Science

Minister: China to strengthen funding of basic scientific research

Stakeholders at all levels must pay sufficient attention to funding basic research, Wang Zhigang, Chinese Minister of Science and Technology, said during a press conference on Monday.

China's investment in basic research only accounts for five percent of the total Research and Development (R&D) spending, while in the U.S. the figure is 15 percent, Wang noted.

However, Wang pointed out that in the U.S., the federal government, local governments, enterprises, and social entities all invest in basic research, while in China, the five-percent funding mainly comes from the central government.