Additional funds for research

The central government has set up a special fund for its 220 State key laboratories, in a move to boost research and development in the country.

"The central government's funding of scientific research has been growing at a greater ratio than the central budgetary revenue in recent years," Zhang Shaochun, vice-minister of finance, said at a joint working conference held by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance yesterday in Beijing.

The key labs will focus on fundamental, long-term research, those of strategic importance and for public welfare, in disciplines such as chemistry, life sciences, material science, mathematics, physics, information systems and engineering. They have a total staff of more than 10,000 and facilities valued at more than 8 billion yuan ($1.12 billion), Wan Gang, minister of science and technology, said.