Experts seek research funding shake-up to boost innovation, economy

The national scientific research funding program urgently needs reform to boost the country's capacity for innovation, political advisers working in the science and technology field said on Wednesday.

Yin Zhuo, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said spending on basic scientific research lags far behind that in Western countries.

"Less than 10 percent of the massive research budget went to support basic scientific projects. In developed nations, the proportion is 20 to 25 percent," he said, adding that low investment in the area will damage the country's scientific competitiveness in the long run.