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China Determines to Boost Biotech Industry
China is determined to build itself into one of the world's biotechnology leaders in the next decade, according to a Chinese official.
Initial goals of a 10-year development plan include establishing 20 world-level research and development centers and 10 biotech centers with an annual output value of 300 billion yuan (36 billion U.S. dollars), said Liu Qian, director of the China Bio-engineering Development Center under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
"The biotech industry will become one of China's pillar industries in the 21st century," Liu said today at the Fourth Beijing Biotech and Pharma Industry Development Forum. But he warned that these goals will not be realized unless the government injects enormous investment while creating a healthier environment for developing the industry.
"Research and development investment makes up only 0.5 percent of China's gross domestic product, compared with 2 percent or more in developed countries," he said.
"The government should make determination to strengthen its biotech industry, just like what it has done in developing the A- bomb and building the Three Gorges Dam," said a scholar at the seminar.
Biologist Chen Zhangliang urged the government to pay attention to the reserve of hi-tech personnel.
"Personnel shortages could be a serious issue if little is done to train more researchers and attract overseas Chinese scholars to return home," said Chen.
China now has more than 100 hi-tech companies involved in biotechnology and nearly 20,000 researchers.
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