The Chinese Government Gives Top Priority to Stem Cell Research and Development
1. Stem cell and regenerative medical technology development among China's "Innovation 2020" major tasks (January 16, 2011)
Translated from the center government website: http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2012-01/16/content_2045630.htm
Xinhua News Agency Beijing January 16 (Reporter Wu Jingjing)
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) President Bai Chunli, who spoke at the 16th annual meeting of 2012, stated the goals of the "Innovation 2020" strategic plan. Projects in science and technology including, stem cells and regenerative medicine research, research into special advanced nuclear fission energy, space science pilot projects, an increased focus on climate change and carbon revenue support certification and related issues, were discussed as well as the significant progress in these areas seen so far. CAS also started to implement the "national strategic support services to emerging industry technology plan of action" regarding the advanced environmental technologies and energy efficient equipment and products, agricultural products and green biological breeding, including intelligent manufacturing equipment to deploy the direction of a group of 21 projects carried out for key technologies and cutting-edge industrial technology research, innovation and technology integration demonstration projects.
2. Wen Jiabao: China to strive to become a leader in stem cell research and development.
(November 23, 2009)
Translated from the center government website:http://www.gov.cn/ldhd/2009-11/23/content_1471208.htm
Xinhua News Agency Beijing November 23, 2009
Health technology and bio-medicine is directly related to the livelihood of people. China is a populous and developing country and because of this, speeding up innovation and development in this area is especially important. The life sciences should be at the forefront of developing high-tech means for combining the advantages of traditional medicine and modern research and development to adapt to multiple diseases and emerging infectious disease prevention and to regulate the requirements of new medications, a wide range of breakthrough applications, high demand for basic medical equipment critical core technology for innovative drug development and the development of the advanced medical equipment manufacturing industry as the leading pharmaceutical research and development chain. These developments will greatly enhance the biomedical industry's international competitiveness. Currently, the world's major developed countries have made significant progresses in stem cell R&D that has promoted the development of regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine represents another medical revolution following the medication and surgical procedures. We must strive to become a leader in the field of stem cell R&D.
3. Clean Energy & Stem Cell Research among China's Science Goals for 2020 (February 9, 2011)
Source:http://english.cas.cn/Ne/CASE/201102/t20110209_64985.shtml
The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the leading science research center in China, has announced a decade-long program in applied scientific research that lays special emphasis on four key areas, namely space science, information technology, energy and health.
Titled,"Innovation 2020," the new program is an extension of the Knowledge Innovation Program (KIP) initiated by CAS in 1998. The research agenda supported by the plan is expected to translate into breakthroughs that will drive the economic superpower's growth and also help it to meet critical requirements such as clean energy and public health objectives.
Under the initial projects of the program, the academy will set up a series of research centers, including a space science center, a center for clean and efficient use of coal, and a research center for geo-science devices. Three science parks will also be established in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong, with the objective of accelerating the commercialization of scientific and technological research to create marketable products.
Nature magazine reports that "Innovation 2020" will initiate its pilot projects in 7 key areas in 2012: nuclear fusion and nuclear-waste management; stem cells and regenerative medicine; calculating the flux of carbon between the land, oceans and the atmosphere; materials science; information technology; public health and the environment.
As a first step towards realizing its dream of developing clean nuclear energy, the academy will also launch plans for developing a thorium-fueled molten-salt nuclear reactor, which when functional will be a precious alternative safe fuel source. As Richard Martin writes in Wired magazine, "Designing a thorium-based molten-salt reactor could place China at the forefront of the race to build environmentally safe, cost-effective and politically palatable reactors."
Shortly after the academy announced its focus areas, the Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that CAS will establish a world-class research platform and base for the study of stem cells and regenerative medicine encompassing four research centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Kunming and leveraging the resources of 17 other institutions around the country. Zhou Qi, the chief scientist for the stem cell research project at the academy is reported to have told China Daily that Chinese scientists expect to realize a major breakthrough in the area sometime soon in the coming decade. The support from "Innovation 2020" will certainly be crucial for moving towards large scale applications regarding clinical treatment.