Company R&D to play innovative role in China
(08/13/2001) (xinhua)

In the next five years, Chinese enterprises will become the major sponsors of research and development (R&D) projects in China, according to a government forecast.

The State Development Planning Commission announced that it has completed a detailed plan for the development of science and technology in China over the next five years.

The plan outlines such major tasks for scientific and technological development as upgrading conventional industries, advancing strategic high-tech research, enhancing basic research, accelerating reform of the R&D mechanism and establishing a national system of innovation.

According to the plan, funding for R&D activities will account for 1.5 percent of the gross domestic product in 2005. In the meantime, the investment in R&D by enterprises will make up over 50 percent of the country' total. High-tech enterprises in the country are expected to spend more than five percent of their sales revenue on R&D.

The plan forecasts that by 2005 the number of scientists and engineers in China engaged in R&D activities and technological innovations will reach 900,000.

In the next five years, China will construct a number of R&D bases that are up to the world's advanced standards. This will improve the technological level and international competitiveness of Chinese industries. In addition, China will accelerate the advance of basic and high-tech research, so as to help keep a balance among population growth, resources and environment.

The plan states that the Chinese government is take a series of measures to achieve the goals of scientific advance during 2001-2005, including fostering talented people, increasing input, perfecting management of R&D, improving government policies and promoting the popularization of scientific knowledge

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