China has launched an extensive campaign to revamp its scientific research institutions to make them internationally competitive.
The campaign aims to exploit the country's scientific talent by reducing the number of incompetent personnel, eliminating redundant research, and encouraging institutions to engage in market-oriented research projects.
'The reforms aim to abolish duplicated research organs and establish new ones to meet the needs of today's international scientific and economic developments,' said Song Yong, head of the restructuring department at the State Science and Technology Commission.
Research institutions under the Ministry of Communications will spearhead reform by streamlining 16 research organs into just three by 2001.
The three centres will research shipping, transport and water-transport engineering.
Others will either be merged with the ministry's enterprises, or transformed into new technology firms.
