Chinese authorities plan to invest 63 million RMB ($9.4 million) to study and fight air pollution in 2017, as smog has been shrouding major cities in the country, causing economic losses and health issues.

According to an announcement by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the investment will be divided into two parts, with 33 million RMB allocated for understanding the causes of China’s combined air pollution, while another 30 million RMB will be laid out to study the toxicology of fine particulate matters.

All the research projects supported by foundation will be launched on Jan.1, 2018, according to Thepaper.cn.

The new investment plan is part of a national project launched in 2014, which aims to tackle China’s deteriorating air quality. Chinese authorities have pledged to lay out 400 million RMB (close to $60 million) on the project from 2014 to 2022. In 2015 and 2016, China invested 130 million RMB and 93 million RMB, respectively.

As a side effect of the China’s fast economic growth, air pollution has become a severe social issue in the country in the past few years. Heavy smog has led to public anger and discontent, with many fearing that the hazardous air pollution poses a great threat to people’s health, as well as a problem for the country’s development. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang pledged to “work faster” to address air pollution at the opening of the annual National People’s Congress held in March, noting that China will strengthen research on the causes of smog to improve the scientific basis of the steps taken.