The Chinese Government will speed up the development of
intermediate technological agencies to help research findings be
applied more quickly to the economy, said the minister of science
and technology.
In
an interview with China Daily, Xu Guanhua said this indicates
China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) is
prompting the government to create a flexible and favorable climate
for scientific and industrial development.
Xu
said his ministry and other relevant departments will encourage the
growth of intermediate agencies. Such agencies focus on the
popularizing of technology, technology trade, business incubation,
providing information on new technology and technological
assessment and consulting services.
"The government will implement policies and rules to enhance the
efficiency and protect the rights of these agencies, regulate their
professional performance and upgrade their service standards," Xu
added.
The Ministry of Science and Technology will cooperate with
financial, tax, industrial and commercial authorities to work out
preferential policies for special intermediate technological
agencies, especially those focusing on spreading agricultural
techniques and commercializing high-tech findings.
Internet-based information networks across the country will be set
up to link intermediate service agencies together to fully tap
scientific resources and speed up the dissemination of
technological information, said Xu.
He
said that another important step is the rational introduction of
foreign intermediate technological agencies.
"China's entry to the WTO will bring more chances for overseas
scientific and technological firms to set up solely owned or
jointly run labs, technological institution, intermediate agencies
and other relevant organizations in China," Xu pointed out.
China already has more than 100 Sino-foreign joint research
institutions. These have played an active role in promoting
academic exchanges between China and other countries and in helping
train Chinese staff in advanced specialities.
"Higher-level experts are crucial for reinforcing the country's
long-term scientific and economic development," Xu said.
"The State will take more measures to halt the nation's brain
drain, while attracting more overseas-based Chinese graduates to
return and join scientific projects," Xu added.
Scientists will be encouraged to undertake major scientific
projects through open and fair competitions. Those who successfully
bid for a scientific project will be given adequate funding for
research and development and also bonus payments for
researchers.
"China's scientific institutions will be urged to speed up the
cultivation of younger scientists, which will be a criterion in the
appraisal of their achievements," the minister said.
To
reward researchers and business managers for their technological
innovation and commercialization of research findings, the
government will introduce a rewards system among high-tech firms.
"Outstanding scientific workers will be rewarded with different
forms of options, share-holding rights or other property rights,"
Xu said.
He
added the Ministry of Science and Technology will also provide
special funds to help Chinese scientists take part in more
international academic exchanges and co-operative ventures.
Another major task is to nurture small and medium-sized
technological firms to fuel China's scientific and industrial
development following its WTO accession, said the minister. The
experiences of some foreign countries have shown that, in the
fierce global competition, small and medium-sized firms can create
advanced products with a strong competitive edge through
technological upgrading.
China has 86,000 small and medium-sized technological firms, whose
interests range from information technology to biotechnology, and
from new materials to environmental protection. Statistics show
that they have greatly pushed forward regional economic and
technological development over the past decade.
The central government will allocate 5 billion yuan (US$602
million) to implement major scientific programs during the period
of the 10th Five-Year Plan (2001-05), Xu added.
(China Daily January 4,
2002)