State Plan for Key Industrial Experiments

Promulgated in 1984, the plan for key industrial experiments was designed to transform scientific and technological achievements into productive forces as quickly as possible by testing intermediate experimental results on a certain scale to verify the project of technology and equipment feasible and economically rational.

The plan is divided into state and local levels, with funds mainly coming from the state, localities and units contracted for some projects. By the end of 1996, the total investment amounted to more than 3 billion yuan.

The key industrial experimental projects can be divided into demonstration projects and experimental bases. By the end of 1996, the number of industrial experimental projects arranged by the state totaled more than 160. Of these, over 100 have pasted the State examinations and appraisals.

State Plan for Technological Innovation Engineering Projects

Promulgated in 1996, the plan for Technological Innovation Engineering Projects aims to promote enterprise technological progress throughout the nation, while enhancing their capability to bring forth new technologies.

The scope of support ranges from technological innovation activities to major technical innovation projects conducted by large and medium-sized enterprises, high-tech enterprises, scientific research institutes.

The major contents include technological development, industrial experimentation, state-of-the-art technology popularization and application demonstration, high-tech industrialization and the establishment of technological centers, as well as new-product trial-production.

The scope in selection of projects includes: (1) Major technology and leading products badly needed for economic development; (2) The products, equipment, and related technological processes and techniques that are competitive on domestic and international markets and can promote the readjustment of product mix; (3) Newly rising technology, industrial techniques and products that can remold traditional industries; (4) Common technologies suitable to multiple industrial sectors; (5) The technology, industrial workmanship and equipment that can increase the production efficiency, reduce consumption and enhance the technology of product quality; (6) Key technology, industrial workmanship, products and equipment pertinent to environmental protection.

Plan for Construction of State Engineering Research Centers (SERC)

Issued in 1988, the plan for construction of the state engineering research centers is aimed to strengthen the intermediate links that transform scientific and technological results into production. Through establishing engineering centers of key sectors, efforts will be made to develop common technologies suitable for large-scale production, systematize technological engineering projects, and promote the ability to self-develop industrial sectors and markets.

Since 1988, the country has established many state engineering research centers by using domestic funds. Many projects have shown advantages which are manifested in the following fields:

Firstly, new scientific and technological achievements have been made. For example, the first 6-inch and 8-inch monocrystal silicons and 3-inch horizontal gallium arsenide single crystal were respectively manufactured by the Semiconductor Engineering Research Center.

Secondly, economic results have been made. For instance, the Optical-Fiber Communications Technology Engineering Research Center (OFCTERC) increased sales income from 33.62 million yuan in 1990 to nearly 500 million yuan in 1994, an increase of approximately 14 times. Its profits increased from 5.08 million yuan to nearly 100 million yuan, an increase of 19 times.

Thirdly, promoting the progress of industrial technology through transferring technological achievements. For example, the Industrial Automatic Engineering Research Center had successfully manufactured the small and medium-sized control systems fitting to the country's conditions, which have been widely applied in the steel, paper-making, oil refining and chemical industries.

Last, strengthening engineering systematic research to develop the market. The sales volume of the photo-electric assembly since 1992 produced by OFCTERC just followed that of Shanghai AT&T, accounting for a considerable share of the domestic market. At the same time, SERCs, established with World Bank loans, are operating to give full play to its advantages in the fields of energy, communications, electrical machinery, light industry, textile, raw materials and environmental protection.

Plan for State Engineering Technology Research Centers (SETRC)

Issued in 1992, the plan is aimed to establish engineering technology research centers based on selected research institutes that represent China's scientific and technological levels, have the strength for engineering research development, and carry out the new management system and operating mechanism. In so doing, they can give an impetus to the formation and development of new-type scientific and technological research bases in China.

According to the plan, some 200 engineering technological research centers will be set up prior to 2000, employing 30,000-40,000 excellent engineering scientists and technicians.

Remarkable phased results have been made in five years since the founding of SETRC. A large batch of key scientific and technological results has been systematized, and formed engineering scale, giving an impetus to the integration of science, technology with the economy.

A virtuous circle in self-development of the centers has been reinforced. Necessary experimental facilities and measures have also been improved, along with gathering a large batch of talented engineering technicians.

Prior to 1995, China had established 56 state-level engineering technological research centers with 3,200 senior or intermediate engineering technicians. Of them, many technical backbone staffs aged around 30 years old have been appointed to leading posts in development departments and even to leading positions of various centers.

Spark Program

Issued in 1986, the plan was implemented at state, provincial, city and county levels. In recent years, financed mainly by the state, it has been supporting technical development and application in rural areas, and small and medium-sized enterprises. Its main targets are to invigorate the rural economy by relying on science and technology, and spread advanced and available scientific and technological results in rural areas, so as to lead township enterprises to develop soundly.

The Program was put forward by the State Commission for Science and Technology in 1985. The first 41 projects were implemented on a trial basis in the latter half of the year, receiving evident benefit. In early 1986, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the No.1 document for 4,000 projects under the plan above county level, including more than 700 projects at state level. More than 75 percent achieved phased results.

The Spark Program emphasizes industries closely related with people's daily life. It turns rural resource advantages into economic advantages through science and technology, spurred on, through model projects, rural development of planting, breeding, aquaculture and farm produce and sideline product and processing industries. It has established and developed production bases of vegetables, fruits, poultry and eggs, and aquatic products, and popularized advanced breeding and cultivation technologies. These moves have brought farmers' enthusiasm for growing into fuller play, while enriching urban citizens' food consumption.

Under the premise of seeking advanced and available technologies, the Spark Plan has constantly improved its technological level. In a very short time, a large amount of hi-tech projects have undergone sound application. A great many hi-tech products under the Plan, such as integrated circuits, fiber-optical cables, program-controlled switching systems, and high-precision digital-controlled machine tools, have made their way to the market at home and abroad from the countryside. Some breakthroughs have been made in biological engineering technology, such as cellular projects, microbes, fermentation engineering, and embryo transplantation, and application of new technologies such as nuclear physics applications, irradiation, lasers, and rare earth permanent magnet; mulch film technology has been widely used in crops, in line with soil-less culture and industrialized planting technologies.

State Plan to Spread Major Scientific and Technological Results

Started in 1990, this program, supported mainly by state loans, was designed to prop up the widespread application of fairly advanced and matured scientific and technological results of scientific research institutions and enterprises. Meanwhile, it supported the transformation of military into civil technology.

Between 1991 and 1995, a number of scientific and technological results that are advanced, matured, widely used and well-performed have been included in the plan. Of the 1,440 technologies entered in the plan's catalogue, 909 belonged to industry, and the rest were shared by agriculture. More than 85 percent of these technologies have been implemented in different degrees, with most have been picked up by factories, mines, enterprises, and rural areas. The implementation of the plan has saved more than 60 billion yuan of industrial expenditure, and newly added profits and tax payments have exceeded 15 billion yuan. The spreading of agricultural technology has greatly promoted agricultural scientific and technological progress, resulting in another 35 percent of agricultural growth. The spreading of high-quality crop varieties with matching planting technology to increase output has enabled grain output to increase by 5 billion kg annually.

Under the guidance of the plan, more than 40 ministries and commissions and over 20 provinces (prefectures and cities) have arranged some 30,000 popularized plans, forcefully promoting technological progress and local economic development.

State Plan for Key Scientific and Technological Difficulties to Be Tackled

Issued in 1982, the plan is designed to resolve long-term key scientific and technological problems in the national economy and social development, promote modernization of traditional industry and optimization of the industrial structure, and support the development of hi-technology and its industrialization.

Mainly state funded, the plan was designed to support key technological research and development related to the national economy and social development.

By 1985, 38 technological projects had been identified to be tackled, involving state investment of 1.5 billion yuan. These projects achieved 3,597 results, and earned 3.8 billion yuan.

Between 1986-90, 76 projects were arranged, with total investment of 6.76 billion yuan, including 3.25 billion yuan from the state. Some 10,000 results have been achieved, with 80 percent being spread, earning 40 billion yuan. Meanwhile, a great number of testing bases, testing stations and pilot lines have been built, enabling China's science and technology to achieve greater self-development ability.

Some 180 projects were arranged between 1991-95. The investment totaled 9 billion yuan, including 4.52 billion yuan from the Central Government's financial appropriations. These projects received more than 60,000 results, with 35 percent reaching international level and 36 percent reaching domestic advanced level. Some 800 results have acquired state patent applications, 5,000 results are new products and new technologies, and 3,000 results belong to new materials. Most results have been applied in economic construction. The direct economic benefits in the five years exceeded 60 billion yuan.

State Hi-tech Research Development Plan (or 863 Program)

The plan is China's first medium- and long-term plan to research and develop high technology combining military with civilian, since China's reform and opening. In March 1986, famous scientists Wang Daheng, Wang Ganchang, Yang Changchi and Chen Fangyun suggested to the CPC Central Committee that experts should be organized to demonstrate China's hi-tech development strategy. In November of the same year, the enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Standing Committee of the State Council approved the implementation of the Outline of China's Hi-Tech Research Development Plan. In memory of the four scientists' suggestion, the outline was nominated as the 863 Program. The plan aimed to develop, in an organized and planned way, technologies related to biology, aviation, information, lasers, automation, energy resources, new materials and marine science. China's hi-tech research and development have focused on 15 themes, the figure later expanded to 17.

Since its implementation in 1986, the 863 Program has gradually formed a hi-tech research and development strategy suitable for China's situation, completing the general allocation for the sector. It has made great contributions to the renovation of traditional industries and cultivation of booming industries, and had an important influence on the national economy and social development. The plan has collected, cultivated and created a new generation of hi-tech teams. Several dozen outstanding leaders of science have been chosen to be members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE). The program has also established a number of hi-tech research and hi-tech product development bases.

State Plan to Industrialize Key Scientific and Technological Results

The plan was worked out in 1995. Between 1996-2000, China arranged special loans of the State Development Bank for industrialization of key scientific and technological results in capital construction investment. The loans supported industrialized projects of key scientific and technological results with important influence on national economic development.

It was designed to support industrialized projects of hi-tech results that are in line with the China's industrial policies, and projects to turn hi-tech results into products which will help pillar and basic industries develop to a higher level. The plan was to focus on electronic information, optic mechatronics, new materials, modern manufacturing technology, biological technology, telecommunications' new technology, energy new technology, as well as hi-tech-result projects that will propel traditional industries into modernized ones. Emphasis will also be put on industrialized projects of key scientific and technological results which have been listed in the state science and technology plans.

Torch Program

A hi-tech industrialized plan, it was begun on August 8, 1998, when the First National Torch Program Working Conference was convened.

Since the implementation of the program, nearly 100 founder's service centers have been established in 52 national-level hi-tech development zones. In 1997, the State Scientific and Technological Commission approved the first batch of national-level founder's centers. These institutes, called incubators, have played an important role in accelerating the transformation of hi-tech results and "incubating" hi-tech enterprises and entrepreneurs.

By the end of 1997, some 3,533 State-level projects of the Torch Program have been implemented, earning a total of 409.1 billion yuan of industrial output value, involving 70.8 billion yuan of profit and tax payments, and US$5.5 billion of foreign exchange. In 1997, these projects' total industrial output value reached 120 billion yuan (including at the national and regional levels), sales revenue hit 106 billion yuan, profit and tax payment, 20 billion yuan, and foreign exchange earning, US$1.2 billion.

During the Eighth Five-Year Plan period (1990-95), China's hi-tech industrial development zones numbered 52. The aggregated income covering technology, industry and trade, reached 335.34 billion yuan, with the average growth rate in the five years reaching 105 percent, the growth doubling annually. These zones realized 296.1 billion yuan of industrial output value, earned 40.23 billion yuan in profits and tax payments, and US$5.3 billion in foreign exchange. The high-speed growth has been maintained for several successive years. The annual average growth rate of profit and tax payments reached 117 percent, the growth doubling annually. It is demonstrated that hi-tech zones have stronger development power. Foreign exchange earnings have also realized annual double growth (100 percent), indicating their fairly stronger international competitive power. China's hi-tech industrial development zones have initially developed into important bases of the country's hi-tech industrial development, and new growth points to invigorate the local economy.

According to initial statistics, enterprises in new and hi-tech zones numbered 13,681 in 1997, involving 1.47 million employees. Their sales revenue covering technology, industry and trade totaled 338.8 billion yuan, output value, 310.9 billion yuan, profit and tax payment, 35 billion yuan, and foreign exchange earning, US$6.5 billion. Enterprises with total assets exceeding 100 million yuan reached 530, those with a total assets exceeding 1 billion stood at 47, and those with 5 billion yuan numbered five. In 1997, four new hi-tech zones were appointed as special open garden areas for members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). In September of the year, the first APEC scientific and technological garden areas network meeting was successfully held in Beijing.

State Key Plan for Laboratory Construction Projects

Issued in 1984, the main target was to improve China's scientific research ability in key basic research sectors, and cultivate high-level scientific research personnel.

The main characteristics of the plan were: emphasis on long-term scientific and technological development, cultivation of high-quality personnel, high-level basic research and applied basic research. The plan decided, through reform, to implement an operational mechanism of "opening, flowing, competition, and cooperation", and construct a number of high-level laboratories in a careful way in some advanced scientific sectors, and turn them into testing and research bases and academic activity centers able to represent the state's academic, testing and management level. Construction and operation of key laboratories were funded mainly by State finance.

Results achieved since 1984 when the plan was implemented are as follows:

A number of experimental research bases for basic research have been set up, including 80 state key laboratories with comprehensive advantages of scientific research.

Scientific and technological results of international advanced level have been achieved. Since 1987, China's key laboratories have won 126 prizes in three state award categories, with all these results reaching the international advanced level. During the past decade, some 760 results have passed scientific research appraisal, and 126 have acquired state patents, and a number of high-level academic papers have won international thesis prizes.

Many outstanding scientific and technological talents have been cultivated, and a number of academic leaders with profound scholarship have emerged.

Having participated in academic exchanges at home and abroad and scientific and technological cooperation by means of papers, works, and academic exchanges. International symposiums have been held, and foreign scholars have been received for cooperative research in laboratories.

A number of academic research centers have been established, promoting construction and development of various disciplines.

The State Key Project Plan for Basic Research (or Scaling Program)

The plan was implemented on July 22, 1992. The aim was to strengthen state support for basic research and its steady development, so as to yield more results and talents. It is an important part of China's basic research work, and a key move adopted by the state to solidify and intensify basic research.

The projects were optimized jointly by the State Scientific and Technological Commission, CAS, State Natural Science Fund and related ministries and commissions. Projects under the plan come from basic courses and applied basic courses such as mathematics, physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology, basic agronomy, basic medicine, geoscience and technological science.

Projects of State Natural Science Fund

Established in 1982, the fund is designed to finance basic research and applied basic research, with its capital mainly coming from the country's financial appropriation.

So far, 2 billion yuan has been paid out. The amount of fund rose from 80 million yuan in 1986 to 600 million in 1996. The science fund has become a main channel to finance China's basic research. The fund has a natural inclination to mathematics, agronomy, environmental science and managerial science.

100 Outstanding Scientists' Plan of CAS

This was a plan to select and recruit 100 of the most outstanding young scientists of Chinese nationality at home and abroad to be leaders of scientific studies. Each selected will acquire about 1 million yuan of finance for purchasing equipment for scientific research, housing subsidies and research funds, with the last fund be controlled by the recipient. CAS published the plan on November 11, 1994. Of the first 14 recruited, 11 are scholars in China, and three are scholars of Chinese nationality living abroad. Their average age is 35 years.