Guangzhou offers major support to research sector

The authorities in Guangzhou have vowed to "significantly increase" their financial support of the science and technology sector over the next two years, as the traditional manufacturing and foreign trade hub continues to modernize.

The city's Mayor Chen Jianhua told an industry forum on Friday that the city government hopes to raise research and development's contribution to local GDP, to above both the national and provincial average.

Speaking at the second Guangzhou International Urban Conference, Chen said that much of the scientific manpower of Guangdong province is concentrated in Guangzhou, with 60 percent of the province's colleges and universities, 77 percent of its R&D institutes and all of its top State-owned laboratories based in the provincial capital.