Window to China
Global R & D expenditure in the world in purchasing power parity accounts for about 20% for China, after 27% of the United States, 10 % for Japan and 6 % for Germany. In talent building, China may now be number one with 50 % of all doctorates issued in science and engineering (USA: about 33 %, EU: about 12 %). CAS news release, February 25, 2016
The group around ZHAO Xiaoyang has shown in mice experiments that embryonic stem cell-derived haploid germ cells could be induced to meiosis by suitable culture conditions. When inected into mouse egg cells, the resulting embryos gave rise to healthy, fertile offspring. The experiments are seen as groundbreaking to eventually cure human male infertility. CAS news release, February 26, 2016
February 29 is “Rare Disease Day 2016”, and BGI has offered to 100 patients selected by a charity and suffering from rare genetic disease free sequencing and genetic counseling for 2 family members. BGI news release, February 25, 2016
When 505 Shanghai schoolchildren aged between 8 and 11 were tested, by a team from Fudan University, for 21 human and veterinary antibiotics, traces of at least one antibiotic was found in 80 % of urine samples of all subjects. Reasons are probably both the „over-prescription“ of antibiotics and the heave discharge of drugs into China’s waterways and soil. CAS news release, February 24, 2016
As announced by the state council, the following regulations will be adopted: 1. National universities and research institutes don’t nead national-level approval to sell IP to SMEs, 2. all profits from such transfers will remain at academia, and 3. At least 50 % of these profits will go to the researchers who have created the IP, 4. such researchers are allowed to work with enterprises who have acquired their IP for a maximum of 3 years but keep their positions in academia. CAS news release, February 23, 2016
The group around Ling YI, Vice President of the Nanjing-based University, has combined methods of modern analysis such as various types of chromatography, MS etc. to analyse > 60 types of phytomedicines used in TCM and identified over 5000 compounds which were systematically investigated for bioactivity. The results have been published in over 100 papers and are entered into a „Chinese pharmacopoeia“ which will be expanded further and be used for quality control, safety and efficacy of TCM.
By 2018, the province will have a transportation system ready to collect straw throughout the state and turn it to valuable materials or biomass power generation. China Bio news release, February 19, 2016
The government report sees over 18 billion t of plant biomass resources on an area of 175 million hm2. The reserves contain woody oil plants as well as woody high starch – high fiber plants. The oak forest resources, for example, exceed 18 million hm2. An advantage is that barren land is rich in forest resources. As a consequence, the exploitation of these resources applying “clean development mechanisms” according to the Kyoto Protocol is emphasized. China Bio news release, February 18, 2016
The plan covers 59 specific projects and merges over 100 programs, including the former 863- and 973-programs, into five plans: natural science, major sci-tech, key R&D plan, technical innovation and the sci-tech human resources. Key fields will be biotechnology, space, information, automation, energy, new materials, telecommunications and marine technology. By 2020, R&D investments are 2.5 % of GDP, S&T will contribute > 60 % to the country’s development, reliance on foreign technology will be < 30 %, and publications and patents by Chinese nationals will rank among the top 5 in the world. CAS news release, February 12 and 17, 2015
Both companies have agreed on the deal to be concluded later this year and expect strong growth of the company in China in view of China now occupying one third of the global pesticide market, China’s prospects in genetically modified crops and the opportunities for a strong seed industry which hitherto lacks in China. Syngenta’s management team is said to continue operating the company. Syngenta brings a patent portfolio of nearly 20.000 to ChemChina. China Bio news release, February 17, 2015