Science goals set out for 2020

Backed by strong government funding, 16 key scientific projects will be executed and 10 national laboratories built by 2020, Minister of Science and Technology Xu Guanhua said yesterday.

China saw a record high R&D expenditure of 300 billion yuan ($38.5 billion) 1.4 per cent of GDP in 2006, 22 percent more than in 2005.

R&D funding will continue increasing this year and beyond, Xu said, elaborating on the nation's science program at a national conference in Beijing.