The over 100 CAS institutes employ at present 56.000 researchers (excluding postdocs and visiting scholars) of which 1 % are foreigners. According to CAS Deputy Secretary-General TAN Tieniu, this will be stepped up to 3 % by 2020. In 2014, CAS received 1700 applications from all over the world. CAS news release, August 25, 2014
China’s funding for young scientists will increase
In view of rising competition from SE Asia, the Chinese government plans to increase funding for scientists under age 45 through its “China National Funds for Distinguished Young Scientists”. A higher part of the budget will be directed directly to the young scientists. CAS news release, August 25, 2014
Gates Foundation supports TB diagnostic developmen in China with 11 million USD
The Gates Foundation, which has already 20 projects in China, contracts with UStar-Biotechnologies (Hangzhou) to develop low-cost TB molecular detection technology, price target to be half of present international prices. China Bio news release, August 22, 2014
Hepatitis B drug „Tifentai“ enters clonical research
The drug, developed by Professor Guangyi LIANG of CAS Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products in Guizhou, is based on chemically synthesized key components of hepatitis B virus which are easy to produce, and has been shown in preclinical studies to be efficient, have a unique site of action and does not lead to […]
China Blue Book sees Chinese pharmaceutical marke tat 1,33 trillion Yuan (~100 billion €) in 2014
According to the analysis, online sales of pharmaceuticals reached 4,2 billion Yuan in 2013, and the retail market was 257 billion Yuan. The remainder was sold through hospitals. China Bio news release, August 22, 2014
CAS announces reforms of their institutes
CAS will attempt to streamline their institutes, by removin overlaps and enhancing quality. Wan GANG, Minister of Science and Technology, told Xinhua that, compared with developed countries, China’s science sector is poorly managed and inefficient, with less information sharing and communication; problems that have held back scientific development despite increased investment. The government hopes more […]
DICP group achieves solar water splitting using a hybrid of photosystem II and artificial photocatalysis
The groups of Jun CHEN and Can LI at Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics describe a system based on plant PSII and inorganic photocatalysts such as Ru/ SrTiO3:Rh, coupled with an inorganic mediator [ Fe(CN)63−/ Fe(CN)64−], all dispersed in aqueous solutions. PSII seems to self-assembly on the inorganic photocatalyst. The activity of this hybrid photosystem […]
CAS aims to become world-class institution by 2030
According to a CAS statement, will restructure itself to focus on research concerning the strategic demands of the nation and stand at the forefront of global technology. Supervision from a third party and the public will be invited to ensure the transparent use of research funds. CAS news release, August 20, 2014
Hong Kong Cathay Pacific Airlines invests in Fulcrum BioEnergy’s aviation biofuel
Fulcrum has developed a process for transforming solid municipal waste into low-carbon fuels including diesel and jet fuel. Fulcrum BioEnergy news release, August 7, 2014
Chinese team isolates Streptomyces strains from 10.000 m deep Mariana trench, studies antibiotic gene clusters
Groups around Changsheng ZHANG and Wenjun ZHANG from CAS South China Sea Institute of Oceanology and Shandong University isolated various bacteria from 10.000 m deep Mariana trench in the Phillipine Sea. A marine Streptomyces sp. SCSIO 03032 s strain was found to contain gene clusters for 26 secondary metabolites (antibiotics and alkaloids). CAS news release, […]