Abstract:China has existed aides and staff tradition since ancient times, but in the modern sense, folk think tank is developed gradually after the reform and open policy. Entering the 21st century, with the major change of international and domestic economic-social-development, and the implement of innovation driven strategy, folk think tank is into a new stage of vigorous development. As a powerful boost of innovation, folk think tank is not only the strong driving force of China's new economic development, but also the important support of the modernization of management system and management ability, and we should evaluate folk think tank according to the research ability rather than government system, thus promoting folk think tank to better serve national innovation driven strategy.