20% R&D Expenditure Increase in 2003
In 2003, China had recorded a 19.6% increase for its R&D expenditures at RMB 153.96 billion, compared with the preceding year, or 1.31% of the GDP in the year. he national statistic bulletin for S&T expenditures, jointly published on October 20, 2004 by the State Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Science and Technology, and Ministry of Finance, shows that last year has witnessed an increased support of the state treasury to S&T activities, with further enhanced industrial position in technical innovations. In 2003, the total S&T expenditures accounted for RMB 312.16 billion, or 16.8% up compared with the preceding year.
In 2003, the total treasury appropriations accounted for RMB 97.55 billion, or 19.5% more compared with the preceding year, with a share of 4% in the total state financial expenditures. Of the S&T treasury appropriations, the central government contributed RMB 63.99 billion, with a 25.2% increase, compared with the previous year, or 8.6% of the central government’s financial expenditures in the year. Local treasuries contributed RMB 33.56 billion, with a 10% increase, or 1.9% of the local financial expenditures.
Statistics also show that China’s basic research expenditures rose to RMB 8.77 billion in 2003, or 18.8% up, compared with the preceding year; applied research expenditures came up to RMB 31.15 billion in the same year, with a 26.3% increase; R&D expenditures reached RMB 114.05 billion, or 17.9% up. Most major industries, including electric and machinery manufacturing, pharmaceutical, communication and special equipment manufacturing, telecommunication equipment, computer and other electronic equipment, and transportation equipment, have enhanced their input in R&D, making the expenditure 1% or more of their sales revenue.
The localities whose R&D expenditures exceeded RMB 5 billion are Beijing, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Shandong, Liaoning, Sichuan, Zhejiang, Shaan’xi and Hubei, with a total expenditure of RMB 117.97 billion, or 75.5% of the nation’s total R&D expenditures.
In 2003, China’s industrial S&T expenditures reached RMB 212.62 billion, with an increase of 18.9%, compared with the preceding year. The areas whose S&T expenditures exceeded RMB 10 billion include Beijing, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Shanghai, Shandong, Zhejiang, Sichuan, Liaoning, Shaan’xi and Hubei, with a total expenditure of RMB 231.64 billion, or 73.3% of the nation’s total S&T expenditures.
More New Projects for the 973 Program
The Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology has recently approved 31 new projects for the National Key Basic Research and Development Program, or the 973 Program in brief. The newly approved projects are defined to meet the following needs:
1) A number of basic research projects have been initiated to address key and bottleneck issues restricting the nation’s economic and social development, including the genomic study of cotton fiber properties and functions, and associated molecular improvement, large scale coal gasification and liquidification, the genesis of environmental pollution northeast China’s traditional industrial bases and associated ecological restoration, and cancerous mutation and malignant tumors’ prevention and control.
2) The restructuring of projects in the fields where China has a traditional strength or sits at an international leading position has produced a number of new projects, including mathematic and mechanic processes and their applications in information technology, structures and performances of photoelectric crystals, molecular design, microstructure design and preparation.
3) To address cutting edge and cross-disciplinary scientific issues, a number of projects are initiated, including the structures and functions of biological membranes and membrane protein, the theory of new artificial electromagnetic medium and associated applications, systematic biological study of multiple-gene related complex diseases, and designing major software for common applications.
4) Continuous support has been secured to address major scientific issues rising in the national economic development. For example, 15 projects that were initiated in 1998 had been evaluated for phase results at the end of 2003. The experts’ evaluation confirms the continuous financing for 11 of them in 2004.
5) Financing tilts to the projects run by qualified young and middle aged scientists, encouraging their active involvement. Of the 31 chief scientists presiding over the projects, 12 are under 45 years of age, or 39% of the total.
20% R&D Expenditure Increase in 2003
In 2003, China had recorded a 19.6% increase for its R&D expenditures at RMB 153.96 billion, compared with the preceding year, or 1.31% of the GDP in the year. he national statistic bulletin for S&T expenditures, jointly published on October 20, 2004 by the State Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Science and Technology, and Ministry of Finance, shows that last year has witnessed an increased support of the state treasury to S&T activities, with further enhanced industrial position in technical innovations. In 2003, the total S&T expenditures accounted for RMB 312.16 billion, or 16.8% up compared with the preceding year.
In 2003, the total treasury appropriations accounted for RMB 97.55 billion, or 19.5% more compared with the preceding year, with a share of 4% in the total state financial expenditures. Of the S&T treasury appropriations, the central government contributed RMB 63.99 billion, with a 25.2% increase, compared with the previous year, or 8.6% of the central government’s financial expenditures in the year. Local treasuries contributed RMB 33.56 billion, with a 10% increase, or 1.9% of the local financial expenditures.
Statistics also show that China’s basic research expenditures rose to RMB 8.77 billion in 2003, or 18.8% up, compared with the preceding year; applied research expenditures came up to RMB 31.15 billion in the same year, with a 26.3% increase; R&D expenditures reached RMB 114.05 billion, or 17.9% up. Most major industries, including electric and machinery manufacturing, pharmaceutical, communication and special equipment manufacturing, telecommunication equipment, computer and other electronic equipment, and transportation equipment, have enhanced their input in R&D, making the expenditure 1% or more of their sales revenue.
The localities whose R&D expenditures exceeded RMB 5 billion are Beijing, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Shandong, Liaoning, Sichuan, Zhejiang, Shaan’xi and Hubei, with a total expenditure of RMB 117.97 billion, or 75.5% of the nation’s total R&D expenditures.
In 2003, China’s industrial S&T expenditures reached RMB 212.62 billion, with an increase of 18.9%, compared with the preceding year. The areas whose S&T expenditures exceeded RMB 10 billion include Beijing, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Shanghai, Shandong, Zhejiang, Sichuan, Liaoning, Shaan’xi and Hubei, with a total expenditure of RMB 231.64 billion, or 73.3% of the nation’s total S&T expenditures.
More New Projects for the 973 Program
The Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology has recently approved 31 new projects for the National Key Basic Research and Development Program, or the 973 Program in brief. The newly approved projects are defined to meet the following needs:
1) A number of basic research projects have been initiated to address key and bottleneck issues restricting the nation’s economic and social development, including the genomic study of cotton fiber properties and functions, and associated molecular improvement, large scale coal gasification and liquidification, the genesis of environmental pollution northeast China’s traditional industrial bases and associated ecological restoration, and cancerous mutation and malignant tumors’ prevention and control.
2) The restructuring of projects in the fields where China has a traditional strength or sits at an international leading position has produced a number of new projects, including mathematic and mechanic processes and their applications in information technology, structures and performances of photoelectric crystals, molecular design, microstructure design and preparation.
3) To address cutting edge and cross-disciplinary scientific issues, a number of projects are initiated, including the structures and functions of biological membranes and membrane protein, the theory of new artificial electromagnetic medium and associated applications, systematic biological study of multiple-gene related complex diseases, and designing major software for common applications.
4) Continuous support has been secured to address major scientific issues rising in the national economic development. For example, 15 projects that were initiated in 1998 had been evaluated for phase results at the end of 2003. The experts’ evaluation confirms the continuous financing for 11 of them in 2004.
5) Financing tilts to the projects run by qualified young and middle aged scientists, encouraging their active involvement. Of the 31 chief scientists presiding over the projects, 12 are under 45 years of age, or 39% of the total.
Fast SARS Testing Technique Certified
A gene based technique, able to quickly detect out SARS viruses, has recently been granted with a new drug certificate and production approval issued by the China State Food and Drug Administration. The said SARS testing reagent is jointly developed by the Henan Bioengineering Research Center, the Institute of Viruses Prevention and Control, a part of China Diseases Control Center, and Huamei Bioengineering Co..
The new testing reagent, using 9 innovative technologies developed for the first time domestically or internationally, has recorded a sensitivity up to 50 viruses. Requiring no special conditions for operation, the new system can give out testing results within 1.6 hours from sample collecting to reading out. In addition to the value for clinic diagnosing and virus monitoring, the new product can also be used in evaluating the results of vaccines, screening clinic blood supply, conducting epidemiological investigations and verifying effects.
The internal comparison technique used in the new product can effectively prevent sample augmentation, wiping out phony results for negative. Other techniques used, such as the stand along insulation technique, have improved the reagent’s stability and validity period. The DNA UNG, a component used in the product, is of strong resistance to possible lab pollutions. In addition, the efficient sample processing technique greatly improves the sample recovery rate and testing sensitivity. The TagMan-BC probe technique and genetic engineering phony virus grains, the first applications in the country, remarkably reduce the testing background, and improve the product’s sensitivity and safety.
New Cardiograph
The Institute of Applied Chemistry, an affiliate of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, started in 2001 to work on soft sensing membranes and associated dynamic cardiograph monitoring instrument, a major project initiated by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology. Scientists, through their more than 2 years’ efforts, have worked out solutions to a range of key technologies, including synchronous stretching and corona polarization, orderly crystal forming orientation, and crystal form conversion. Scientists successfully produced, using functional merits of PVDF materials, soft piezoelectric sensing membranes that are able to collect very weak murmurs of human heart. They also designed the new manufacturing techniques and realized the consecutive production of the new membranes, a key component of the cardiograph instrument.
Researchers also realized the synchronous monitoring of cardiograph and heart murmurs, using simulator circuit, intelligent elements and USB interfaces. As a result, a dynamic instrument able to monitor cardiograph and heart murmurs with a greatly enhanced speed was born.
The new instrument has been used in hospitals on a trial basis. The preliminary testing results show that the instrument is able to monitor both cardiograph and heart murmurs when needed, possessing numerous merits, including no twisted signals, accurate and reliable testing data, fast speed, simplified operation and easy for carrying. The new instrument provides accurate and reliable data for cardiac muscle diseases examinations.
China’s First Geostationary Meteorological Satellite
At 09:20, October 19, 2004 Beijing local time, Fengyun 2c , the first Chinese made geostationary meteorological satellite, was blast off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. About 24 minute after the CZ 3a carrier rocket’s blast off, the Xi’an Satellite Control Center and “Yuanwang”, a space measuring boat cruising over the Pacific Ocean, reported that Fengyun 2c had entered the earth synchronous orbit, calling a complete success of the launch.
With a weight of 1.38 tons, the satellite is equipped with numerous technical enhancements, including an increase of radiometer scanning channels from previous 3 to current 5, and a capability to produce visible and infrared cloud charts and water vapor chart. Designed to collect meteorological, marine and hydrological observation data, transmit stretched digital imageries and low speed cloud charts, and keep watching space environment, the new satellite will see an enhanced capacity for the quantitative observation of typhoons, precipitation, sea temperature, clouds, solar radiation and space particles. The enhanced battery volume will ensure the smooth operation of the new satellite during the eclipse.
Fengyun 2c covers 1/3 of the equator area marked at 105 degree the east longitude. According to a national plan for meteorological satellite development, China will launch several more Fengyun 2 series satellites in coming years, establishing a geostationary meteorological satellite system able to meet the ongoing needs of weather forecast and atmospheric watch.
China’s GPS Accuracy to 12m
The Chinese made navigation system has been put into mass production for civic applications. The Zhonghuan Satellite Navigation Telecommunication Co. Ltd., affiliated to the China Satellite Telecommunication Holding, has recently rolled out a number of civic products embedded with the technology.
With a brandname called the Plough, the new navigation system constitutes China’s first generation satellite positioning system, a successful solution in having China’s own proprietary satellite navigation system that can provide all-weather and round-the-clock satellite navigation information. China’s wide area GPS differentiation system, built on the said technology, improves GPS receiver’s positioning accuracy from a hundred meters to several meters, under the SA interference, or a positioning accuracy around 12 meters. The satellite based moving targets watch system and satellite data telecommunication system developed by Zhonghuan, using the Plough short message telecommunication technology, provide reliable technical support for marine and mountain users.
The Zhonghuan Fast Navigation System, a vehicle based self navigation system integrated with satellite positioning, GPS, and in-car multimedia computer, combining real time traffic information broadcasting and dynamic map updating technology, is able to provide numerous services for users, including real time positioning, map inquiry, route planning, voice guiding, journey recall, and monitoring.
The new product has filled up numerous blanks in China’s civic satellite navigation industry. In addition, Zhonghuan has developed other products with similar functions, including satellite based marine paging system, satellite cargo distribution system, and GPS/GSM vehicle monitoring.
China’s Nanoink
Based on their three-year painstaking efforts, Chinese young scientist LI Ang and his collaborators eventually rolled out a color ink with the largest pigment grains only at 200 nanometers across.
With the support of the Tsinghua University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, LI and his collaborators worked out a unique technique to manufacture ink. They use high technology and high speed hitting method to break pigment materials into nanograins at 20-200 nanometers across, finer than the indicators reached by other similar products. Experiments show that as a printing ink, nanoink, both in black and in color, can produce a fine printing result. The testing results issued by the domestic authoritative organization indicate that the new product has reached the same level of its international counterparts, in terms of pigment quality and performance, having a broad application perspective. Researchers are currently screening for more optimized water resin to be used in color nanoink for dyeing purpose.
Tibet’s Rich Oil Reserves
The latest China land resources survey gives out a preliminary conclusion that the Qiangtang basin on the Tibet Plateau is of rich oil and gas reserves. As a possible area promising for rich oil reserves on the plateau, the Qiangtang basin may become a new base in China’s oil and gas industry.
The investigation results show that Tibet has well developed hydrocarbon rocks, with thick and fine oil producing layers. The hydrocarbon rocks in the middle of the basin are found with mature structures, favorable for light oil formation. Meanwhile, an ancient oil belt running 100 km long has been discovered in the southern section of the basin. All these findings confirm the solid material basis for forming a large oil field, indicating marine oil and gas formation and conglomeration processes in the basin.
Both the oil and gas indicators and the discovery of the ancient oil belt have confirmed the formation, migration and conglomeration of oil and gas in the Qiangtang basin. Scientists have so far discovered 1,189 potential sites that may contain oil or gas. Mostly made of limestone, the oil storing layers are concentrated over slopes, rupture belts, and relatively higher tectonics in adjacent areas..
Seismological Watch for Hydraulic Power Stations
The Wujiang River digital seismological watch station, the first basin based seismological watch system for hydraulic power projects in the country, has recently completed the phase one project. The project passed the expert panel’s verification check organized by the State Seismological Bureau on October 19, 2004.
As China’s first basin based seismological watch system, the new station is designed to watch the possible earthquakes induced by water reservoir projects. Made up of 34 watch stations dotted along 600km long Wujiang River trunks, the whole system keeps watch on seven hydraulic power stations and adjacent areas. The project is planned for two phases, depending on the construction process of water reservoirs in the area. So far 5 watch systems have been constructed at the upper reaches, including 16 stations and a watch center.
Tibet’s Rich Oil Reserves
The latest China land resources survey gives out a preliminary conclusion that the Qiangtang basin on the Tibet Plateau is of rich oil and gas reserves. As a possible area promising for rich oil reserves on the plateau, the Qiangtang basin may become a new base in China’s oil and gas industry.
The investigation results show that Tibet has well developed hydrocarbon rocks, with thick and fine oil producing layers. The hydrocarbon rocks in the middle of the basin are found with mature structures, favorable for light oil formation. Meanwhile, an ancient oil belt running 100 km long has been discovered in the southern section of the basin. All these findings confirm the solid material basis for forming a large oil field, indicating marine oil and gas formation and conglomeration processes in the basin.
Both the oil and gas indicators and the discovery of the ancient oil belt have confirmed the formation, migration and conglomeration of oil and gas in the Qiangtang basin. Scientists have so far discovered 1,189 potential sites that may contain oil or gas. Mostly made of limestone, the oil storing layers are concentrated over slopes, rupture belts, and relatively higher tectonics in adjacent areas..
Seismological Watch for Hydraulic Power Stations
The Wujiang River digital seismological watch station, the first basin based seismological watch system for hydraulic power projects in the country, has recently completed the phase one project. The project passed the expert panel’s verification check organized by the State Seismological Bureau on October 19, 2004.
As China’s first basin based seismological watch system, the new station is designed to watch the possible earthquakes induced by water reservoir projects. Made up of 34 watch stations dotted along 600km long Wujiang River trunks, the whole system keeps watch on seven hydraulic power stations and adjacent areas. The project is planned for two phases, depending on the construction process of water reservoirs in the area. So far 5 watch systems have been constructed at the upper reaches, including 16 stations and a watch center.
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