Lawmakers convened yesterday to discuss the draft amendment to a
key science progress law, which further clarifies the country's
strategy of boosting science development through innovation.
Science workers will be given more incentives and high-tech
enterprises more favorable policies to encourage innovation,
according to the draft amendment to the Law on Science and
Technology Progress.
The draft has been tabled for deliberation at the ongoing
meeting of the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress. The draft, a revision to the previous one taking effect
in 1993, is to "make clear China's strategies and principles on
science and technology development and write into law the successes
and progress China has made in the sector," Science and Technology
Minister Wan Gang said when making explanations to legislators
yesterday.
Researchers will own the intellectual property rights of
government-sponsored science programs, the draft said.
The government will offer favorable policies on taxation and
fund-raising to enterprises, especially high-tech ones, a practice
that underscores their "principal role in China's science and
technology development", Wan said.
The draft law will also guarantee funds from the State to help
assimilation, absorption and re-innovation of technologies and
equipment introduced from foreign countries.
It also seeks to encourage the contribution from outstanding
Chinese scientists and technicians having returned from foreign
studies by stipulating that these people "will not be bound by the
household registration system", which limits people from free
migration.
(China Daily August 27, 2007)