China has set up a scientific resources coordinating center to improve the efficiency of scientific resource allocation and utilization.

The center is to be in charge of policy research, project management and consulting, international cooperation and training, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).

The center is established to cope with problems such as dispersed and duplicate allocation of scientific resources, resource monopoly and low utilization efficiency in China's scientific development.

Through an information network, the center will reframe China's basic scientific resources for a sharing-based optimized system to boost efficient allocation of resources, the ministry said.

China has invested more than two billion yuan (US$ 250 million) since 2003 in building the center.

Much has been achieved in the integration and sharing of scientific data, natural resources, and large-scale scientific equipment, according to Xu Guanhua, minister of MOST.

"An environment-friendly and efficient exploitation of scientific resources will benefit the whole country, and will in turn improve China's innovation ability," he said.

The center also recruited an advisory team of 47 experts from research institutes, universities, and companies around the country.

(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2006)