Government shifts science role

Power to authorize research projects transferred to allow focus instead on planning, monitoring

The government will no longer authorize or fund science and technology projects directly, but focus instead on making development plans, assessing projects and monitoring evaluation and research funds, the science and technology minister said on Wednesday.

"The key to managing science and technology research is to take good care of the relationship between government and the market," said Wan Gang, who also is a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. "The ministry has already canceled and transferred some power to authorize and launch projects, activating the market's energy," Wan added, saying that this will reduce administrative interference with research and encourage innovation.