A resolution on strengthening S&T innovation capacity building was adopted at a meeting recently held by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). According to the resolution, CAS will concentrate its efforts on strengthening S&T innovation capacity building, and realize a leaping and sustainable development through the phase III of the so-called knowledge innovation demonstrations, in a move to render new contributions to the socioeconomic development, national security, and to the improvement of people?¯s life.

It is pointed out at the meeting that the phase III activities of the knowledge innovation demonstrations shall enhance original innovations, proprietary key technology innovations, major system integration, knowledge innovations, and technology support capacity, striving to raise the capacity of addressing current and future major S&T issues concerning the socioeconomic development, striving to raise the capacity of providing knowledge bases and technology support for realizing scientific development concepts, striving to raise the capacity of safeguarding the national security and responding to new changes in the military world, striving to climb up the world?¯s scientific peaks, and striving to build CAS into a scientific research base of an internationally advanced level , a base for training of high caliber S&T personnel, and a base for promoting high tech industrialization in the country.

The Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) also adopted a resolution, at a meeting held recently, in a move to take further advantage of the roles played by academicians. The resolution placed the priorities in the year on three major activities, including strengthening the construction of an academician contingent, strengthening decision making related consultation, and improving the quality of academic exchange activities.

To further strengthen the construction of the academician contingent, CAE will stick to the prescribed standards and qualifications in selecting academicians in 2005, a year for selection of additional academicians, with an emphasis on candidate?¯s scientific ethics. Attention will also be paid to discovering and selecting qualified young scientists, and optimizing the composition of the academician contingent. 

To strengthen decision making related consultation activities, CAE, in the new year, will be an active part of China?¯ long and medium term S&T development planning process, in addition to its major missions in the fields of oil and gas resources, mineral resources, water resources, and information process. At the same time, CAE will widen international cooperation channels, and take effective use of overseas resources. In addition, CAE will organize innovation tours for academicians, allowing them to bring the latest technology and S&T knowledge to the localities.

To unify the management of academic activities, integrate resources and improve the quality of academic exchanges activities, CAE will build a multi-tiered platform for academic explorations and exchanges, especially for cutting edge issues and priorities concerning engineering development. CAE will continue to host series of academic activities, including the Xiangshan Meeting, engineering forums, and popular science activities.  It encourages academic activities initiated by disciplinary departments, in an attempt to promote the development of the engineering contingent. The meeting also called for the establishment of an academic committee for post-graduate education at industrial research institutes, so as to spur up the development of engineering education at a higher level.