Retirement revamped for elderly academicians

Changes will give younger talent more funding and opportunities

China has completed a remake of its retirement system for science academicians - the highest academic title for scientists and engineers in China - opening more opportunities for younger accomplished scholars to play a bigger role in funding allocation and research priorities.

While academicians are invaluable experts in their fields and have contributed greatly to China's scientific development, some of them are simply too old to endure the grueling and solitary life required by front-line research, Bai Chunli, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said earlier this week.