CAS receives 4.8b yuan for upgrading facilities

Chinese government will earmark 4.8 billion yuan (US$ 615.4 million) in the period of 2006-2010 for improving CAS facilities.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced the move recently, noting that the funding aims to narrow the gap between the Academy and its counterparts in developed countries.

CAS launched a Knowledge Innovation Program (KIP) in 1998 with the support of the government, and a plan for the third phase of KIP has just been approved by the NDRC, an official with the commission said.

The newly-allocating funds will support the implementation of the plan, improve research conditions for the major sectors including aero-space, photoelectricity and information sciences and facilitate innovations in life science, new energy sources and green industries.

The Chinese government has been increasing investment in scientific research in recent years to promote sustainable and sound development of the economy.

Source from Xinhua News