In early July 2023, the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province opened a public consultation on the "Draft Regulations on Science and Technology Innovation in Guangdong Province." Decision consultation is an important function of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation as a national first-level academic society. Responding actively to the call, the Biology and Science Committee of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF-BASE) has conducted careful research and put forward the following 3 suggestions.
Picture Source: Guangdong Province Homepage
First, it recommends incorporating the "Five Requirements for Ethical Governance in Science and Technology" mentioned in the central government document "Opinions on Strengthening Ethical Governance in Science and Technology" into Article 99 on "Science and Technology Ethics" of the draft regulations. These requirements include ethical prioritization, compliance with laws and regulations, agile governance, context-based approaches, and open collaboration.
Second, from an overall perspective, the draft regulations currently lack provisions on "mechanisms for preventing major risks" in their contents. In the realm of scientific and technological innovation, it is particularly crucial to pay attention to the prevention of major risks. How can we learn from international public opinion incidents like the "gene-edited baby case"? Based on the current draft for public consultation, the BASE believes that a institutional framework in this regard is still inadequate. Hence it suggest an improvement in this regard.
Third, BASE recommends introducing a clearly defined "whistleblower system" to tihs Act. The current document mentions supervision primarily through the review of organizing units, competent authorities, and registration management departments. However, from an international perspective, a "whistleblower protection system" in scientific and technological ethics management can be a significant measure to safeguard innovation, protect public interests, and enhance transparency and accountability in the technology industry. The whistleblower system provides a safe channel for practitioners to report improper behavior, illegal activities, or ethical issues within technology companies or organizations without fear of retaliation or unfair treatment. The "whistleblower protection system" helps reduce institutional management costs, build trust in science and technology governance, strengthen the moral responsibility of actors, and provide a healthy, transparent, and ethical foundation for the development of the technology industry.
Original text of the "Regulations on Science and Technology Innovation in Guangdong Province" (Draft) is available at:
http://gdstc.gd.gov.cn/zwgk_n/tzgg/content/post_4210724.html
http://gdstc.gd.gov.cn/attachment/0/524/524902/4210724.pdf
Reporter: Wendy
Editor: Samantha
Contact: V10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776
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