Awards for scientific breakthroughs in South China's Guangdong Province, which will be announced soon, will be some two-and-a-half-times larger than in the past, said local officials.

Huang Huahua, governor of Guangdong Province, said the provincial government has moved to increase the award while presiding over a routine conference last week.

The top award will jump from 40,000 yuan (US$4,800) to 100,000 yuan (US$12,000).

The second level will rise to 50,000 yuan (US$6,000) from 20,000 yuan (US$2,400) while the third grade will double from the former 10,000 yuan (US$1,200).

"It is the highest provincial-level personal money award in the field of scientific research in China," Li Zhengfang, a section chief of the Provincial Science and Technology Bureau, told China Daily.

A special award will be maintained at the former amount of 500,000 yuan (US$60,200).

But Li said the large sum of money is not for individuals, but for a whole research unit.

According to Li, last year's winning researches will be announced in May or June.

And the winning scientists are the first batch of individuals to enjoy the high money award.

Li said the number of scientists who get the first grade of the award will be limited to 15, the second grade will be given to a maximum of 10 while the third grade will be handed to no more than seven scientists.

Since the awards were started in 2000, great advances have been made.

In the past three years, among the 7,000 most successful research programs, 982 were given provincial-level rewards, and 66 were given national-level awards.

Li Zhengfang said the increase in award money would likely arouse the working enthusiasm of scientists and technicians.

(China Daily April 20, 2004)