BEIJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government has decided to boost the country's post-doctoral research over the next five years by injecting new funding and creating new research centers, according to a newly-released national program.

    According to the 11th Five-Year Program for Post-doctoral Work, which was made public by the Ministry of Personnel (MOP), investment in the sector will increase threefold in the next five years to 1.5 billion yuan (187.5 million U.S. dollars).

    Priority will be given to post-doctoral research in less-developed western China and in China's northeastern rust belt.

    As of 2006, each post-doctoral research fellow is able to draw on funds over a 2-year period of 100,000 yuan (12,500 U.S. dollars), up 40,000 yuan on the previous figure.

    Non-governmental sectors will also be encouraged to sponsor research, the program said.

    China intends to attract both Chinese and foreigners to work in its post-doctoral centers over the next five years.

    To boost the development of key industries as well as infant and major research subjects, China also aims to increase the number of post-doctoral centers, according to the program.

    China initiated its post-doctoral program in 1985 by setting up post-doctoral centers in higher-learning and research institutions and by establishing post-doctoral centers in companies.

    Altogether 37,000 people are working or have worked as post-doctoral fellows in the country's 2,681 post-doctoral centers.