VA
Insights

Recently, more non-profit groups have emerged in China’s private sector to conduct scientific research in distinctive ways. However, these organizations are still in their early stage, and their donations have minimal impact on the overall endowment.

By contrast, research funding sources in America are highly diversified. Non-profit groups in the US have been proven to offer considerable value to scientific research, thanks to their unique position.

1.Non-profit organizations have a higher degree of foresight in the use of funds, covering areas that the government and businesses miss.

In the life sciences field, American nonprofits have actively and deeply examined this area, succeeding in two main areas: meeting needs ignored by the government and filling gaps in the market’s work.

The first breakthrough is infectious illness which is a major issue in developing countries. They affect many people but are often found in low-income countries where markets are not functioning properly. To bridge this gap, the Gates Foundation has significantly aided the prevention and treatment of three prevalent infectious diseases: This has rescued tens of millions of lives so far. AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

The second breakthrough is happening in the field of uncommon illnesses. Breakthroughs in rare disease research are happening but these are hampered by the small and neglected market that is tough for companies to profit from and governments to prioritize. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, established in 1955 to explore treatment options for the disease, has made significant progress in advancing key stages through long-term funding for research. This effort aims to combat the uncertainty surrounding its onset.

2. Non-profit organizations can use funds with flexibility since they are not limited by the traditional research system. This creates a more flexible funding model.

The government and enterprises’ research funds are directed towards a limited number of topics that efficiently solve practical problems but have certain limitations in the research field and cycle. Furthermore, strict discipline boundaries within universities pose a challenge to advancing interdisciplinary research.

Non-profit organizations, relying heavily on funding from society, enjoy greater flexibility in funding allocation and can pioneer innovative research support models outside of the established research system.

It is good to see China exploring local models based on foreign experience. Some people have gathered talented scientists by creating scientific awards, while others have developed diverse and innovative methods to encourage progress in basic and advanced scientific research. Meanwhile, there are public groups that finance scientists, provide reliable funding, and enable them to research subjects they are interested in. China’s private industry is now participating in Chinese scientific research in a more adaptable manner.

3. Non-profit groups can benefit from public advocacy, encourage cross-border collaboration, and offer necessary support for scientific research.

NGOs can utilize public figures and mobilize the public to raise awareness about scientific research issues among businesses and the general public, as well as form research partnerships with various stakeholders like companies, universities, and research institutions, or collaborate with the public to create research sample networks that supply infrastructure services for scientific research.

One of the methods for nonprofits to facilitate scientific research topics is to construct public interest databases that serve as a research foundation. Another method is to create a public service network to increase contact with the public. 

More and more non-profit organizations in China are choosing to do what is tough but right with the original intention of serving the public good and being patient with funding. They either learn from foreign experience or explore local funding models, but they are all pursuing idealism to spark human curiosity about the mysteries of the universe.