China launched its Industry-University-Research Partnership Programme in April 1992 to enhance the ability to make industrially viable products on the basis of scientific achievements in universities and research institutions.

To date, more than 11,600 new products have been developed under the programme, Xie Xuren - vice-minister of the State Economic and Trade Commission - told a two-day international forum on the programme. The forum opened yesterday in Beijing to celebrate the programme's 10th anniversary.

Last year, more than 220,000 cooperative projects were initiated under the scheme, involving 386,000 companies, universities and institutions.

Yang Boling, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said his academy and its research institutions have signed 54 agreements with local industrial enterprises across the country and supported 77 technical transfer projects in the past two years.

Despite the achievements that have been made, some regions of China and some scientific sectors are still suffering from a gap between science and technology on the one hand and the economy on the other, Xie said.

Xie suggested that a system for small and medium-sized companies be set up to help them achieve technical innovations. He added China should carry out more international exchanges and cooperation.

(China Daily December 19, 2002)