Interdisciplinary research has been regarded as an important driver of knowledge innovation, as it can integrate views, methods, and tools of different disciplines to generate new insights and theories. Moreover, it can also help solve complex social problems. Many challenges in modern society require a combination of knowledge and skills from different fields.

Challenges in China

In recent years, China has vigorously promoted interdisciplinary collaboration in basic research. From central to local governments, a series of strategic measures have been introduced successively. For example, in November 2020, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) established an interdisciplinary science department. In January 2021, the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council and the Ministry of Education designated “inter-disciplines” as the 14th broad discipline, following philosophy, economics, literature, and 10 others. Nonetheless, challenges continue to hinder interdisciplinary research.

The first challenge lies in research assessment. A recent questionnaire survey conducted by our team, with 1,213 valid responses, revealed that approximately half of the surveyed scholars engaged in basic research reported a willingness to participate in interdisciplinary studies only if these projects benefited their research evaluations.

The issue is not confined to funding. Researchers are of course more inclined to join interdisciplinary projects when these collaborations enhance their chances of securing funding. Equally important, however, is the prospect of publishing papers and gaining recognition within their primary disciplines. Interdisciplinary efforts are more appealing when their outcomes are valued on par with those of traditional, discipline-specific research.

Another significant challenge is the isolation among disciplines, reflected in the use of specialized jargon, distinct methodologies, and inequitable resource allocation, both internally and externally. These barriers impede effective exchange and innovation of knowledge, undermining interdisciplinary synergy.

The faculty system within modern universities, highly specialized divisions of labor in research, and discipline-based allocation of academic resources are largely to blame for the formation of these obstacles.

Pros and cons of new moves

Is the establishment of an interdisciplinary science department conducive to the integration of disciplines? Data from 2023 reveals that the NSFC’s interdisciplinary science department did not accept applications for ordinary youth or general projects. Instead, most funding was allocated to major research projects, with a total of 156 such projects approved in 2023, and an average grant of approximately 1.3 million yuan.

Although the establishment of the interdisciplinary science department has not substantially altered the entrenched faculty-based higher education and research system—or the disciplinary barriers it perpetuates—it has opened a new channel for researchers facing intense competition in other science departments and served as an incentive for more participation in interdisciplinary research. Given the high risks and innovation demands of interdisciplinary studies, smaller grants with higher approval rates are more effective in motivating researchers to pursue such projects.

As for inter-disciplines as an independent field of study, two first-level disciplines have been officially instituted under this broad category: “integrated circuit science and engineering” and “national security.” Additional first-level disciplines are expected to emerge in alignment with the needs of national economic and social development.

This initiative has undoubtedly provided an institutional guarantee for interdisciplinary researchers devoted to the two newly established first-level disciplines. The sense of disciplinary belonging fostered by this measure has instilled an institutional hope among a broader range of interdisciplinary scholars. Nonetheless, the long-term vitality of interdisciplinarity remains uncertain. We are unable to predict which disciplines should be integrated to fuel knowledge innovation and scientific progress. Effectively maximizing the vitality of interdisciplinary research requires deeper contemplation.

To encourage interdisciplinary collaboration on certain topics, many universities in China have also founded dedicated centers, aiming to bring together researchers from various fields, both within and beyond campus. Despite these efforts, researchers remain tied to their original faculties, facing unchanged research assessment criteria alongside identical difficulties in interdisciplinary research. In real-world studies, it remains difficult to break the barriers between disciplines.

Most importantly, in the current system of higher education, faculty members are anchored to specific disciplines, so that even if they join an interdisciplinary research center, they must still seek resources from the disciplines they originate from. As a result, they have no choice but to proceed with interdisciplinary research from their own field of study and must adapt their outcomes to meet the standards of traditional discipline-based assessments. This limits the full integration and transformative potential of interdisciplinary research.

Advancing interdisciplinary research also necessitates cultural support. It is vital to challenge traditional notions of rigid disciplinary boundaries and advocate for an open, collaborative, and innovative research culture. Meanwhile, all sectors of society need to recognize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and provide more resources and support, thereby helping foster a favorable social environment to promote knowledge innovation and social progress.

Li Jiang is a professor from the School of Information Management at Nanjing University.