6.1.2.1 Research Team and Platform
The 20th century witnessed the rapid development of modern science and major
reforms of research production. Different disciplines of sciences are mutually
interacted, permeated and integrated, resulting into the so-called mega science with
complex structures (Xie and Liu 2006 ). The organization of science production also
changes fundamentally, from the traditional way featured by explorations done by a
few all-powerful individual researchers or small teams, to the modern way featured
by research project conducted by the highly specialized research team consisted of a
group of researchers (Stvilia et al. 2011 ). Based on the data analysis of 19.9 million
published papers and 2.1 million patents infive decades, Wuchty et al. ( 2007 )
found that in thefield of knowledge production, team production worked better than
individual production. Compared with individual researcher, research team could
produce outcomes with much more citations, and this phenomenon became more
prominent as time passed by. Team-based collaboration has become a popular
mode of research production, and scientific research has turned from individual
activities to teamwork, and team production has become dominant in research
production (Stvilia et al. 2011 ). Besides, research team has also become an effective
mode for organizing human resources and soon become the center of research
activities.
Concerning the current status of constructions on the research teams and plat-
forms in China, the governments pay much more attention. In 1999, The Fund for
National Innovation Research Group (Guojia Chuangxin Yanjiu Qunti) was
established by China National Natural Sciences Foundation. In 2002, Five min-
istries including China Ministry of Science and Technology, China Ministry of
Education, etc., jointly enacted the“Guideline on Further Improving Original
Innovation Capacities”(Guanyu Jinyibu Zengqiang Yuanshi Chuangxin Nengli De
Yijian), which pointed out that“it’s encourage to recruit excellent research teams of
scientists, to foster a group of high-level research teams of excellent scientists, and
to place the task of nurturing and fostering cooperative and effective top research
team high on the agenda”. In 2004, China Ministry of Education enacted“Active
Planning of High-level Creative Talents in Higher Education”(Gaodeng Xuexiao
Gaocengci Chuangxin Rencai Jihua Shishi Fangan), which pointed out that“pos-
itively explore new modes of organizing talents by supporting them with National
Key disciplines, innovation platforms and key research bases, and by placing dis-
ciplinary leaders at the center with academic teams gathering around key research
projects, in order to foster a group of innovation teams, and at the same time, make
all efforts to implement the Development Programs for Cheung Kong Scholars and
Innovation Groups”. In 2006,“State Council’s Announcement on Implementing the
Mid-and-long Term S&T development Guideline”(Guowuyuan Guanyu Shishi
Guojia Zhongchagnqi Kexue He Jishu Fazhan Guihua Gangyao (2006–2010)
Ruogan Peitao Zhengce De Tongzhi), a national policy claimed that,“to focus on
nurturing a group of high-level disciplinary leaders with strong innovation capacity,
and to form excellent innovation teams and groups with Chinese features”. At the
same time, many local governments also set up various policies to support local
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