China to promote sci-tech innovation for cultural relics

China has released a guideline to boost scientific and technological innovation related to cultural relics, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA).

The guideline, jointly issued by departments including the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the NCHA, addresses longstanding issues hindering cultural relics-related sci-tech innovation, such as imbalanced resource allocation and weak management.

It mapped out plans to optimize cultural relics-related sci-tech innovation. It also proposed measures to forge better platforms, expand the talent pool, and enhance the incentive mechanism in this regard.

By 2025, a number of national and regional cultural relics research institutions will be built to form a scientific research talent pool, with stable research direction and reasonable structure, said the guideline.

In this case, China will be able to make breakthroughs in some core technologies for cultural relics protection and archaeology in key areas.

By 2035, an interdisciplinary and cross-industry innovation network for cultural relics with effective division of labor and cooperation will also be established, with a platform system of basic conditions for cultural relics science and technology and a sharing service mechanism, according to the guideline.

In addition, the guideline emphasized strengthening basic research in applied sciences and enhancing the research and development of key technologies, equipment and materials concerning cultural heritage.

The document also urged efforts to conduct research on major archaeological projects and promote the application of cultural relics-related scientific and technological advances.

(With input from Xinhua)