In accordance with the Constitution of the China Association for Science and Technology, the General Rules of Organization for Associations for Science and Technology in Enterprises was enacted and came into effect recently.

It is stipulated in the General Rules that association for science and technology in enterprise (ASTE) is the primary organization of the China Association for Science and Technology incorporated voluntarily by scientific and technological personnel in an enterprise. The operation of ASTE shall be subject to the guidance of the local Association of Science and Technology.  The objectives of ASTE are: to render service to enterprise development, improvement of scientific literacy of employees, and needs of the scientific and technological personnel in the enterprise. The main tasks of ASTE are: a) to conduct academic and technological exchanges; b) to carry out science and technology popularization activities; c) to organize activities of technology innovation, technology training, and science and technology consultation; d) to participate and coordinate the work of professional qualifications certification under entrustment, and to recommend and award excellence of scientific and technological personnel in the enterprise; e) to reflect the suggestions, opinions and appeals of scientific and technological personnel in the enterprise and protect their lawful rights and interests, to advocate self discipline and promote professional ethics; f) to facilitate scientific and technological personnel in the enterprise to join national societies affiliated to the China Association for Science and Technology and take active part in the activities organized by the associations for science and technology at all levels, to promote science development of the enterprise by taking advantage of group superiority and using social intellectual resources; and g) to bring the role of retired scientific and technological personnel into play.

It is also stipulated in the General Rules that, the sources of funding for an ASTE could be the relevant enterprises, membership fee, donation, and other legal income. An ASTE shall stipulate its statutes in accordance with the General Rule. Local associations could stipulate implementing regulations in accordance with the General Rule. Establishment of an ASRE in high-tech industrial development zones and economic-technological development zones could refer to this General Rules.