Six students from China University of Sciences have received more than 6.68 million yuan (US$804,000), through a shareholding company, for their efforts to come up with a computer that can listen to and speak Chinese.

It is the first time in the country that college students have received such considerable shareholding capitals for contributing to this technological innovation, People's Daily reported.

"Granting college students with shareholding money is an active strategy to cultivate higher-level talents," said Su Jun, president of the Science and Technology Corporation under the China University of Sciences.

The integrated dialogue function of Chinese phonetics, almost reaching the level of IBM-leading phonetic identification technology, has brought the birth of China's first computer that can listen to and speak Chinese, said Wang Renhua, director of the university's communication laboratory.

Liu Qingfeng, one of the six students who is studying at the university for a doctorate degree, has been given the highest shareholding sum of money and has been chosen as the company's president for his outstanding contributions to developing the dialogue function of Chinese phonetics.

The other five students have also received different amounts of money for helping develop the technology.

The shareholding awards to the six students are given in line with State regulations and the company's agreements signed with the students, said Wang.

According to a provision the Ministry of Science and Technology issued in March to encourage research and higher-education institutions to commercialize their new technological findings, scientific researchers who have made great contributions to commercializing technology will be eligible to receive at least 20 per cent of the money they get from those who use it.