China's top scientific research body Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has improved its creativity and innovation by restructuring in the past year.

CAS President Lu Yongxiang said Wednesday that 67 CAS institutes were restructured in 2001.

The National Astronomical Observatories (NAOC) as the country's most influential astronomical research body was reorganized. Five photoelectric research institutes joined hands to set up a photoelectric science and technology group. A new organization for studying space science and technology was also founded.

The CAS transformed its 13 institutes of applied technology into market-oriented entities.

In 2001, the CAS organized seven major scientific projects and set up 62 key projects. CAS researchers were entitled to carry out 20 research programs under the state's basic research plan which was launched by central authorities in March 1997. In the same year, CAS researchers produced an increased number of academic theses and were granted more patents in their specialty fields.

Over the next ten years, the CAS plans to develop about 80 research institutes with a powerful innovative capability, said Lu, who is also an academician at the CAS.

According to the ambitious plan released by the CAS, three to five institutes out of the 80 could be ranked among similar leading world institutes, Lu said.

The CAS Physics Institute with several world renowned physicists plans to establish a quantum structure center which aims to carry top level research.

The CAS Geology and Geophysics Institute is concentrating on the five hottest spots in its fields.

With international vision, the CAS Dalian Chemical Physics Institute has started studies on developing cleaner energy sources and high-efficient farming.

After completing the one percent sequencing work of the human genome project, the Beijing-based Huada Gene Research Center announced their new achievements in sequencing the genome of hybrid rice in 2001.

Together with Shanghai No. 2 Medical University, the CAS Shanghai Life Sciences Academy opened a health research center, focusing on nutrition, health care, bio-engineering and clinical medical sciences.

(Xinhua News Agency January 23, 2002)