The human resources and social security department in South China's Guangdong province has issued a joint document with the department of science and technology on further reform of the professional title assessment for scientific and research personnel.

According to the document, as long as the individuals research and develop high or new technology and successfully achieve technology transfers, they can apply for professor-equivalent professional titles without publishing a paper. This is a new initiative that emphasizes the significance of commercializing scientific research.

Experts have pointed out that the majority of published papers in China have little worth, except to meet the professional title requirement, and the majority of scientific and technological results fail to be transferred to industry for practical use.

This change to the professional title assessment system will be conducive to promoting better scientific and technological research for the benefit of society.

In fact, we should seriously consider whether the current professional title assessment system, which is dominated by administrative power, is necessary or not. An individual's academic competence should be reviewed by peers according to their actual work and contribution to the advancement of science or the country's development.

(China Daily 09/03/2015 page8)