The 863 Program was originally known as the "National High-tech Research and Development Program", and this program got its name from the year it was formulated and launched, that is, March 1986. This plan is a major national science and technology strategic plan jointly initiated by scientists and politicians and approved by China in the face of the rapid development of world science and technology and the increasingly fierce international competition.
In 1986, a group of forward-looking scientists put forward a proposal on tracking the development of high-tech in the world, and then organized more than 200 experts across the country to conduct a demonstration for more than half a year.
In the end, China decided to launch this plan, aiming to promote China's scientific and technological progress and industrial development in eight major fields, including biotechnology, aerospace technology, information technology, laser technology, automation technology, energy technology, new material technology and marine technology, by concentrating on breaking through a number of key high-tech technologies.
The 863 Program is a milestone in China's science and technology undertakings, which not only drives the cooperation between domestic scientific research institutions and industries, but also lays a solid foundation for the subsequent construction of scientific and technological innovation systems and the development of high-tech industries.
With the changes of the times and the adjustment of science and technology policies, the 863 program withdrew from the historical stage in 2016 with the introduction of the national key research and development plan after completing its historical mission, but it has had an indelible impact on China's scientific and technological progress and modernization.
Science and Technology China