Minister: Basic research the 'source of technological innovation'

Basic research is the source of scientific and technological innovation, said Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang. /CFP

Basic research is the source of scientific and technological innovation, Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang told the media at the Ministers' Corridor after the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC)on Monday.

China has attached great importance to basic research.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the central government doubled its investment in basic research, said the minister. "Last year, basic research accounted for more than 6 percent of China's total RD spending for the first time."

A number of major achievements have been made in a range of areas, including the stem cell research, quantum science, mathematics and physics, Wang said.

China will put basic research in a more important position, he noted, and measures will include formulating a 10-year action plan for basic research, increasing the proportion of investment on basic research to over 8 percent of the total RD spending, and encouraging more young talents to devote to basic research.