology of the province according to regulations. The results of the treatment will be publicized in an appropriate manner and included in the research integrity records, and those suspected of violating discipline or laws will be transferred to relevant departments.