British fund will lure Chinese researchers

The British government has set up a 100 million pound ($130.6 million) research fund to attract global talent, with China identified as one of the key recruitment pools.

The Ernest Rutherford Fund, which takes its name from the nuclear physicist and Nobel laureate, was established by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy as part of the government's 1 billion pound industrial strategy laid out in April.

"At the 2016 autumn statement, the government announced a significant increase in public research and development spending, totaling 4.7 billion pounds," said Jo Johnson, the UK's universities and science minister. "In her vision for the UK as the go-to place for scientists, innovators and tech investors, Prime Minister (Theresa) May has made clear she wants us to be a country that attracts the brightest and best minds."