Detailed plans have been made for the implementation of the blueprint, said Ji Yunshi, governor of Jiangsu Province.

"One of our tasks in the next five years is to develop science and technology as the driving forces to build Jiangsu into an economically strong province," Ji said.

The projects are all concentrated in high-tech sectors including electronics and information, new materials, biochemistry and medicine. The total investment is to be 229.97 million yuan (US$27.7 million).

All the projects will be jointly financed by the provincial and local governments as well as the research institutions or universities responsible for the projects.

One of the projects, Restrictive Remedy for Tumor Growth in Blood Cells, hosted by Nanjing University, will be significant in the treatment of tumors.

"We started our research a few years ago and have made breakthroughs," said Chen Yonghong, head of the research team.

He added that with sufficient cash and enough people, the research can be carried out more quickly.

The project is expected to yield an annual output value of 900 million yuan (US$108 million) over the next five years.

Scientific and technological innovation and the industrialization of achievements in these areas will be the focus of the province's economic development, said Wang Yongshun, director of Jiangsu Provincial Science and Technology Committee.

(China Daily 03/19/2001)