China will spend 11 billion yuan (US$1.3 billion) this year to support key state research and development programs, announced the Ministry of Science and Technology on Mar. 22.
Of the 11 billion yuan, 5.5 billion, 0.9 billion and 1.5 billion will be spent on 863 Program, 973 Program and Key Technologies R & D Program respectively. Spending in other national scientific and technological programs such as Spark Program and Construction for National S & T Infrastructure Platform program will be 3.1 billion yuan. These major state S & T programs will focus on tackling the hard-nut topics relating to grain safety, farmer's income increase and the prevention and control of major diseases and the construction of old industrial bases in Northeast China.
Du Zhanyuan, director general of the Planning Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology, said we estimate that the spending in state S & T programs during the Tenth Five-Year Plan will be about 60 billion yuan and the spending will attract at least two or three times more of social investment in science and technology.
(People's Daily March 23, 2004)
