The year 2006 ushers in the 20th anniversary of the National 863 Plan. During the past 20 years, the overall R&D performance and capability of China has been greatly improved, and its gap with the advanced countries in the world has been reduced. In his inclusive interview with News Weekly "Outlook", the vice minister of Ministry of Science and Technology Ma Songde said that it was just because or partly because of the support of the 863 plan at the beginning,  China has already taken its place in the world in the field of high technology such as full-fledged computer, third generation mobile communication, high speed information network, deep sea robot & industrial robot, informationization technology of manufacturing industry, heaven and earth observation system, oceanic observation & detection, new generation nuclear reactors, super hybrid paddy rice, insect-resistant cotton, genetic engineering medicament, new materials and a great number of other high technologies acknowledged by the world. 

    Besides, according to sampling analyses by experts, the R&D in high tech field with the major support of "863" plan has gained some advantage with its overall level apparently closing gap with that of advanced international standards.   Over 60% of the technologies have grown out of nothing, and have nowadays reached or approached advanced international level; although 25% still lagging behind the advanced international level, there has been much improvement on their original base. 

    With the breakthrough technologies of "863" plan being hand-in-glove with the industrial community, China has possessed products with independent intellectual property rights in the international competitive hotspots of high technology such as bioengineering medicament, communication equipment, full-fledged computer, Chinese language information processing platform, artificial lens, photoelectron material and device etc.. These products have begun gaining its competitiveness matching that of developed countries and have become the growing point and headstream of China's high-new technology industries. 

    It is learned that, in accordance with the requirement of the central government, "863" plan has completed its "Eleventh Five-year Plan" layout. During the period of "Eleventh Five-year Plan", "863" Plan went on with its aim of increasing China's independent innovation ability, adhered to its strategic importance, leading edge & forward looking, stressed the R&D of leading technologies, comprehensively deployed the integrated application & the industrialization demonstration of high technology, and gave full play to high tech's forerunner role in leading the future development.  

    During these five years, further steps were taken to strengthen independent innovation, promote the yielding of fruits with independent intellectual property rights, to condense the goals to give prominence to the key points, to make efforts to solve the major problems of leading technology concerning national strategic level and long-range development, to further strengthen process management and to improve efficiency. With continuous innovation and probe being carried out in the management mechanism, the management of "863" plan moved forward in the direction of "being scientific, normative, highly efficient & impartial". The established objective of our country from the highest to the lowest is to further promote core competitiveness of keynote high tech fields and the related industries. 

Source: Outlook News Weekly