As the main channel to support the development of China's basic research for harvesting the best results, the management of the intellectual property rights in the science funding is an important issue. Learning from the advanced experience of the western science foundation concerning the intellectual property management can help China's science fund management departments in this respect. This paper analyzes the characteristics and the typical experience of the NSF "principle-oriented" intellectual property management model and the UK EPSRC "rule-oriented" intellectual property management model. In view of the shortcomings of China's Science Foundation in the management of intellectual property rights, it is proposed that a "policy + rules" combined intellectual property management model supplemented by laws should be constructed.

science foundation  /  intellectual property management  /  property rights