Jingguan Ping from Economic Daily: To break the "four exclusives" in talent evaluation, we must also "set new standards."

In recent years, a series of talent evaluation reform policies aimed at breaking the prevailing emphasis on "papers, titles, degrees, and awards" have been intensively introduced, effectively curbing the criticized "four ultimatums." This has played a positive role in optimizing the innovation environment and promoting scientific research activities. However, it is crucial to recognize that compared to the demands of the majority of scientific and technological workers and the requirements for achieving high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology, China's current talent evaluation system still faces problems such as the incomplete dismantling of the "four ultimatums" and the untimely establishment of "new standards." There is an urgent need to accelerate the dismantling of the "four ultimatums" and the establishment of "new standards" to better utilize the guiding role of science and technology evaluations. The weight of evaluation indicators should not be ambiguous or even inverted; we must avoid a "one-size-fits-all" or "boil it all together" approach. For instance, in the case of basic research talent, while papers are important, one should not simply judge merits based on the number of papers; the key is whether they can propose original theories, make significant scientific discoveries, or open up or expand new fields and directions. For those engaged in applied research and technology development, papers should only serve as a reference; the focus should be on their actual contributions to innovation activities and the economic and social value that results from these contributions. To continually deepen the governance of "titles" in the science and education sector, it is necessary to sever the direct and simple link between talent "titles" and scientific research resources and material benefits, promoting the essence of talent titles to return to their academic and honorary nature.