The Chinese government has outlined plans to promote innovation and streamline administration of science and technology programs. According to Zhao Lu of the Ministry of Finance, the plan would affect more than 90 programs with total funding of more than $13.1 billion. The programs are now administered by over 40 government bodies, according to the Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang. Zhang Xiaoyuan of the Ministry of Science and Technology said that a “public platform” will be created to run science and technology development and assessment. Mr. Zhao said that budget plans will be submitted in March and that all science and technology programs in 2017 will be administered under the new standards. The outline names 47 programs for the first round of streamlining, via “cancellation, merger, transference and standardization.”

Source: Xinhua