科技悬赏奖是指为解决某一特定领域的难题，而专门征集科技创新成果的一种非周期奖励制度安排。1567年以来，科技悬赏奖的数目和金额呈逐年上升趋势，且出现过3个“井喷期”。科技悬赏奖的设奖中心从欧洲转移至美国，这与世界科技中心的转移保持一致。科技悬赏奖的主体包括组织者以及资助者，且组织和资助机制灵活；科技悬赏奖的客体囊括了传统科研机构和人员以及非传统科研爱好者；科技悬赏奖的设奖技术具有较高创新性以及较强外部性。我国应推行科技悬赏制度，作为我国科技资助体系的有效补充形式。

Science and technology inducement prize (STIP) is a non-periodic systematic arrangement which collects high-tech achievements in order to solve specific problems.Since 1567, the number and financing amount of STIPshave been increasing, andthere have once been three "well-blowout" periods. The center of STIPshas shifted from Europe to the US, which has been consistent with the shift of world scientific and technological center. The subjects of STIPs included organizers and funders, and STIPs were financed and organized through a variety of mechanisms. The object of STIPincluded professional researchers as well asamateurs. The rewarded technology was of highly innovation and externality.STIP can be an effective complement mechanism for current science and technology fund system, and it isnecessary for us to set up STIP institutions.