Following years of governmental disinterest, Argentinian researchers are greeting last year’s election of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner as a turning point. In addition to establishing the Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation, she plans to increase science and technology investments from 0.66% of GDP to 1% of GDP by 2010. To reverse the […]

The Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) has released a draft of its plan to promote the sharing of research instruments and development of new instrumentation by researchers. The plan is designed to improve coordination among CAS scientists by centralizing research facilities. Under the plan, between 30 and 50 pilot centers will be established. CAS would […]

Major pharmaceutical companies, including GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Eli Lilly and Roche, are increasing their research operations in China. China offers scientific talent, many contract research organizations (CROs), lower costs and a fast-growing drug market. By 2020, the country is predicted to be the world’s second largest drug market. For many of these companies, China offers a […]

The European Commission has proposed a revision to the EU’s Protocol on Animal Welfare that is intended to unify standards across all member states and to update the legislation. Among the proposals is the requirement that alternative testing methods be used when available and that the use of animals be reduced to the minimum necessary. […]

The United Nations recommends that China institute new food safety laws in order to restore confidence in its food supply. Specifically, the UN calls for revising the country’s basic hygiene law to include the entire food chain. The UN paper also advocates the establishment of one government agency to replace the six agencies that current […]