China maps out blueprints for science and technology development

    BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- China plans to become an innovative nation in the next 15 years and a world power in science and technology field by the middle of the 21st century, says the national guideline on medium- and long-term program for scienc e and technology development (2006-2020), which was published by the State Council Thursday.

    By 2020, China's entire investment in research and development is expected to top 2.5 percent of the GDP, while progress of science and technology will contribute 60 percent and above to the country's development.

    Meanwhile, the country's reliance on foreign technology will decline to 30 percent and below. The number of patents granted to Chinese nationals and the introduction of their academic essays are expected to rank among the first five in the world.

    After 15 years of efforts, China will reach eight targets in the field of science and technology. Full coverage

    :::::: Combining military, civilian research organizations

    China will reform the current scientific and technological management system and combine and coordinate the military and civilian research organizations in order to promote its scientific development.

    :::::: Blueprints for development of frontier technologies

    China will develop a number of frontier technologies which are expected to play a guiding role in the development of science and technology, in a bid to increase its research capabilities in high technology and international competitiveness of industries.

    :::::: Accelerating implementation of national IPR strategy

    China will expedite the implementation of a national strategy on intellectual property right (IPR), bringing the IPR management into the whole process of scientific and technological management.

    :::::: Accelerating technological development of 11 key industries

    China will give priority to technological development in 11 major sectors such as energy and water resources, in the coming 15 years, in order to resolve some outstanding problems bottlenecking the country's economic and social development.

    :::::: Creating better environment for listing of high-tech firms

    The government will adopt preferential banking policies for promoting innovation and startup of businesses, so as to create more conveniences for high-tech companies to go public.

    :::::: Remarkably increasing investment in science & technology

    China will remarkably increase investment in science and technology in the coming 15 years. The investment in research and development (R&D) will account for 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010, and 2.5 percent of GDP in 2020, says the guideline.

    :::::: Strengthening basic research

    Basic research has become part of the international competition of overall national strength. As a rapidly developing country, China must put the emphasis on basic research in order to achieve national goals and solve key problems which would appear in the future.

    :::::: Further boosting innovation capability

    The Chinese government made public a document Thursday on reaffirming its resolution to build up an innovation-oriented country in the next 15 years.

    :::::: Quickening up research on 16 key technologies

    China announced that it plans to speed up the pace of research on 16 special, key technologies, so as to deal with a number of problems of importance and urgency for the country's strategic fields like information, biology, resources and health as well as some technologies that could be applicable for both military and civilian use.

    :::::: More support given to enterprise innovation

    Chinese enterprises are playing a more important role in the reform and opening-up progress. The country will encourage enterprises to become the main body of R&D through economic and scientific policies.