Scientific and Technological Education

【Scientific research and development】

      Shaanxi is an important base for key scientific research and industry in fields such as China scientific research, national defense technology, modern agriculture and hi-tech studies, and now has 1076 research institutes and 1.47 million professionals of different disciplines, including 52 members of the Chinese Academy of Science and Chinese Academy of Engineering. 
      Supported by Xi’an Hi-tech Development Zone and Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Industrial Demonstration Zone, a hi-tech industrial development belt has come into being in the central Shaanxi plains. Both Xi’an Hi-tech Development Zone, one of the first science and technology industries areas open to APEC, and Yangling demonstration zone, the only agricultural hi-tech industrial demonstration zone in China, are on the list of five hi-tech development zones under state support. In January 2010, Xi’an is defined as one of the first national group of innovative pilot cities. 
      In 2010, total expenditure of R&D funds of Shaanxi counted for over 3% of gross domestic product (GDP), including RMB118.697 million of basic research, occupying 2.4%, RMB954.52 million of applied research, occupying 19.3%, and RMB3.872484 billion of trial development, occupying 78.3%. 
      Among R&D expenses, RMB2.516362 billion is spent by scientific research institutes, counting for 50.9% of R; RMB442.999 million is spent by institutions of higher learning, counting for 9.0%; RMB1.888441 billion is spent by various enterprises, counting for 38.2%; and RMB 97.899 million is spent by other institutions, occupying 2.0%.
      In 2010, Shaanxi office for examination and registration of scientific research achievements recorded 553 items, increasing by 35 items or 6.76% over previous year, including 289 patents of invention authorized by the State; worked out 29 standards, including 2 international, 13 national, 9 industrial, 2 local and 3 corporate ones. 
      According to a national statistical report on monitoring advances of science and technology issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2010, the index of scientific and technological progress level of Shaanxi was 52.93%, increased by 3.40 percentage points over previous year with an increase rate ranking second; it ranked eighth in the total seating arrangement nationwide, increased by 2 seats, and maintained first place in West China. 
      Environmental index of Shaanxi’s scientific and technological progress in 2010 reached up to 63.6%, ranking fifth nationwide, including material condition index of scientific research exceeded that of Beijing, rising from second to first place nationwide. This indicates that manpower and material conditions for technological innovation in Shaanxi are already in front ranks nationwide and Shaanxi has had obvious comparative advantage in scientific education resources. 
      In 2010, output index of scientific and technological activities of Shaanxi was 46.07%, ranking seventh in China, including tenth place in possession of invention patents by ten thousand of employed personnel. This indicates that scientific and technological production, especially the commercialization of research findings, is above normal level nationwide. 
      Index of inputs in scientific and technological activities of Shaanxi in 2010 was 55.21%, ranking eighth nationwide. The main reasons are: S&T appropriation of local finance counts for less proportion of local financial expenditure, down to 21st place nationwide; number of corporate R&D scientists and engineers occupies less proportion of total number of social R&D scientists and engineers, down to 22nd place nationwide; expenditure of corporate R&D funds takes up 0.75% of sales revenue, 0.84% lower than national average; proportion of expenses spent on corporate technical import and absorption as against sales revenue ranks 22nd nationwide. 
      Hi-tech industrialization index of Shaanxi in 2010 was 38.19%, ranking 17th nationwide; index of S&T promoting development of economic society was 58.53%, ranking 18th nationwide. This indicates that hi-tech industrialization of Shaanxi is less efficient, labor productivity of both hi-tech industry and knowledge-intensive service falls behind 20th place, productivity of capital ranks 25th nationwide and environmental quality index ranks 18th nationwide.