The third overseas survey and study team for project “Research on National Engineering Science and Technology Think Tank Construction” has completed its tasks in Japan, South Korea and Australia successfully and came back to Beijing. The study and survey mission was conducted from August 3 to 10, and then from August 20 to 24, 2011. And the research team was headed by CAE Member Wu Cheng, and joined by CAE Members Pen Suping, Zhong Zhihua, as well as some CAE officials and academician assistants. 

According to the overall arrangements of overseas research teams for this project, the third team is mainly responsible for investigation into the operation status of engineering academies and think-tanks in Japan, South Korea and Australia, hoping to provide useful experiences to learn from for the Chinese Academy of Engineering to build the national engineering science and technology think tank in China. 

The survey and study work was divided into two phases. In phase one, that is, from August 3 to 10, the research team went to Japan and South Korea, and visited EAJ (Engineering Academy of Japan), MRI (Mitsubishi Research Institute), CRDS (Centre for Research and Development Strategy) and NRI (Nomura Research Institute) in Japan and NAEK (National Academy of Engineering of Korea), KIET (Korean Institute of Engineering Technology) and STEPI (Science and Technology Engineering Policy Institute) in South Korea respectively. In phase two, that is, from August 20 to 24, they went to Australia and paid their visits to ATSE (Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering) in Melbourne, and AU (Engineers Australia) as well as ANU (Australian National University) in Canberra. 

The survey and study mission was conducted mainly through discussion meetings. In each institution being visited, CAE research team would, first of all, briefly introduce the general information of CAE, as well as the intention for the visit, and then raise four questions, the answers to which the team wanted to know. Those four topics for discussion are 1) What major advisory research tasks are carried out by foreign think tanks? 2) How do foreign think tanks organize these strategic consulting researches? 3) How do foreign think tanks evaluate the results and achievements, as well as impacts of these strategic advisory studies? 4) What can be done to strengthen the cooperative efforts between CAE and foreign think tanks in terms of strategic consulting studies? Basically, all institutions being visited would commission a certain person, who would give a briefing to the overall situation of the institution, and then provide detailed answers to the four questions raised by the CAE research team in advance. Usually, a Question and Answer section would be held afterwards regarding certain specific issues as to the construction and operation of think tanks. 

During the course of this survey and study tour, Academies of Engineering in Japan, South Korea and Australia (namely, EAJ, NAEK and ATSE) all provided enormous support and assistance, assigning certain staff to accompany all the research activities in the local areas. Other organizations or institutions being visited also attached great importance to the visit of CAE research team, with written descriptive materials prepared beforehand for the research team to refer to. Some institutions also extended their willingness to strengthen strategic cooperation with CAE in the future. In short, thanks to the assistance and cooperation of all parties, the research team successfully completed their missions in these three countries. (By Yan Jianlin, September 2011; translated by Liu Chang)